| RECORDINGS |
|
| LABEL: |
NOSAG
RECORDS |
| CATALOG
NUMBER: |
2027 |
| UPC
NUMBER: |
7330560982274 |
| NUMBER OF DISCS: |
2 |
| RUNNING TIME: |
51:45,
64:28 |
| YEAR
RECORDED: |
1997 |
| CD
RELEASE
DATE: |
OCTOBER
26,
1999 |
| CONDUCTOR: |
GUSTAF
SJÖKVIST |
| ORCHESTRA: |
SWEDISH
RADIO SYMPHONICS |
| CHOIR: |
STORKYRKAN
CHOIR |
| SOPRANO: |
CHRISTINA
HÖGMAN |
| ALTO: |
KRISTINA
HAMMARSTRÖM |
| TENOR: |
LYNTON
ATKINSON
&
STEFAN DAHLBERG |
| BASS: |
KARL-MAGNUS
FREDRIKSSON
& PETTERI SALOMAA |
|
|
|
DISC ONE
1. Sinfony (Orchestra) (3'09)
2. Recitative (Stefan Dahlberg, Tenor)
Comfort ye (2'29)
3. Aria (Stefan Dahlberg, Tenor) Ev´ry
valley (3'30)
4. (Chorus) And the glory of the Lord
(2'45)
5. Recitative (Karl-Magnus Fredriksson,
Bass) Thus saith the Lord (1'20)
6. Aria (Kristina Hammarström, Alto) But
who may abide (4'21)
7. (Chorus) And He shall purify (2'36)
8. Recitative (Kristina Hammarström,
Alto) Behold, a virgin shall conceive
(0'26)
9. Aria (Kristina Hammarström, Alto
& Chorus) 0 thou that tellest good
tidings (5'20)
10. Recitative (Petteri Salomaa, Bass)
For behold, darkness shall cover the
earth (1'51)
11. Aria (Petteri Salomaa, Bass) The
people that walked in darkness (3'03)
12. (Chorus) For unto us a child is born
(4'02)
13. Pifa (Orchestra) (1'07)
14. Recitative (Christina Högman,
Soprano) There were shepherds (1'39)
15. (Chorus) Glory to God (1'56)
16. Aria (Christina Högman, Soprano)
Rejoice greatly (4'00)
17. Recitative (Kristina Hammarström,
Alto) Then shall the eyes of the blind
(0'29)
18. Aria (Kristina Hammarström, Alto
& Christina Högman, Soprano) He
shall feed His flock (5'11)
19. (Chorus) His yoke is easy (2'30)
|
DISC TWO
1. (Chorus) Behold the Lamb
(2'28)
2. Aria (Kristina Hammarström, Alto) He
was despised (6'00)
3. (Chorus) Surely, He hath borne our
griefs (1'46)
4. (Chorus) And with His stripes (2'01)
5. (Chorus) All we like sheep (3'34)
6. Recitative (Stefan Dahlberg, Tenor)
All they that see Him (0'47)
7. (Chorus) He trusted in God (1'12)
8. Recitative (Lynton Atkinson, Tenor)
Thy rebuke (2'01)
9. Arioso (Lynton Atkinson, Tenor)
Behold, and see (1'13)
10. Recitative (Lynton Atkinson, Tenor)
He was cut off (0'21)
11. Aria (Lynton Atkinson, Tenor) But
thou didst not leave (2'08)
12. (Chorus) Lift up your heads (3'13)
13. Aria (Petteri Salomaa, Bass) Thou
art gone up on high (3'00)
14. (Chorus) The Lord gave the word
(1'04)
15. Aria (Christina Högman, Soprano) How
beautiful are the feet (2'27)
16. (Chorus) Their sound is gone out
(1'27)
17. Aria (Karl-Magnus Fredriksson, Bass)
Why do the nations (2'45)
18. (Chorus) Let us break their bonds
(1'48)
19. Recitative (Stefan Dahlberg, Tenor)
He that dwelleth in heaven (0'15)
20. Aria (Stefan Dahlberg, Tenor) Thou
shalt break them (2'01)
21. (Chorus) Hallelujah (3'53)
22. Aria (Christina Högman, Soprano) I
know that my Redeemer liveth (5'44)
23. (Chorus) Since by man came death
(1'45)
24. Recitative (Petteri Salomaa, Bass)
Behold, I tell you a mystery (0'30)
25. Aria (Karl-Magnus Fredriksson, Bass)
The trumpet shall sound (4'01)
26. Recitative (Kristina Hammarström,
Alto) Then shall be brought to pass
(0'19)
27. (Chorus) Worthy is the Lamb (6'42)
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SITE RATING: 7/10
SITE
REVIEW: It's
interesting how different cultures come to
embrace other culture's works. For the
Swiss, this 1997 recording marks the
first-ever full recording of Handel's Messiah.
Waiting two hundred and fifty-six years
to record this masterwork seems a bit much for
the notoriously punctual Swiss.
Using all-Swedish forces, yet sung
in English, the recording has some things to
recommend it, but certainly shouldn't be
anyone's first choice for a complete Messiah.
The Swedish Radio Symphony plays
admirably on what sounds like period
instruments, with conductor Gustaf Sjökvist
maintaining good, solid tempos, and playing
everything rather safe with the dynamic
changes. The soloists are hit and miss,
with the tenor leading off with "Ev'ry Valley"
(no indication is given in the notes about
which tenor sings what) giving one of the more
brutal takes on this aria that I've ever
heard, with savage attacks and excessive
ornamentation. The bass who sings "Thus
Saith The Lord" has a wonderful, vibrant
tessatura, while alto Kristina Hammarström
failed to impress with her competent, but
average performance. Soprano Christina
Högman brings a strangely rich, fruity tone to
her arias, sounding more like an alto in her
tone than a soprano. The Storkyrkan
Choir sings very well with wonderful tone
and blend, but isn't allowed to distinguish
themselves by the rather lackluster direction.
Overall, this is a good recording,
suffering only from the safe, staid direction
and paling against other, more captivating
performances.
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