SITE RATING: 6/10
SITE
REVIEW: Johannes
Somary's 1970 Messiah is generally
considered a good overall recording from this
period, with Somary choosing brisk tempos,
emphatic attacks, and smaller forces for this
recording, but suffering from an odd rigidity
in both the soloists and his square, almost
Germanic conducting that prevents this
recording from feeling at ease with itself.
Among the soloists, Yvonne Minton has
the most pleasing tone, with tenor Alexander
Young a bit thin in his upper register, and
bass Justino Diaz a distinct liability with
his swallowed tone. Soprano Margaret
Price is clear, but a touch shrill in her
higher tessitura as well. It's harder to
judge the English Chamber Orchestra and the
Amor Artis Chorale, since they are quite
obviously under the stern baton of
Somary, making their playing very rigid
and square. They're precise, well
balanced, and unified, but it's hard to shake
the impression that they're playing under a
whip-hand, with Somary allowing little grace
to enter into what sounds like a rather
judgmental reading of Messiah.
I'll throw this recording into the
middle of the stack - it's not a bad recording
or performance, just not terribly warm, and
lacking any feeling of easiness or pleasure in
the making.
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