SITE RATING: 4/10
SITE
REVIEW: As far as I'm
aware, this is the earliest filmed performance
of Messiah
(although only the first half) ever, which
alone makes it of interest. Included as
a bonus performance as part of this boxed-set
release of Omnibus,
the 1950s-era television series hosted by
Bernstein in which he, using all of his
considerable charm and musicianship,
introduced America to all the vast variety of
music, both classical and modern, jazz, opera,
and popular which you could find in the U.S.
at the time. Although of historical
interest, the performance leaves much to be
desired in terms both technical and
performance issues. The performance,
despite (or probably because of) Bernstein's
presence, is overblown to the greatest degree,
with the greatest offenders being the Schola
Cantorum, who sing with all the fervor of a
tent revival, showing little unity in their
blustery sound. The soloists all hail
from the Grand Opera stage, and sing with
full-throated efforts, part of which I blame
on the primitive recording equipment available
to live television at the time, and the
distraction of them having to sing for a
camera. The recording quality, while
somewhat better than a kinescope, still
manages to distract from the performance at
nearly every turn, with the camera either too
far back to capture the performers expression,
or too close in, focusing on the more
attractive choir members in steely close-ups.
Bernstein's conducting is certainly
energetic, but it doesn't translate into
pushed tempos, for Bernstein keeps things
firmly in the Romantic mode, bringing out
truckloads of melodrama, but little subtlety.
Recommended for historic Messiah
enthusiasts, early TV fans, musicians, but not
a first choice of video performances of Messiah.
|
