RECORDINGS

LABEL: THE SALVATION ARMY
CATALOG NUMBER: KM 10534
UPC NUMBER: N/A
NUMBER OF DISCS: 1
RUNNING TIME: UNKNOWN
DATE RECORDED: 1982
RELEASE DATE: 1982
CONDUCTOR: ROGER WAGNER
ORCHESTRA: ROGER WAGNER SINFONIA ORCHESTRA
CHOIR: ROGER WAGNER CHORALE
SOPRANO: MAURITA PHILLIPS THORNBERG
ALTO: ALICE BAKER
TENOR: BYRON WRIGHT
BASS: DOUGLAS LAWRENCE
NARRATOR: CHARLTON HESTON


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DISC ONE

PROGRAM ONE

1. OVERTURE
2. ISAIAH 40:1
3. Comfort Ye My People
4. Every Valley Shall Be Exalted
5. And The Glory Of The Lord
6. Thus Saith The Lord Of Hosts
7. But Who May Abide The Day Of His Coming
8. And He Shall Purify The Sons Of Levi
9. MATTHEW 1:18-22
10. Behold, A Virgin Shall Conceive, And Bear A Son
11. O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings To Zion

PROGRAM TWO

1. ISAIAH 9: 2&6
2. For, Behold, Darkness Shall Cover The Earth
3. The People That Walked In Darkness Shall See A Great Light
4. For Unto Us A Child Is Born
5. PASTORAL SYMPHONY
6. LUKE 2:1-7
7. There Were Shepherds Abiding In The Fields
8. And The Angel Said Unto Them, Fear Not
9. And Suddenly There Was With The Angel A Multitude
10. Glory To God In The Highest
11. ZECHARIAH 9:8 & 10
12. Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter Of Zion
13. Then Shall The Eyes Of The Blind Be Opened
14. He Shall Feed His Flock Like A Shepherd
15. His Yoke Is Easy And His Burden Is Light
16. JOHN 3:16 & 17
17. The Hallelujah Chorus
SITE RATING:  7/10
SITE REVIEW: This admirable holiday 1982 release by The Salvation Army is a starry affair with the addition of actor Charles Heston as narrator, who gives a brief introduction to the program, and reads several scriptural passages throughout in his unmistakable stentorian tone. The Roger Wagner Sinfonia Orchestra plays with a very proper, staid attitude - precise and cool, with Wagner's tempos safe and square.  Tenor Byron Wright is similarly expert - a bit more full-throated than I prefer, but giving a clean, detached performance.  The Chorale sings with thick intensity, very much of a match for the Orchestra with their precise, but occasionally flat, performance.  Bass Douglas Lawrence brings a welcome dramatic intensity to "Thus Saith The Lord Of Hosts" and "But Who May Abide" - my only note being that he varies the melody with ear-catching, but not unattractive results. Alto Alice Baker is similarly fiery and proud during "O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings" giving a startlingly adept, and similarly changed-up variation of the melody, all to good effect.  Maurita Phillips Thornberg's soprano arias are lovely - she possesses a clear bell-tone which rings out unforced.  Although the Wagner Sinfornia Orchestra and Chorus are more emotionally-detached than I prefer, the soloists bring much-needed passion to the performance, but with such a generous selection of numbers included on the single LP, and everything is so professionally and reverently performed that I hope someday this rare Messiah is remastered and put out on CD.
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