SITE RATING: 8/10
SITE
REVIEW: I'm not
certain why this 1980 recording performed by
The Smithsonian Chamber Players, The American
Boychoir and ably conducted by James Weaver
hasn't remained in print. One of the
very few American recordings to feature a boy
choir taking the lead part in Messiah,
and played on period instruments, this
performance has many strong points, including
a alternately sensitive, fiery turn by
countertenor Jeffrey Gall - I found his
performance of "Thou art gone up on high"
completely masterful, while alto Elvira Green
equally matches him. Alternately, bass
Leslie Guinn is far too bright and "American"
for my tastes, sounding more like a Broadway
belter than a classical stylist, giving
aggressive, pointed readings to most of his
arias, but tenor Charles Bressler is wonderful
- possessing gorgeously-hued tones and a
bravura sense of style. Soprano Carole
Bogard sounds detached and clinical in her
readings, and seems to be recorded closer than
her fellow soloists, accentuating her forward,
unflattering sound. The American
Boychoir, who is supported by members of The
Norman Scribner Chorus, is fully up to the
task of tackling the difficult Messiah
choruses, providing a somewhat richer,
full-blooded tone than heard in the English
choir tradition. Weaver's direction is very
clean - his tempos and direction are straight
and mannered - eschewing the bright, fast
tempos of modern baroque styling, but not
falling into Victorian largess - rather
finding a comfortable middle ground which I
found very approachable, if a little
deliberate. I found this to be a very
interesting performance, with the performances
of the choir and some of the soloists well
worth seeking out, and a Messiah
that I hope will soon be available on CD
in remastered sound.
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