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RECORDINGS |
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| LABEL: |
ARGO |
| CATALOG
NUMBER: |
440
672-2 |
| UPC NUMBER: |
028944067224 |
| NUMBER OF DISCS: |
2 |
| RUNNING
TIME: |
64:40,
69:37 |
| YEAR
RECORDED: |
1994 |
| CD
RELEASE DATE: |
OCTOBER
11, 1994 |
| CONDUCTOR: |
STEPHEN
CLEOBURY |
| ORCHESTRA: |
BRANDENBURG
CONSORT |
| CHOIR: |
THE
CHOIR OF KING'S
COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE |
| SOPRANO: |
LYNNE
DAWSON |
| CONTRALTO: |
HILLARY
SUMMERS |
| TENOR: |
JOHN
MARK AINSLEY |
| BASS: |
ALASTAIR
MILES |
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DISC
ONE
Part
1
1. Sinfonia 3:02
2. Recitative-tenor: Comfort ye my people 2:50
3. Aria-tenor: Ev"ry valley shall be exalted 3:20
4. Chorus: And the glory, the glory of the Lord 2:51
5. Recitative-bass: Thus said the Lord 1:19
6. Aria-bass: But who may abide 4:04
7. Chorus: And He shall purify 2:29
8. Recitative-alto: Behold, a virgin shall conceive 0:23
9. Aria-alto & chorus: O thou that tellest 5:26
10. Recitative-bass: For behold, darkness shall come over the earth
2:01
11. Aria-bass: The people that walked in darkness 3:17
12. Chorus: For unto us a Child is born 4:04
13. Pifa (Pastoral Symphony) 2:30
14. Recitative-soprano: There were shepherds 0:30
15. Recitative-soprano: And the angels said unto them 0:31
16. Recitative-soprano: And suddenly there was with the angel 0:16
17. Chorus: Glory to God in the highest 1:52
18. Aria-soprano: Rejoice greatly, o daughter of Zion 4:16
19. Recitative-alto: Then shall the eyes of the blind 0:24
20. Duet alto & soprano: And he shall feed his flock 4:34
21. Chorus: His yoke is easy 2:20
Part 2
22. Chorus: Behold the Lamb of 2:21
23. Aria-alto: He was despised 9:50
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DISC
TWO
1.
Chorus: Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs
2. Chorus: And With His Stripes We Are Healed
3. Chorus: All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray
4. Recitative (Tenor): All They That See Him, Laugh Him To Scorn
5. Chorus: He Trusted In God
6. Recitative (Tenor): Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His Heart
7. Air (Tenor): Behold, And See If There Be Any Sorrow
8. Recitative (Tenor): He Was Cut Off Out Of The Land Of The Living
9. Air (Tenor): But Thou Didst Not Leave His Soul In Hell
10. Chorus: Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates
11. Recitative (Tenor): Unto Which Of The Angels
12. Chorus: Let All The Angels Of God Worship Him
13. Air (Bass): Thou Art Gone Up On High
14. Chorus: The Lord Gave The Word
15. Air (Soprano): How Beautiful Are The Feet
16. Chorus: Their Sound Is Gone Out Into All Lands
17. Air (Bass): Why Do The Nations So Furiously Rage Together?
18. Chorus: Let Us Break Their Bonds Asunder
19. Recitative (Tenor): He That Dwelleth In Heaven
20. Air (Tenor): Thou Shalt Break Them
21. Chorus: Hallelujah!
Part 3
22. Air (Soprano): I Know That My Redeemer Liveth
23. Chorus: Since By Man Came Death
24. Recitative (Bass): Behold, I Tell You A Mystery
25. Air (Bass): The Trumpet Shall Sound
26. Recitative (Alto): Then Shall Be Brought To Pass The Saying
27. Duet (Alto & Tenor): O Death, Where Is Thy Sting?
28. Chorus: But Thanks Be To God
29. Air (Soprano): If God Be For Us
30. Chorus: Worthy Is The Lamb That Was Slain / Amen
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SITE RATING:
10/10
SITE REVIEW:
This was the first Messiah
recording I really fell in love with, so perhaps I'm a bit biased, but
even considering that this is a live recording, the performance
standards and sound is everything I could wish for. Stephen
Cleobury, conducting the Brandenburg Concert in a beautiful chapel in
Pieterskerk, Leiden, The Netherlands, is joined by a spectacular array
of artists, including the transcendent Lynne Dawson, the powerful,
supple voice of John Mark Ainsley, the creamy-voice alto Hillary
Summers, and the powerful, but not overpowering Alastair Miles.
Equaling them in vocal beauty and performance is the Choir of
King's College Cambridge, who have never sounded so good, or so
unified, not even on their more recent Messiah
recording with Cleobury.
Part of the success of this recording must be attributed to
the
live setting, which seems to bring out the best instincts of all
involved. The candle-drenched cathedral (to truly appreciate
this
performance, seeing it on DVD is a must), is whisper-quiet, with very
little audience noise distinguishable, and despite the pressures of
performing in front of an audience (and being filmed at the same time),
everyone is focused, unified, and beautifully at one with the message
of the text. Absolutely essential.
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