RECORDINGS

LABEL: ARTS MUSIC
CATALOG NUMBER: ARZ 45007DA
UPC NUMBER: 600554500768
NUMBER OF DISCS: 2
RUNNING TIME: 140:55
YEAR RECORDED: 2000
CD RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 28, 2003
CONDUCTOR: DIEGO FASOLIS
ORCHESTRA: I BAROCCHISTI
CHOIR: CORO DELLA RADIO SVIZZERA
SOPRANO: LYNNE DAWSON
MEZZO-SOPRANO: GUILLEMETTE LAURENS
TENOR: CHARLES DANIELS
BASS: ANTONIO ABETE
AUDIO SAMPLES HIGHLIGHTS OTHER RELEASES
DISC ONE

1. Sinfony: Grave - Allegro moderato
2. Accompagnato: Comfort ye, comfort ye my people
3. Air: Ev'ry valley shall be exalted
4. Chorus: And the glory of the Lord
5. Accompagnato: Thus saith the Lord of Hosts
6. Air: But who may abide the day
7. Air. Chorus: And he shall purify
8. Recitative: Behold, a virgin shall conceive    
9. Air & Chorus: O thou that tellest good tidings
10. Accompagnato: For behold, darkness shall cover
11. Air: The people that walked
12. Chorus: For unto us a Child is born
13. Pifa (Pastoral Symphony). Larghetto e mezzo piano
14. Recitative: There were shepherds ... No. 14b: Accompagnato: And lo, the angel of t
15. Recitative: And the angel said unto them
16. Accompagnato: And suddenly there was    
17. Chorus: Glory to God in the highest
18. Air: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion
19. Recitative: Then shall the eyes    
20. Air: He shall feed his flock
21. Chorus: His yoke is easy
22. Chorus: Behold the Lamb of God
23. Air: He was despised and rejected
24. Chorus: Surely he hath borne our griefs
25. Chorus: And with his stripes we are healed
26. Chorus: All we like sheep have gone astray
 DISC TWO

1. Accompagnato: All they that see him
2. Chorus: He trusted in God
3. Accompagnato: Thy rebuke hath broken his heart
4. Arioso: Behold, and see if there
5. Accompagnato: He was cut off out of the land    
6. Air: But thou didst not leave
7. Chorus: Lift up your heads
8. Recitative: Unto which of the angels    
9. Chorus: Let all the angels of God
10. Air: Thou art gone up on high
11. Chorus: The Lord gave the word
12. Air: How beautiful are the feet
13. Air: Why do the nations so furiously
14. Chorus: Let us break their bonds asunder
15. Recitative: He that dwelleth in heaven    
16. Air: Thou shalt break them
17. Chorus: Hallelujah
18. Air: I know that my Redeemer
19. Chorus: Since by man came death
20. Behold, I tell you a mystery
21. Air: The trumpet shall sound
22. Duet: O death, where is thy sting?
23. Chorus: But thanks be to God
24. Air: If God be for us
25. Chorus: Worthy is the Lamb... Amen.
SITE RATING:  9/10
SITE REVIEW:  This 2000 recording of Messiah by renowned Swiss baroque interpreter Diego Fasolis is one of the most internationally flavored recordings on the market, with his Swiss Radio Chorus and I Barocchisti joining British soprano Lynne Dawson, fellow Brit tenor Charles Daniels, French mezzo-soprano Guillemette Laurens, Italian bass Antonio Abete in one of the most pleasing Messiahs of the decade.  In fact, this recording would probably rate higher with me if not for the distracting accents of the various parts vying for my attention, and drawing me out of an otherwise wonderful performance.  Under Fasolis' near-definitive direction, the Swiss Radio Chorus and I Barocchisti create a beautiful tapestry of sound, sharp and defined, with quick, light playing and balanced vocal tones.  The soloists are similarly fine, with tenor Charles Daniels giving a thrilling performance, with beautifully realized embellishments and a gorgeous tone.  Guillemette Laurens and Lynne Dawson are similarly fine, with intelligent, attuned performances that bring out all the loveliness of their arias.  Bass Antonio Abete is the weakest link, for, despite a wonderful tone and performance, carries a thick accent which is omnipresent and distracting, and occasionally sounds heavy and forced as in "Why Do The Nations".  But this is a very good Messiah overall, and ranks near the top of my favorites list.  Also released on a limited-pressing DVD audio disc.
The Compleat Messiah All Content Copyright © 2009 Bret D. Wheadon
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