Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. No. 2. Accompagnato. Comfort ye my people
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. No. 3. Air. Ev'ry valley shall be exalted
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. No. 4. Chorus. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. No. 5. Accompagnato. Thus saith the Lord of Hosts
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. No. 6. Air. But who may abide the day of his coming
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. No. 7. Chorus. And he shall purify the sons of Levi
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. No. 8. Recitative. Behold, a virgin shall conceive
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. No. 9. Air and Chorus. O thou that tellest good tidings
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. No. 10. Accompagnato. For behold, darkness shall cover
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. No. 11. Aria. The people that walked in darkness
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. No. 12. Chorus. For unto us a Child is born
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. No. 13. Pifa
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. No. 14. Recitative. There were shepherds abiding in the fields / Accompagnato. And lo, the
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. No. 17. Chorus. Glory to God in the highest
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. No. 18. Air. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. No. 19. Recitative. Then shall the eyes of the blind be open'd
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. No. 20. Air. He shall feed his flock
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. No. 21. Chorus. His yoke is easy, his burthen is light
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. No. 22. Chorus. Behold the Lamb of God
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. No. 23. Air. He was despised
Track Listings (28) - Disc #2
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. No. 24. Chorus. Surely, he hath borne our griefs
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. No. 25. Chorus. And with his stripes we are healed
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. No. 26. Chorus. All we, like sheep, have gone astray
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. No. 27. Accompagnato. All they that see him
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. No. 28. Chorus. He trusted in God
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. No. 29. Accompagnato. Thy rebuke hath broken his heart
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. No. 30. Arioso. Behold, and see, if there be any sorrow
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. No. 31. Accompagnato. He was cut off out of the land
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. No. 32. Air. But thou didst not leave his soul
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. No. 33. Chorus. Lift up your heads, O ye gates
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. No. 34. Recitative. Unto which of the angels
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. No. 35. Chorus. Let all the angels of God worship him
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. No. 36. Air. Thou art gone up on high
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. No. 37. Chorus. The Lord gave the word
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. No. 38. Air. How beautiful are the feet
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. No. 39. Chorus. Their sound is gone out
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. No. 40. Air. Why do the nations so furiously rage
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. No. 42. Recitative. He that dwelleth in heaven
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. No. 43. Air. Thou shalt break them
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. No. 44. Chorus. Hallelujah!
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 3. No. 45. Air. I know that my Redeemer liveth
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 3. No. 46. Chorus. Since by man came death
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 3. No. 47. Recitative. Behold, I tell you a mystery
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 3. No. 48. Air. The trumpet shall sound
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 3. No. 49. Recitative. Then shall be brought to pass
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 3. No. 50. Duet. O death, where is thy sting?
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 3. No. 52. Air. If God be for us
Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 3. No. 53. Chorus. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain - Amen
A standard recommendation for Handel's evergreen "Messiah" on original instruments, this recording has stood the test of time. The distinguished soloists include Anne Sofie von Otter towards the beginning of her career.
A standard recommendation for Handel's evergreen "Messiah" on original instruments, this recording has stood the test of time. The distinguished soloists include Anne Sofie von Otter towards the beginning of her career.
The "Messiah" was composed by Handel in the late summer of 1741. Charles Jennens describes his libiretto for the 'Messiah' as a 'Scripture Collection', because it consists of a cleverly-arranged selection of biblical texts.
In his 'Messiah' Handel combines the sheer grandeur and power of his German roots with the color of his Italian experience, joining with the unique flavor of the English language. His music can thus be powerful, like the tenor arioso 'Thou shalt break them with a rod and iron', or it can be colorful and skippy like the wonderful 'For unto us a Child is Born', or it can be stirring and majestic llike the 'Hallelujah' and 'Amen' choruses.
Musically speaking, the recitatives and arias are definitely in a style derived from opera, supplemented by choruses of the type Handel has developed in his English odes and oratorios. The work is divided into three acts or parts, but the narrative is largely confined to Part Two. Part One is mainly concerned with prophecy and its fullfilment and Part Three with commentary on the importance of the previous story.
The really inspiring part of this recording, from my own point view, is Pinnock's choice of soloists: Arleen Auger(soprano) who sings so beautifully that one does not care WHAT she sings, you just want her to continue!!!!. Anne Sofie von Otter(contralto) is never quite satisfying to me in her emotional investment, but no one can deny her skill in this genre. Michael Chance (countertenor) is the epitome of intense dramatic interpretation and all sung with that incredibly lovely voice. Howard Crook (tenor) has great resonance and a tasty vibrato as is evidenced by his beautifull aria "Ev'ry Valley Shall Be Exalted". John Tomlinson (bass) convinced me of his skill in his rendition of "Why do the nations so furiously rage".
Some of Pinnock's tempos seemed to be a little on the slow side, which may be responsible for the chorus 'bogging down'at times, but overall they did a good job of interpreting and singing in a typical 'Handelian' style. Thus English Concert & Choir did their part in making this a memorable listening experience.
There are many 'Messiahs' out there, and no two sound the same, so go for what YOU prefer because none of them are totally bad OR totally good. EXAMPLE: If you want 'razzle-dazzle' tremendously exciting choral work, go for John Eliot Gardiner's recording ( I don't much care for the soloists in that one, but there is a lot of choral work to enjoy. If you want a very 'British Choir' sound with all-male voices performing beautfully throughout, go for the New College Choir of Oxford, AND if you want the most interesting and unique interpretation try Maulbronn Monestery's LIVE performance with Budday: JUST GREAT LISTENING. ETC. ETC. ETC."