Search - George Frideric Handel, Eugene Ormandy, The Philadelphia Orchestra :: Handel - Messiah - Mormon Tabernacle

The Ormandy Messiah--Without Equal!

R. H. Peterson | Rigby, ID United States | 11/02/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I grew up hearing this rendition of Handel's Messiah, so I admit I may be biased; however, since my youth I have heard many other recordings and this 1959 Ormandy recording remains my favorite by far!Some say that the Ormandy rendition is technically inferior to comparatively modern recordings which place more emphasis on period instruments, historical reproduction, etc. I would counter that the Ormandy recording is about the Messiah instead of being just another performance of Handel's Messiah. The tempos--slower than those of more recent recording--give additional meaning to this sacred work and lead the listener to reflect on the religious significance of the work instead of solely considering the technical aspects of its performance. It is from this perspective that the Ormandy recording is perhaps the most artful of all Messiah recordings, as well as the standard against which many others are compared.The universal complaint regarding the Ormandy recording is that it is not a complete recording. Several segments (principally airs and recitatives) were omitted because of space limitations. In 1995, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, under the direction of Sir David Willcocks, released a second, complete recording of the Messiah. This recording is no doubt more technically accurate than the Ormandy recording, yet still is not as widely regarded or as well known.I own both Mormon Tabernacle Choir Messiah recordings, but if I had to choose one, it would definitely be the Ormandy version. I couldn't recommend it more highly!"

Handel's Messiah At Its Best

Harry Littell | Sacramento, CA USA | 12/23/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I began searching for the best Messiah many years ago. I received my first copy of this version as a gift and over the years I have come to realize the manner of presentation, along with the meticulous attention to detail, can only lead one to believe that Handel himself would feel this to be the best. No flamboyancy. No dramatic interpretation. Simply the best recording of the Messiah."

This may be a beloved recording, but not the best

albertatamazon | East Point, Georgia USA | 04/12/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I also grew up with this recording (on LP) and I also loved it, until I realized what was missing. I had taken it for granted because of the misleading liner notes that it was customary to omit certain numbers. I soon found out otherwise, though, and I discovered that the numbers omitted here are every bit as inspired as the rest of the oratorio.



The other great fault that I find with this recording is that it uses the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, as bland a chorus as ever became famous. (The soloists are excellent, but that can also be said of the ones in several other "Messiah" albums.)



I had no idea of what I was really missing until I discovered the Robert Shaw Chorale's 1966 recording, which I heard for the first time in 1974. It has everything that the Ormandy recording does not; instead of heavy, ponderous conducting and a chorus of two hundred singers, it utilizes lively conducting and a chamber chorus, as well as brilliant soloists. With this recording, and with his 1984 remake on Telarc with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Chorus, Shaw established himself as the twentieth century's definitive conductor of "Messiah". Both Shaw versions are now on CD.



Ormandy's recording has much nostalgic meaning for many people, but it cuts as much as forty-five minutes from the two-and-a-half hour score, and can't even begin to compare with Shaw's two magnificent complete recordings. "Messiah" lovers deserve better than a mutilated version of the work."