bass24ever | Houston, Texas United States | 07/31/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Subject pretty sums it up. The soloist, choir and orchestra perform exceptionally for the conductor to deliver a wonderful performance you will want to listen to again and again. A plus for me is the text from this recording matches the G. Schirmer, Inc. score, ISBN 0-7935-4559-5, that my church choir will use in its performance. This recording is making it very easy to learn my part."
Wonderful, dramatic performance
bass24ever | 08/18/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a re-release of the older Angel recording. A wonderful performance with all the singers at their peak. Fisher-Dieskau is one of the best Elijah's I have ever heard. Text is in English."
A Joyfull Elijah
David A. Hill | Burlingame, California United States | 05/02/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is an original sound recording made by EMI in 1968 and is still the standard by which one should enjoy Mendelssohn's Elijah. With Gwyneth Jones, Nicolai Gedda, Janet Baker and Dietrich Fisher-Dieskau what more could you ask for in a performance of one of the great masterpieces of music. The libretto, originally in German, was translated into English by William Bartholomew who Mendelssohm called a translator 'par excellence.' Enjoy-enjoy-enjoy!"
The Best Elijah
Jaromir Benesch | New York, New York United States | 02/18/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The oratorio that the public loves and critics love to bash just won't go away. George Bernard Shaw said people who like it were the kind of folks that thought pretty blond haired girls were angels, and it is true that Mendelssohn's work never provides a soul-moving emotional experience. But oh what exquisitely lovely melodies coupled with some properly rousing choruses! Although some very fine singers have recorded the Elijah, this one has never been surpassed. Janet Baker has the perfect style for this oratorio, Gedda and Fischer-Dieskau provide beautiful tone with great phrasing and diction and the conductor seems to have an instinct for the right tempos. O.K. so its just a chocolate truffle and not a "religious" experience..enjoy this truffle. It's far and away the best."
The Full Operatic Treatment
Timothy Dougal | Madison, Wi United States | 01/01/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"In general, I tend to like fast performances of big works. This recording is an exception. This performance, led by Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos, one of the longest 'Elijah's, coming in at almost 140 minutes, is an exception. This is due in large part to the soloists, all performing at the peak of their considerable powers, all having been given ample leeway by the conductor to exercise their glorious vocal and dramatic gifts. This is not to say that Fruhbeck de Burgos just sits back, but the interpretation IS expansive, and borders on the Wagnerian. In the other recordings I have heard of this oratorio, over which the conductors pretty much let the piece play, Part I comes off quite a bit better than Part II. In this recording, the conductor's firm hand evens out the impact of the two halves for a more satisfying total experience. As noted in one other review, the articulation of the chorus could be better, but overall, the recording is more than satisfactory."