Hyperion Records | Handel: Messiah

Click album cover to view larger version

CDD22019
(Originally issued on CDA66251/2)
2CDs Dyad (2 CDs for the price of 1)

Recording details: December 1986
St John's, Smith Square, London, United Kingdom
Produced by Mark Brown
Engineered by Antony Howell
Release date: September 1997
Total duration: 140 minutes 38 seconds

GRAND PRIX DU DISQUE

'This is a model among live recordings' (The Guardian)

'One of the most attractive ever on disc' (Penguin Guide to Compact Discs) 'The performance is one of extraordinary quality. Unequivocally recommended' (The Sydney Sun Herald)

George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)

Messiah

The Sixteen, Harry Christophers (conductor)

LISTEN TO ALL EXTRACTS

		Messiah, HWV56
CD1	1	Part 1 No 01: Symphony [3'22]
	2	Part 1 No 02. Recitative: Comfort ye, my people (tenor) [3'19] Maldwyn Davies (tenor)
	3	Part 1 No 03. Aria: Every valley shall be exalted (tenor) [3'22] Maldwyn Davies (tenor)
	4	Part 1 No 04. Chorus: And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed [2'52]
	5	Part 1 No 05. Recitative: Thus saith the Lord of hosts (bass) [1'23] Michael George (bass)
	6	Part 1 No 06. Aria: But who may abide the day of his coming? (countertenor) [4'57] David James (countertenor)
	7	Part 1 No 07. Chorus: And he shall purify the sons of Levi [2'39]
	8	Part 1 No 08. Recitative: Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son (alto) [0'25] Catherine Denley (contralto)
	9	Part 1 No 09. Aria with chorus: O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion (alto) [5'20] Catherine Denley (contralto)
	10	Part 1 No 10. Recitative: For behold, darkness shall cover the earth (bass) [2'28] Michael George (bass)
	11	Part 1 No 11. Aria: The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light (bass) [3'08] Michael George (bass)
	12	Part 1 No 12. Chorus: For unto us a child is born [4'10]
	13	Part 1 No 13: Pifa 'Pastoral Symphony' [0'59]
	14	Part 1 No 14. Recitative: There were shepherds, abiding in the field (soprano) [0'17] Lynne Dawson (soprano)
	15	Part 1 No 15. Recitative: And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them (soprano) [0'20] Lynne Dawson (soprano)
	16	Part 1 No 16. Recitative: And the angel said unto them, fear not (soprano) [0'34] Lynne Dawson (soprano)
	17	Part 1 No 17. Recitative: And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude (soprano) [0'18] Lynne Dawson (soprano)
	18	Part 1 No 18. Chorus: Glory to God in the highest [2'03]
	19	Part 1 No 19. Aria: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion (soprano) [4'01] Lynne Dawson (soprano)
	20	Part 1 No 20. Recitative: Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened (alto) [0'26] Catherine Denley (contralto)
	21	Part 1 No 21. Aria: He shall feed his flock like a shepherd (alto/soprano) [5'23] Catherine Denley (contralto), Lynne Dawson (soprano)
	22	Part 1 No 22. Chorus: His yoke is easy and his burthen is light [2'19]
	23	Part 2 No 01. Chorus: Behold the Lamb of God [3'04]
	24	Part 2 No 02. Aria: He was despised and rejected of men (alto) [10'32] Catherine Denley (contralto)
CD2	1	Part 2 No 03. Chorus: Surely he hath borne our griefs [1'52]
	2	Part 2 No 04. Chorus: And with his stripes we are healed [1'38]
	3	Part 2 No 05. Chorus: All we like sheep have gone astray [3'52]
	4	Part 2 No 06. Recitative: All they that see him laugh him to scorn (tenor) [0'47] Maldwyn Davies (tenor)
	5	Part 2 No 07. Chorus: He trusted in God that he would deliver him [2'16]
	6	Part 2 No 08. Recitative: Thy rebuke hath broken his heart (tenor) [1'55] Maldwyn Davies (tenor)
	7	Part 2 No 09. Aria: Behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto his sorrow (tenor) [1'27] Maldwyn Davies (tenor)
	8	Part 2 No 10. Recitative: He was cut off out of the land of the living (tenor) [0'18] Maldwyn Davies (tenor)
	9	Part 2 No 11. Aria: But thou didst not leave his soul in hell (tenor) [2'31] Maldwyn Davies (tenor)
	10	Part 2 No 12. Chorus: Lift up your heads, O ye gates [2'56]
	11	Part 2 No 13. Recitative: Unto which of the angels said he at any time? (tenor) [0'14] Maldwyn Davies (tenor)
	12	Part 2 No 14. Chorus: Let all the angels of God worship him [1'23]
	13	Part 2 No 15. Aria: Thou art gone up on high (countertenor) [3'24] David James (countertenor)
	14	Part 2 No 16. Chorus: The Lord gave the word [1'02]
	15	Part 2 No 17. Aria: How beautiful are the feet of them that preach (soprano) [2'25] Lynne Dawson (soprano)
	16	Part 2 No 18. Chorus: Their sound is gone out into all lands [1'21]
	17	Part 2 No 19. Aria: Why do the nations so furiously rage together? (bass) [2'50] Michael George (bass)
	18	Part 2 No 20. Chorus: Let us break their bonds asunder [1'46]
	19	Part 2 No 21. Recitative: He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh them to scorn (tenor) [0'14] Maldwyn Davies (tenor)
	20	Part 2 No 22. Aria: Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron (tenor) [2'13] Maldwyn Davies (tenor)
	21	Part 2 No 23. Chorus: Hallelujah, for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth [3'48]
	22	Part 3 No 01. Aria: I know that my Redeemer liveth (soprano) [6'05] Lynne Dawson (soprano)
	23	Part 3 No 02. Chorus: Since by man came death [2'12]
	24	Part 3 No 03. Recitative: Behold, I tell you a mystery (bass) [0'34] Michael George (bass)
	25	Part 3 No 04. Aria: The trumpet shall sound (bass) [8'44] Michael George (bass)
	26	Part 3 No 05. Recitative: Then shall be brought to pass (countertenor) [0'15] David James (countertenor)
	27	Part 3 No 06. Aria: O Death, where is thy sting? (countertenor/tenor) [1'16] David James (countertenor), Maldwyn Davies (tenor)
	28	Part 3 No 07. Chorus: But thanks be to God who giveth us the victory [2'18]
	29	Part 3 No 08. Aria: If God be for us, who can be against us? (soprano) [4'43] Lynne Dawson (soprano)
	30	Part 3 No 09. Chorus: Worthy is the Lamb that was slain [3'25]
	31	Part 3 No 10. Chorus: Amen [3'13]