Handel - Messiah / Hunt, J. Williams, Spence, Minter, J. Thomas, W. Parker, PBO, McGegan

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
When it was first issued, this was billed as the "do it yourself" Messiah, since the presence of alternate versions of many of the arias and choruses allowed you to assemble any of the many different versions that Handel conducted in his lifetime. That gimmick aside, this performance really doesn't stand up against much of the "original instrument" competition--particularly Trevor Pinnock, The Sixteen, or Harmonia Mundi's own later version with William Christie and Les Arts Florissants--perhaps the best of all. --David Hurwitz

Handel - Messiah / Hunt, J. Williams, Spence, Minter, J. Thomas, W. Parker, PBO, McGegan, Music, George Frideric Handel, Nicholas McGegan, Lorraine Hunt, Janet Williams, Patricia Spence, Drew Minter, Jeffrey Thomas, William Parker, Choral, Christmas / Chanukkah, Christmas Music, Classical, Oratorio, Xmas Classical Vocal
Handel - Messiah / Hunt, J. Williams, Spence, Minter, J. Thomas, W. Parker, PBO, McGegan
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Points for Completeness
  • As Handel intended . . . Angellic !
  • Complete -but to buy?...
  • Interest "scholarly" exercise however...
  • A complete but not an extraordinary recording
 Handel - Messiah / Hunt, J. Williams, Spence, Minter, J. Thomas, W. Parker, PBO, McGegan
Lorraine Hunt , Janet Williams , Patricia Spence , Drew Minter , Jeffrey Thomas , William Parker , and Philharmonia Baroque
Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000007D4
Release Date: 1992-12-07

Tracks:

  1. Sinfonia/Comfort Ye/Every Valley Shall Be Exalted/And The Glory Of The Lord - Jeffrey Thomas
  2. Thus Saith The Lord - William Parker
  3. But Who May Abide The Day Of His Coming - Drew Minter
  4. And He Shall Purify The Sons Of Levi - U.C. Berkeley Chamber Chorus
  5. Behold, A Virgin Shall Conceive/O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings To Zion/O Thou That Tellest - Patricia Spence
  6. For Behold, Darkness Shall Cover The Earth/The People That Walked In The Darkness - William Parker
  7. For Unto Us A Child Is Born/Pifa/There Were Shepherds Abiding In The Field - Janet Williams
  8. And Lo, The Angel Of The Lord Came Upon Them - Janet Williams
  9. And The Angel Said Unto Them/And Suddenly There Was With The Angel/Glory To God - Janet Williams
  10. Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter Of Zion - Lorraine Hunt
  11. Then Shall The Eyes Of The Blind Be Opened - Patricia Spence
  12. He Shall Feed His Flock - Patricia Spence
  13. His Yoke Is Easy - U.C. Berkeley Chamber Chorus
  14. Thus Saith The Lord - William Parker
  15. But Who May Abide The Day Of His Coming - William Parker
  16. But Who May Abide The Day Of His Coming - Lorraine Hunt
  17. But Who May Abide The Day Of His Coming (Recitative) - William Parker
  18. But Lo! The Angel Of The Lord Came Upon Them - Janet Williams
  19. Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter Of Zion - Janet Williams
  20. He Shall Feed His Flock - Drew Minter

Tracks:

  1. Behold The Lamb Of God - U.C. Berkeley Chamber Chorus
  2. He Was Despised And Rejected Of Men - Patricia Spence
  3. Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs And Carried Our Sorrows; And With His Stripes We Are Healed/All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray/All They That See Him Laugh Him To Scorn/He Trusted In God/Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His Heart/Behold And See... - Jeffrey Thomas
  4. Lift Up Your Heads/Unto Which Of The Angels Said He At Any Time/Let All The Angels Of God Worship Him - Jeffrey Thomas
  5. Thou Art Gone Up On High - Drew Minter
  6. The Lord Gave The Word - U.C. Berkeley Chamber Chorus
  7. How Beautiful Are The Feet - Lorraine Hunt
  8. Their Sound Is Gone Out Into All Lands - U.C. Berkeley Chamber Chorus
  9. Why Do The Nations So Furiously Rage Together - William Parker
  10. Let Us Break Their Bonds Asunder - U.C. Berkeley Chamber Chorus
  11. He That Dwelleth In Heaven/Thou Shalt Break Them With A Rod Of Iron - Jeffrey Thomas
  12. Hallelujah! - U.C. Berkeley Chamber Chorus
  13. Thou Are Gone Up On High - William Parker
  14. Thou Art Gone Up On High - Patricia Spence
  15. How Beautiful Are The Feet.../Their Sound Is Gone Out... - Lorraine Hunt
  16. How Beautiful Are The Feet.../Break Forth Into Joy - Patricia Spence
  17. How Beautiful Are The Feet... - Drew Minter
  18. Their Sound Is Gone Out... - Jeffrey Thomas
  19. Why Do The Nations - William Parker
  20. He That Dwelleth.../Thou Shalt Break Them... - Jeffrey Thomas

Tracks:

  1. I Know That My Redeemer Liveth - Lorraine Hunt
  2. Since By Man Came Death - U.C. Berkeley Chamber Chorus
  3. Behold, I Tell You A Mystery - William Parker
  4. The Trumpet Shall Sound - William Parker
  5. Then Shall Be Brought To Pass - Drew Minter
  6. O Death, Where Is Thy Sting? - Jeffrey Thomas
  7. But Thanks Be To God - U.C. Berkeley Chamber Chorus
  8. If God Be For Us - Janet Williams
  9. Worthy Is The Lamb - U.C. Berkeley Chamber Chorus
  10. Amen - U.C. Berkeley Chamber Chorus
  11. O Death, Where Is Thy Sting? - Patricia Spence
  12. He Was Despised... - Lorraine Hunt

Amazon.com

When it was first issued, this was billed as the "do it yourself" Messiah, since the presence of alternate versions of many of the arias and choruses allowed you to assemble any of the many different versions that Handel conducted in his lifetime. That gimmick aside, this performance really doesn't stand up against much of the "original instrument" competition--particularly Trevor Pinnock, The Sixteen, or Harmonia Mundi's own later version with William Christie and Les Arts Florissants--perhaps the best of all. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Points for Completeness.......2006-11-17

I purchased a copy of this shortly after its release for an opportunity to hear the variants included. Having satisfied my curiosity, I've pretty much relegated it to the shelf. It's one of those recordings I respect without much enthusiasm. The much lamented Lorraine Hunt is the standout soloist. William Parker's baritone is well suited to the high lying tessitura of the bass part and his tone is nicely plush - and poignant given that he passed away not long after the recording from effects of a long illness. The other soloists are thoroughly professional. I have never cared much for the sound of the UC Berkeley Chorus in this or the other Handel oratorios McGegan recorded with them. There's nothing wrong with the choral voices as such, but I think glee club every time I hear them. The booklet makes much of the recording's engineering but the results are dry and lifeless. The conducting is pretty good, but I think the final "Amen" is a miscalculation. After the vigor of the penultimate chorus, the slow and soft singing is like stepping into mud. There are better historically informed performances available, but this is a unique opportunity to hear both Handel's original ideas, second thoughts, and response to necessity - like the secco recitatives substituted in Dublin because of singer limitations (for example, Who may abide). I've read elsewhere those those bits were lost to posterity, but that's a question for the musicologists.

5 out of 5 stars As Handel intended . . . Angellic !.......2005-02-01

This recording of Handel's Messiah is not only my favorite of the oratorio --- it is my favorite baroque music CD of all. The recording is super clear, the performance is professional and uncluttered, and the interpretation is simply elegant. Sure, history buffs out there might like the extra tracks to investigate the various revisions Handel went through. Personally, I rarely use them. But I do find the vocal interpretations to be easily digested without the normal bravado which accompanies soloists who like to go "over-the-top". If you want a Messiah you can sing along to, or if you want to practice with your own choir --- this is the recording for you. Furthermore, I find McGegan has done an excellent job of finding the somber and reverent Handel among all the glitzy copies of this piece. No, this Hallelujah Chorus won't blow you away like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's version, but the softer, gentler moments are beautifully presented here with true baroque intonation and phrasing. For me, this performance sounds much more authentic and true to Handel's original score than others on period or reproduction instruments. Because of the 3 CD format, the performance isn't hammered and quick stamped like other 2 CD sets. You can actually play it on 3 successive evenings as was originally intended. The slower tempos allow the harmonies of the instruments to correctly marry with unrushed vocal solos. The Messiah is not about how loud you can blow into a valve-less horn or how duck-like you can make your oboes squawk; it's about whether or not the pastorale can transport you to heaven, ... and this one does !

3 out of 5 stars Complete -but to buy?..........2004-12-20

McGegan and rather his engineers do not feel the depth of the work. Unfortunately enough, because his name "sells" the disc, and people will be disappointed under the xmas tree.
The completeness of it is stunning. A precise "higlight" CD containing all the alternative versions elsewhere unavailable would have been eloquent, however, would have made the complete one unsalable. There exists a single highlight CD, which is a trade-off between the ideal and a neglectible.

3 out of 5 stars Interest "scholarly" exercise however..........2001-12-20

This CD set is the most complete all versions of arias, choruses etc., and by simply programming your cd player, you can "recreate" various performances. Novel as it may seem it is not enough for me to recommend this set. I believe the Messiah should be really heartwarming, however McGegan create a really thin, cool sound. The orchestra and chorus lacks body -- a very small chamber choir doesn't help either. An interesting scholarly exercise. For those who really want a period performance should consider the excellent set by John Eliot Gardiner and the Monteverdi Chorus.

3 out of 5 stars A complete but not an extraordinary recording.......2000-07-02

I bought this recording of Handel's Messiah based on a recommendation made by a friend of mine, but I was a little disappointed when I heard it. In my humble opinion, the soloists are far from being great, although they do a fine job in almost all recitatives and arias. The choir has a beautiful sound but is very very weak: is it possible that we are talking about 40 people? The good point about this recording is, that it is REALLY complete: different versions of the same arias, recitatives and choruses, which lets you reconstruct Handel's original performances. Still, I would say: go for other renderings of this work if you are not interested in having 4 versions of the same arias (although I must say, it's really interesting to know them all).

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