Hatrack River Forum: Best Messiah recording

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Posted by AutumnFire (Member # 7320) on :

Michael Marissen gave a talk at Swarthmore college Wednesday about this piece as a fortaste of his sure-to-be-controversial book he's about to publish about it.

I asked him (or rather, I asked my father who asked him) what his favorite recording is. He said "For me, the best Messiah cd by far is the one on Archiv by Paul McCreesh and the Gabrieli Consort." I suppose that would make it at least worth a look.

Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :

Hey, any plans to satisfy people's curiosity on your One of These Women Is Not Like the Other thread?

Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :

Holy Cats, Noemon has over 10,000 posts!

Who's Michael Marissen?

Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :

If OSC is interesting in a Fantabulous recording of the Messiah there is a BRAND new one that has been released by my teacher at UC davis, and the conductor of the American Bach soloists here in California, Jeffrey Thomas. The ABS are very well known for their professionalism, skill and accuracy of representation. This recording was also done at the acoustically most advanced building on the west coast, the Mondavi Center, which is equipt with a resonator in ever seat bottom to produce an extraordinarily clear quality in the music from anywhere in the hall.

I am dissapointed to hear of the bad experience with counter-tenors, if the countertenor line is executed by one equal to the task, the tone quality should be spectacular, and very different from an alto, but equally pleasing, not distracting.

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

I looooove the London Philharmonic version. Two CDs, a full more-than-two-and-a-half hours of Handel's Messiah. [Big Grin]

Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :

yah, go London Phil, they're always good

Posted by Orson Scott Card (Member # 209) on :

Orincoro, I suppose if the countertenor is well-done, I'm not particularly aware of his countertenorosity, and thus don't count it. So it may only be mediocre countenors that I'm weary of hearing ... or maybe not <grin>.

I will definitely acquire the Jeffrey Thomas/ABS version. Thanks for the recommendation. [edit: In fact, I just ordered it from Amazon.]

AutumnFire: The Gabrieli Consort version was given to me after I wrote my column. It is, indeed, gorgeous - flawless, in truth. I don't know that the interpretation is the "best" (what would that be?) but it is certainly pleasing, and the performances are all excellent. It may just be as close to the perfect performance as one can achieve.

Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :

Dana and I just sang in the Messiah in a community chorus. I purchased a copy of the recording. I can pretty much guarantee that it will be the BEST version of Messiah I have appeared on to date.

[Wink]

We had some amazing soloists. And we had a lot of fun.

I'm not sure any recording could actually top the experience of singing this piece. But then, I'm on a total high from today's performance.

Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :

>>If OSC is interesting in a Fantabulous recording of the Messiah<<

:snicker:

In my opinion, OSC is interesting ALL the time, not just when he's singing contralto. . .

Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :

Got our CD of the Council Bluffs Messiah Chorus performance in which we had parts (in the Chorus, not soloists).

I have to say, this recording came out great! I'm sure a professional group could do it better, but I'm just amazed at how good we sound on this. It's wonderful.

I'm so glad we did it.

[Big Grin]

And, having been in it, I am now interested in listening to other recordings. I think I could appreciate them more now than I could've before.

Handel = genius.

Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Scott R:
>>If OSC is interesting in a Fantabulous recording of the Messiah<<

:snicker:

In my opinion, OSC is interesting ALL the time, not just when he's singing contralto. . .

So cheep... So cheep Scott.

Actually I went to the most recent ABS performance of Messiah last week, and there was an alto (female) singing the countertenor line, but this time two male altos singing the alto duet. Excuisitely performed on period instruments or period copies. and INTERESTING TOO!!!!

Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :

ps. I think a contralto is a female tenor, a countertenor is more closely Identified with a male alto

Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :

So what do they call a female baritone, then? Other than freak, that is. [Razz]

Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :

Sexy

Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :

Ex-smoker, maybe?

Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :

Sexy it is, then. [Cool]