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Handel's Messiah

post #1 of 15
3/26/10 at 4:09pm
Thread Starter 
Hi folk, not made many postings on the forum but been lurking for a while.

Just curious to know peoples favourite recording of Handel's Messiah and if anyone can recommend me a version, prefrably an older recording I might find on vinyl.
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post #2 of 15
3/26/10 at 4:27pm
The one i heard is the Chandos performance...worth hearing. Still need to know more about them.
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post #3 of 15
3/26/10 at 6:12pm
I'm a fan of Christopher Hogwood's recording, mostly because of Emma Kirkby, and a really lovely boys choir.
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post #4 of 15
3/26/10 at 6:53pm
I have owned many versions. My favorite so far has been the John Eliot Gardiner, played with period instruments. Highly recommended.
Also, next time you go to London, a trip to the British Library (St Pancras exit-subway) look for the original manuscript signed by Handel himself. They also have the original manuscript the soloists used in the Dublin premiere.
Some of the more modern recordings have used huge orchestras and choirs (a la Mormon Tabernacle), unlike the original performance.
And of course, don't forget to pay your respect at his burial place at Westminster's Abby.
LL
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post #5 of 15
3/26/10 at 7:11pm
William Christie (Harmonia Mundi) and Trevor Pinnock (Archiv)
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post #6 of 15
3/26/10 at 11:04pm
For Messiah I prefer the older versions that are so terrible not Historically Informed. They are adulterated, sometimes bizarre, and they don't do it like that anymore. They are also thrilling, magical, and exciting -- over orchestration and all. So, look for the old recording by Sir Thomas Beecham on LP -- heady stuff.
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post #7 of 15
3/27/10 at 1:10am
LOL. Of course you are right. there is a version for every taste.
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post #8 of 15
3/27/10 at 5:48am
Recording by Sir Malcolm Sargent
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post #9 of 15
3/27/10 at 7:53am
Thread Starter 
Thanks everyone, I shall be spending the day trawling charity (thrift) shops and second hand record dealers armed with your advice. I know there is a a VG condition John Eliot Gardiner box set at a local store, if I can barter them down enough I will try a couple of other recordings.

Thanks for the info about the British Library gilency, I will pop in for a look next time I am there.
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post #10 of 15
3/27/10 at 8:55pm
I hope is still there. There was a room with original manuscripts including some from Chopin and Bach. Next to them there were some original Beatles works, a Magna Carta, and several ancient Torahs, Quorans and Bibles. It was the highlight of my visit to London, just 2 weeks before the subway bombings.
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post #11 of 15
3/28/10 at 10:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by gilency View Post
I have owned many versions. My favorite so far has been the John Eliot Gardiner, played with period instruments. Highly recommended.
This is the version that I have also, and recommend it.
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post #12 of 15
3/29/10 at 12:19am
I have both the Gardiner recording and the Christophers (with the Sixteen). Overall I prefer the latter, with the intimacy of a 19 voice choir, although there are a couple of choruses I prefer in the former.

My idea of hell is a massed choir singing the Hallelujah, heaven a small choir and the Amen....
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post #13 of 15
3/29/10 at 12:27am
LOL. I wholeheartedly agree with you!
I dislike huge masses of singers which sound like a blur without clarity like the Tabernacle Choir.
That's why I like Baroque music played with small groups playing instruments of the period.
Bu again, we may be in the minority.
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post #14 of 15
3/29/10 at 12:28am
I really like the recording on Naxos conducted by Higginbottom (The Academy of Ancient Music and Choir of New College Oxford). They use all trebles instead of sopranos, the solos too! It's a nice change from the standard version, apparently Handel himself used this setup in a 1751 performance in Dublin.
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post #15 of 15
3/29/10 at 12:42am
Does anyone have a recording of the Mozart arrangement? I've performed it, but only have our dodgy recording of it. The arrangements are generally more lush than the original, but "Trumpet Shall Sound" played by the horn instead tends to put people off somewhat!
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