---

SITE RATING:  8/10 SITE REVIEW: Carl Høgset's 1996 English-language recording of Messiah on Norwegian label Quattro is a worthy addition to collections, with a bright, energetic reading, generally fine singing from soloists and choir, and fine ambient sound in this live recording.  Tenor Paul Agnew has a pleasing tone, albeit his timbre seems more attuned to the Broadway stage than classical literature.  His arias have a slight "pop" sound, which may throw off baroque purists, but I found his style different and refreshing.  Mezzo-soprano Tuva Semmingsen brings a male-alto tone to her arias, singing "But Who May Abide" with a cool, pitch-perfect reading.  Bass Njål Sparbo is superb, singing with a vibrant tessatura and clean, precise melismas.  Soprano Mona Julsrud possesses a brilliant sheen to her tone, and reflects the same icy precision of her fellow soloists.  The Grex Vocalis choir sings with Baroque cleanness, with little in the way of vibrato or heaviness - there are moments of pitch problems, but I account that more to the natural flaws of a live performance rather than to any inherent fault of the choir, who sings for the most part with unity and thrilling beauty.  The Oslo Baroque Orchestra plays with similar exactness, and the sound, recorded live in the Oslo Ris Church is rich and full.  Høgset's direction is tight, and the only fault I can find with the performance as a whole is that it suffers from the sterility of feeling that can afflict Messiah when Baroque stylings are given weight over the textual demands of the work.  Still, this is a valuable recording of Messiah, although difficult to attain for those outside of Norway.

---