RECORDINGS

LABEL: SONY ESSENTIAL CLASSICS
CATALOG NUMBER: SB2K63001
UPC NUMBER: 5099706300120
NUMBER OF DISCS: 2
RUNNING TIME: 150:40
YEAR RECORDED: 1980
CD RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 18, 1988
CONDUCTOR: JEAN-CLAUDE MALGOIRE
ORCHESTRA: LA GRANDE ÉCURIE ET LA CHAMBRE DU ROY
CHOIR: WORCESTER CATHEDRAL CHOIR
SOPRANO: JENNIFER SMITH
COUNTER-TENOR: MARTYN HILL
TENOR: CHARLES BRETT
BASS: ULRIK COLD
AUDIO SAMPLES HIGHLIGHTS OTHER RELEASES
  SONY UK SK63004 Columbia # 79336 3LP
DISC ONE

1. Part 1. Sinfony (Grave- Allegro moderato)     02:58
2. Part 1. Accompagnato: Comfort ye my people     03:03
3. Part 1. Air: Ev'ry Vally shall be exhalted     03:40
4. Part 1. Chorus: And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed     03:10
5. Part 1. Accompagnato: Thus saith the Lord of Hosts     01:33
6. Part 1. Air: But who may abide the day of his coming     03:59
7. Part 1. Chorus: And he shall purify     02:21
8. Part 1. Recitative: Behold, a Virgin shall concieve     00:29
9. Part 1. Air: O thou that tellest good tidings     04:18
10. Part 1. Chorus:O thou that telledt good tidings     01:53
11. Part 1. Accompagnato: For behold, darkness shall cover     01:38
12. Part 1. Air: The people that walked in darkness     04:09
13. Part 1. Chorus: For unto us a Child is born     03:57
14. Part 1. Pifa (Pastoral Symphony)     03:07
15. Part 1. Recitative: There were shephards abiding in the field. Accompagnato: And lo, the angel of the Lord     01:42
16. Part 1. Chorus: Glory to God in the highest     01:58
17. Part 1. Air: rejoice greatle, O daughter of Zion     05:41
18. Part 1. Recitative: Then shall the eyes of the blind     00:31
19. Part 1. Air: He shall feed his flocke     05:00
20. Part 1. Chorus: His yoke is easy, his burden is light     02:34
21. Part 2. Chorus: Behold the Lamb of God     03:01
22. Part 2. Air: He was despised     09:48
23. Part 2. Chorus: Surely he hath borne our griefs     02:42
24. Part 2. Chorus: And with his stripes we are healed     02:31
 DISC TWO

1. Part 2. Chorus: We like sheephave gone astray     03:51
2. Part 2. Accompagnato: All they that see Him     00:48
3. Part 2. Chorus: He trusted in God     02:29
4. Part 2. Accompagnato: Thy rebuke hath broken his heart     02:07
5. Part 2. Arioso: Behold, and see if there be any sorrow     01:45
6. Part 2. Accompagnato: He was cut off out of the land     00:18
7. Part 2. Air: But thou didst not leave his soul     02:31
8. Part 2. Chorus: Lift up your heads, O ye gates     03:09
9. Part 2. Recitative: Unto which of the angels     00:17
10. Part 2. Chorus: Let all the angels of God worship Him     01:29
11. Part 2. Air: Thou art gone up on high     03:26
12. Part 2. Chorus: The Lord gave the word     01:18
13. Part 2. Air: How beautiful are the feet. Chorus: Their sound has gone out     05:31
14. Part 2. Air: Why do this nations so furiously rage     03:07
15. Part 2. Chorus: Let us break their bonds asunder     01:53
16. Part 2. Recitative: He that dwelleth in heaven     00:13
17. Part 2. Air: thoushalt break them     02:03
18. Part 2. Chorus: Hallelujah     03:43
19. Part 3. Air: I know that my Reedemer liveth     06:15
20. Part 3. Chorus: Since by man came death     02:13
21. Part 3. Recitaive: Behold, I tell you a mystery     00:29
22. Part 3. Air: The trumpet shall sound     09:12
23. Part 3. Recitative: Then shall he bought to pass     00:17
24. Part 3. Duet: O death, where is thy sting?     01:17
25. Part 3. Chorus: But thanks be to God     02:45
26. Part 3. Air: If God be for us     05:17
27. Part 3. Chorus: Worthy is the Lamb that was slain     03:52
28. Part 3. Chorus: Amen     03:22
SITE RATING:  7/10
SITE REVIEW:  Jean-Claude Malgoire's 1980 Messiah, recorded for CBS Records, is a far happier affair than his 1993 set, with brighter tempos, singing, and an all-through joie de vivre that made this a pleasure to listen to.  The Worcester Cathedral Choir of men and boys sings with great lightness and vivacity, with none of the unbalanced polarity which can hamper treble-driven forces, while the La Grande Écurie et la Chambre du Roy, playing on period instruments, acquits itself equally well, bringing a light, dancing feeling to their performing, bringing surprising bite and drama to much of their playing.  Of the soloists, tenor Charles Brett sings with affection and drama, with a somewhat woody tone, but an affecting, humanistic performance; bass Ulrik Cold is too emphatic on his melismas for my taste - punching each one as if he were giving each note a physical blow; counter-tenor Martyn Hill lends his mellow, somewhat affected timbre to the alto arias, his tone a step out of place amid his colleages; while Jennifer Smith posesses a bright, ripe tone which soars and trills with joyful abandon.  CBS Records sound assures a wonderful recorded ambience and balance as well, holding up well in the years since it was recorded. Malgoire still conducts with more technique than raw feeling, with tempi a bit too calculated to feel completely natural and at ease, but that's a small quibble - overall this is a notable performance for those wishing a strong Messiah for their collection.  As of this writing, the complete oratorio is out-of-print, which is a shame, since this is one of the stronger recordings on the Sony label, and is worthy of reissue.

The Compleat Messiah All Content Copyright © 2010 Bret D. Wheadon
All Rights Reserved.