SITE RATING:
8/10
SITE
REVIEW:
I can't tell you how joyous and
refreshing it is to
discover a recording of Messiah
that not only hews closely to it's baroque
roots, but with a simple,
but profound recasting, coupled with superb
artistry, cleanness and
power, completely transforms it into something
utterly unique.
The Black Dyke Band, (est. 1855) is an
England-based brass band,
and under the brilliance of Dr. Denis Wright's
arrangement, present
Handel's Messiah
scored
entirely for brass accompianment, along with
traditional vocal and
choral soloists. The change in color and
presentation from both
historically performed and modern instruments
is breathtaking;
with Messiah gaining a regal, rich sound
utterly unlike any other
recording I've ever heard. The Black
Dyke Band is superb in their
playing, giving rich, virtuoso performances,
startling in their
adeptness, light-fingered in their attacks and
melismas, and richly
recorded. All this would be for naught
however, if the soloists
and choir were of a lesser light, but The
Halifax Choral Society
(which, being established in 1817, promotes
itself as the world's
oldest choral society) are impressive, rich in
nuance and phrasing, and
expertly blended with the orchestra.
There are occasional
internal blend and intonation issues, which
keep this recording from
the top of the Messiah
echelon, but they are in general small, and I
found myself completely
won over. The soloists are similarly excellent
- and occasional changes
in vocal assignments (such as having "But who
may abide" sung by the
Mezzo-soprano) which are ear-catching and
interesting. The
soloist's tessituras are richer than modern
tastes might dictate, but I
found them each emotionally invested in their
solos, and completely
proficient. Conducter John Pryce-Jones'
tempos are spot on, with
everything seemingly perfect in its place.
But the real selling
point of this recording is the chance to hear
a work so steeped in
familiarity given a new royal sheen, golden,
and burnished with warmth.
If you have not availed yourself
of this recording, it
is a MUST hear.
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