RECORDINGS

LABEL: CLASSICAL KING FM 98.1
CATALOG NUMBER: SW11599
UPC NUMBER: N/A
NUMBER OF DISCS: 3
RUNNING TIME: 62:30, 61:38, 40:38
YEAR RECORDED: 1999
CD RELEASE DATE: NOVEMBER 1, 1999
CONDUCTOR: GEORGE SHANGROW
ORCHESTRA: ORCHESTRA SEATTLE
CHOIR: SEATTLE CHAMBER SINGERS
SOPRANO: CATHERINE HAIGHT
MEZZO-SOPRANO: EMILY LUNDE
TENOR: STEPHEN WALL
BARITONE: BRIAN BOX
AUDIO SAMPLES HIGHLIGHTS OTHER RELEASES

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DISC ONE

PART I
1. Overture 4:03
2. Comfort ye my people 3:24
3. Every valley shall be exalted 3:43
4. And the glory of the Lord 3:14
5. Thus saith the Lord 1:43
6. But who may abide the day of his coming? 4:54
7. And He shall purify 2:24
8. Behold, a virgin shall conceive 0:34
9. O thou that tellest good tidings 5:36
10. For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth 3:22
11. The people that walked in darkness 4:25
12. For unto us a Child is born 3:58
13. Pastoral Symphony 3:03
14. There were shepherds abiding in the field 0:32
15. And the angel said unto them 0:46
16. And suddenly there was with the angel 0:18
17. Glory to God 2:02
18. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion 5:22
19. Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened 0:31
20. He shall feed His flock like a shepherd 5:53
21. His yoke is easy, and His burthen is light 2:15
 DISC TWO

PART II
1. Behold the Lamb of God 4:21
2. He was despised 10:01
3. Surely He hath borne our griefs 2:50
4. And with His stripes we are healed 4:08
5. All we like sheep have gone astray 4:16
6. All they that see Him, laugh Him to scorn 0:44
7. He trusted in God that He would deliver Him 2:14
8. Thy rebuke hath broken His heart 1:44
9. Behold, and see if there be any sorrow 1:20
10. He was cut off out of the land of the living 0:22
11. But Thou didst not leave His soul in hell 3:04
12. Lift up your heads, O ye gates 3:24
13. Unto whic hof the angels said He 0:18
14. Let all the angels of God worship Him 1:23
15. Thou art gone up on high 4:20
16. The Lord gave the word 1:03
17. How beautiful are the feet of them 2:36
18. Their sound is gone out into all lands  2:33
19. Why do the nations so furiously rage?  2:57
20. Let us break their bonds asunder 1:50
21. He that dwelleth in heaven  0:16
22. Thou shalt break them 2:18
23. Hallelujah! 3:36
 		DISC THREE

PART III
1. I know that my Redeemer liveth 6:59
2. Since by man came death 2:16
3. Behold, I tell you a mystery 0:37
4. The trumpet shall sound 9:37
5. Then shall be brought to pass 0:20
6. O death, where is thy sting? 1:48
7. But thanks be to God 2:09
8. If God be for us, who can be against us?  6:01
9. Worthy is the Lamb 10:51
SITE RATING:  7/10
SITE REVIEW:  This rare release by Orchestra Seattle and Seattle Chamber Singers, conducted by George Shangrow, is one of the few truly complete recordings of Messiah, and also one of the few of the last three decades which completely eschews the baroque music resurgence of the 1980s, instead hearkening back to the large, slow Messiahs of the 1950s and before.  Even more surprising is that it's a good recording; most locally-released albums such as this boast average ensemble work and soloists, and while the soloists here aren't world-class by any means, they're better than I expected.  Conductor George Shangrow allows ornamentation with both soloists and orchestra, which can be distracting (and, in the instance of tenor Stephen Wall, occasionally out of his reach), but when taking Messiah at such largo tempos, ornamentation helps fill in the long spaces - it's entirely justifiable, if not to my tastes.  The Orchestra Seattle and Seattle Chamber Singers are both very fine, with strongly defined playing and singing, and well-separated in the recording.  Actually, when a performance is this slow and grand, I would prefer a warmer, more "romantic" ambiance, and this one is very dry - it allows for great clarity and separation, but robs the recording of some of the warm, recorded beauty which the older recordings had, and which benefited them.  Of the other soloists, alto Emily Lunde has a pleasing tone, but a wide vibrato which I dislike; bass Brian Box is good, lacking only a truly vibrant tone in his arias, while soprano Catherine Haight is my favorite here, with a clear, bright tone sparkling with youth and joy.  Overall, a pleasantly surprising Messiah, with excellent orchestral and choral work, diffident soloists, and a grand, slow tradition recreated for modern audiences.

The Compleat Messiah All Content Copyright © 2009 Bret D. Wheadon
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