Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)This DVD is a nice surprise: a very good version of Handel's Messiah. Although here we don't see any pretensions of authenticity (like in some performances with no oboes/bassoons, or with the soloists forming part of the choir, etc.), is very authentic indeed. Using the 1752 version, we have a small orchestra, with period instruments (The Brandenburg Consort, including two trumpets, an organ and a harpsichord), and an all-male choir (King's College) - the sopranos are boys with beautiful voices. An excellent team of soloists: the bass (Alastair Miles) haves a strong voice, very adequate to this work; Hillary Summers is a true contralto, with an outstanding timbre, secure at low notes. John Mark Ainsley and Lynne Dawson completes the team - they sing very well, easily in the most difficult passages. Conducting, Stephen Cleobury, an specialist in this field.
The venue is an old church (twelfth century) at the Netherlands, with candle-lit interior: a very calm, pious atmosphere (but some people in the audience must be send to an hospital, to heal his coughing... thank God , they choose to cough only at the moments between the chapters). Camera work is good, with minor faults (like the passage of the trumpeters in front of the camera at the start of "Hallelujah" chorus). But technically speaking, the quality is excellent, as occurs with the sound Dolby 5.1(personally, I would prefer listen more the winds, and less the harpsichord, but the balance of this DVD don't bothered me ).
Unfortunately, there's not extras or subtitles, but you can easily find the chapters (it doesn't occurs in the Haydn's "Schoepfung" DVD, with Schreier conducting).
I'm very satisfied with my copy: the Messiah is a work that lives in my heart - the most wonderful music, the most beautiful message.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Handel - Messiah / Cleobury, Dawson, Summers, Brandenburg Consort (1993)
George Frideric Handel's most famous oratorio, Messiah, is a grand and inspiring anthology of passages from the Old and New Testaments relating to Christ before, during, and after his life on Earth. Messiah's power, lyricism, sincerity and profundity make it one of the supreme musical creations as well as an outstanding example of devotional art. This live recording from the handsome twelfth century Pieterskerk in Leiden, Holland provides a superbly atmospheric setting, cutting away toeighteenth century Bible prints and religious paintings by Rembrandt. Featuring the internationally acclaimed Choir of King's College, soloists Lynne Dawson (soprano), Hillary Summers (alto), John Mark Ainsley (tenor) and Alastair Miles (bass), and the Brandenburg Consort conductedby Stephen Cleobury. 140 minutes.
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