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RECORDINGS |
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| LABEL: |
ANGEL / EMI |
| CATALOG NUMBER: |
63621 |
| UPC NUMBER: |
077776362120 |
| NUMBER OF DISCS: |
3 |
| RUNNING
TIME: |
146:00 |
| YEAR RECORDED: |
1965 |
| CD RELEASE DATE: |
SEPTEMBER 20, 1990 |
| CONDUCTOR: |
OTTO KLEMPERER |
| ORCHESTRA: |
LONDON PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA |
| CHOIR: |
LONDON PHILHARMONIA CHORUS |
| SOPRANO: |
ELISABETH SCHWARZKOPF |
| CONTRALTO: |
GRACE HOFFMAN |
| TENOR: |
NICHOLAI GEDDA |
| BASS: |
JEROME HINES |
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DISC ONE
Part the First
1. Sinfony 4:37
2. Recitative: Comfort ye my people 3:30
3. Air: Ev'ry valley shall be exalted 4:02
4. Chorus: And the glory of the Lord 3:22
5. Recitative: Thus saith the Lord 1:50
6. Air: But who may abide the day of his coming 5:34
7. Chorus: And he shall purify 2:49
8. Recitative: Behold, a virgin shall conceive 0:28
9. Air: O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion 5:35
10. Chorus: O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion 2:28
11. Recitative: For behold, darkness shall cover the earth 2:48
12. Air: The people that walked in darkness 4:26
13. Chorus: For unto us a child is born 4:39
14. Pifa (Pastoral Symphony) 3:57
15. Recitative: There were shepherd abiding in the fields 1:34
16. Chorus: Glory to God 2:15
17. Air: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion 5:00
18. Recitative: Then shall the eyes of the blind be open'd 0:28
19. Air: He shall feed His flock like a shepherd 5:28
20. Chorus: His yoke is easy, His burthen is light 2:44
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DISC
TWO
Part the Second
1. Chorus: Behold the Lamb of God 3:31
2. Air: He was despised and rejected of men 10:07
3. Chorus: Surely, He hath borne our griefs 2:48
4. Chorus: And with His stripes we are healed 1:51
5. Chorus: All we like sheep have gone astray 4:13
6. Recitative: All they that see Him, laugh Him to scorn 1:03
7. Chorus: He trusted in God 2:44
8. Recitative: They rebuke hath broken His heart 1:44
9. Arioso: Behold and see if there be any sorrow 1:43
10. Recitative: He was cut off of the land of the living 0:28
11. Air: But thou didst not leave His soul in hell 2:55
12. Chorus: Lift up your heads, O ye gates 3:19
13. Chorus: The Lord gave the word 1:10
14. Air: How beautiful are the feet 2:23
15. Chorus: Their sound is gone out into all lands 1:36
16. Air: Why do the nations so furiously rage together 3:18
17. Chorus: Let us break their bonds together 2:01
18. Recitative: He that dwelleth in Heaven 0:16
19. Air: Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron 2:13
20. Chorus: Hallelujah, for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth 4:14
Part the Third
21. Air: I know that my Redeemer liveth 6:06
22. Chorus: Since by man came death 1:56
23. Recitative: Behold, I tell you a mystery 0:31
24. Air: The trumpet shall sound 4:19
25. Chorus: Worthy is the Lamb 3:46
26. Chorus: Amen
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SITE RATING: 9/10
SITE REVIEW:
Klemperer's 1965 Messiah
is highly regarded among listeners who love the large, grand,
slow-moving performances which dominated the 1970s and before.
And hearing it, it's easy to understand why - although I
generally prefer the lighter, swifter performances, there is an
undeniable pleasure in hearing Messiah
performed with such majesty and grace - rather than dancing, this Messiah
glides like a grand monarch, stately and refined. To my ears,
there are schools within schools among any of the styles of Messiah - comparing this one with
Karl Richter's 1972 recording is illuminating - whereas Richter's Messiah
was somewhat hard-edged and Germanic in its staunch rhythms and
square-shouldered attitude, Klemperer's performance is much warmer,
with a proud and stately manner that is still compelling. The
soloists are similarly grand and warm, although still with the
full-throated operatic mannerisms that are so much of the past in
Messiah's of today. Bass Jerome Hines is truly Wagnerian in his
arias, capturing the full range of drama, NIcholai Gedda is less
memorable, but still potent, while Grace Hoffman and Elisabeth
Schwarzkopf are both rich and dramatic in their readings. The
recorded ambience is very good for a 1965 recording, if muted by the
technology of the times - I first heard the Klemperer on the Japan
EMI Classics
recording, (which is far cheaper than the collector's prices being
asked in the States) and the power of the chorus is magnificent on the
louder passages. A beautiful, impressive Messiah, worthy of being in any
collection.
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