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SITE RATING:  8/10 SITE REVIEW:  Another one of those highlights discs which I wish were a full-score recording of Messiah, since the forces assembled are so compelling.  George Malcolm leads the Scottish Chamber Orchestra with a sure, stylistic hand, playing in a more romantic style, but not with leaden tempos - everything here is carefully measured for effect, with finely-judged dynamic changes, and alternately smooth and sharp attacks.  The soloists are uniformly excellent, with Glenn Winslade a triumphant, heroic tenor; soprano Felicity Lott in her prime with careful, expertly crafted arias; Linda Finnie a mature, vibrant presence on her single solo; and baritone Henry Herford vibrant, if a bit hooty in his moments.  The Scottish Philharmonic Singers are similarly excellent, powerful and clear with no discernible accents distracting from the text.  Malcolm's tempos are slower than I might have expected from the employment of a chamber orchestra, and occasionally sound heavy, but the playing and singing are dramatic, expert, and committed, and I enjoyed the short (a mere 53 minutes) program very much.  Worth seeking out for listeners who might enjoy a taste of Messiah in the Romantic tradition - with very fine playing and singing.

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