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RECORDINGS |
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| LABEL: |
FIRST
IMPRESSION |
| CATALOG
NUMBER: |
FIMSACD039 |
| UPC NUMBER: |
0828767203928 |
| NUMBER OF DISCS: |
2 |
| RUNNING
TIME: |
70:57,
60:13 |
| YEAR
RECORDED: |
1982 |
| CD
RELEASE DATE: |
NOVEMBER
10, 2003 |
| CONDUCTOR: |
ANDERS
ÖHRWALL |
| ORCHESTRA: |
SWEDISH
RADIO
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA |
| CHOIR: |
STOCKHOLM
BACH CHOIR |
| SOPRANO: |
YVONNE
KENNY |
| COUNTERTENOR: |
PAUL
ESSWOOD |
| TENOR: |
MARTYN
HILL |
| BASS: |
MAGNUS
LINDÈN |
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DISC
ONE
1. Sinfonia
(Grave. Allegro
Moderato)
2:59
2. Comfort ye (Arioso, tenor)
2:53
3. Every valley (Air, tenor)
3:49
4. And the glory of the Lord (Chorus)
2:57
5. Thus saith the Lord (Recitative, bass)
1:28
6. But who may abide (Air, countertenor)
4:28
7. And He shall purify (Chorus)
2:51
8. Behold, a virgin (Recitative, countertenor)
0:30
9. O thou that tellest (Air, countertenor & chorus)
5:42
10. For, behold (Recitative, bass)
1:41
11. The people that walked (Air, Bass)
3:27
12. For unto us a Child is born (Chorus)
4:34
13. Pifa
2:43
14. There were shepherds abiding
1:34
15. Glory to God (Chorus)
2:24
16. Rejoice greatly (Air, soprano)
4:35
17. Then shall the eyes (Recitative, countertenor)
0:30
18. He shall feed his flock (Duet, alto & soprano)
5:25
19. His yoke is easy (Chorus)
2:38
20. Behold the Lamb of God (Chorus)
2:16
21. He was despised (Air, countertenor)
11:00
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DISC
TWO
1.
Surely, He hath borne (Chorus)
1:50
2. And with His stripes (Chorus)
2:19
3. All we like sheep (Chorus)
4:12
4. All they that see Him (Recitative, tenor)
0:43
5. He trusted in God (Chorus)
2:19
6. Thy rebuke hath broken His heart (Recitative, soprano)
2:15
7. Behold, and see (Arioso, sporano)
1:22
8. He was cut out (Recitative, tenor)
0:24
9. But Thou didst not leave (Air, tenor)
2:31
10. Lift up your heads (Chorus)
3:14
11. Unto which of the angels said (Recitative, tenor)
0:18
12. Let all the angels (Chorus)
1:32
13. Thou art gone (Air, countertenor)
3:07
14. The Lord gave the word (Chorus)
1:17
15. How beautiful (Air, soprano)
2:18
16. Why do the nations (Air, bass)
1:23
17. Let us break their bonds (Chorus)
1:48
18. He that dwelleth (Recitative, tenor)
0:17
19. Thou shalt break them (Air, tenor)
2:04
20. Hallelujah (Chorus)
4:03
21. I know that my Redeemer liveth (Air, soprano)
6:08
22. Since byman came death (Chorus)
1:50
23. Behold, I tell you a mystery (Recitative, bass)
0:36
24. The trumpet shall sound (Air, bass)
4:15
25. Then shall be brought (Recitative, countertenor)
0:22
26. Worthy is the Lamb (Chorus)
3:22
27. Amen
3:57
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SITE RATING:
8/10
SITE REVIEW:
Anders
Öhrwall's 1982 recording of Messiah
done for
the audiophile label First
Impressions is stylish and well
recorded,
with bright tempi, gorgeous singing from the Stockholm Bach Choir and
sparkling playing from the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra.
The sound, although taken from a live performance, is
fittingly excellent for a label that touts its superior sound, and the
soloists are first rate, with a couple of caveats. Tenor
Martyn Hill is very fine, although he sounds like he strains in his
upper register and melismas, and Yvonne Kenny is a smooth, perfectly
fitted soprano, singing with great technique and if not much feeling.
Countertenor Paul Esswood is also technically very good,
although I found his tone distracting, although I enjoyed his pure
pitch centers and fluid vocals. Bass Magnus Lindèn
I didn't
like at all - his throaty, swallowed tone and blustery manner were
completely out of sync with his fellow soloist's sweeter tones.
Öhrwall's
conducting is splendid, with bright, majestic flourishes reminiscent of
Handel's court music; and I can't say enough about the fine, unified
playing and singing of the choir and orchestra. Available as
a
hybrid SACD-DSD and the rarer XRCD format, this fine recording deserves
to be heard by Messiah
lovers
everywhere.
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