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RECORDINGS |
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| LABEL: |
SERAPHIC FIRE |
| CATALOG NUMBER: |
N/A |
| UPC NUMBER: |
634479859236 |
| NUMBER OF DISCS: |
1 |
| RUNNING TIME: |
61:50 |
| DATE RECORDED: |
DECEMBER 20, 2006 |
| CD RELEASE DATE: |
AUGUST 12, 2008 |
| CONDUCTOR: |
PATRICK
DUPRÉ QUIGLEY |
| ORCHESTRA: |
SERAPHIC FIRE CHAMBER
ORCHESTRA |
| CHOIR: |
SERAPHIC FIRE |
| TREBLE: |
FRANCES
COLLINS |
| SOPRANO: |
CAROLINA CASTELLS,
TERESA WAKIM |
| COUNTERTENOR: |
REGGIE
MOBLEY |
| TENOR: |
VINCENT DAVIES |
| BASS: |
JAMES BASS, PAUL MAX
TIPTON |
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DISC ONE
1. Messiah, HW 56: Symphony
3:22
2. Messiah, HW 56: Comfort Ye
2:32
3. Messiah, HW 56: Ev'ry Valley 3:14
4. Messiah, HW 56: And the Glory of the Lord
2:34
5. Messiah, HW 56: Behold, a Virgin Shall Conceive
0:22
6. Messiah, HW 56: O Thou that Tellest
4:53
7. Messiah, HW 56: For Behold, Darkness
1:34
8. Messiah, HW 56: The People That Walked in Darkness
3:18
9. Messiah, HW 56: For Unto Us a Child Is Born
3:50
10. Messiah, HW 56: Pifa / There Were Shepherds
1:07
11. Messiah, HW 56: And Lo, the Angel of the Lord
0:17
12. Messiah, HW 56: And the Angel Said Unto Them
0:31
13. Messiah, HW 56: And Suddenly There Was With the Angel
0:18
14. Messiah, HW 56: Glory to God 1:50
15. Messiah, HW 56: Rejoice Greatly 4:27
16. Messiah, HW 56: His Yoke Is Easy
2:14
17. Messiah, HW 56: Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs
1:40
18. Messiah, HW 56: And With His Stripes
1:29
19. Messiah, HW 56: All We, Like Sheep
3:52
20. Messiah, HW 56: The Lord Gave the Word
0:55
21. Messiah, HW 56: Hallelujah
3:24
22. Messiah, HW 56: I Know That My Redeemer Liveth
5:10
23. Messiah, HW 56: Since By Man Came Death
1:47
24. Messiah, HW 56: Worthy Is the Lamb
3:04
25. Messiah, HW 56: Amen 3:52
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SITE RATING: 7/10
SITE REVIEW:
Seraphic Fire, a Miami-based chamber chorus
& orchestra under the direction of Patrick Dupré Quigley, regularly performs a "highlights" version of Messiah
each Christmas-time, claiming on their website that the 75+ minute
concert is an annual sellout. Clocking in at just over sixty
minutes, this live concert recording captures the sixteen-voice choir
admirably, with beautiful ambiance and blend, electrifying soloists
(for the most part) and razor-sharp diction and dynamic changes.
Drawing the soloists from their own forces, tenor Vincent Davies
shines on "Comfort Ye" with a thrilling tone and control - his
performance hampered only by the loud persistent coughing present in
the audience, which unfortunately punctuates the entire recording; also
his tendency to vocal embellishments arguably detract, rather than
enhance the reading. Countertenor Reggie Mobley fares somewhat
worse with distinct pitch issues and odd, trembling melismas during a
painful "O, thou, that tellest". Bass James Bass is impressive
during "For behold, darkness" while Paul Max Tipton takes over
for an equally spacious "The People That Walked In Darkness". The
choir sings with admirable unity and cleanness, which is one of the
blessings of a small chorus - it's apparent that these are first-class
vocalists, who nevertheless manage to sing together with remarkable
oneness. Quigley's tempos are distinctly modern, with quicker,
brighter tempos evident throughout, befitting his smaller, lighter
forces. The Seraphic Fire Chamber Orchestra exhibits verve and
passion, but is recorded with less immediacy than I would prefer.
Although this is a generally impressive performance, the
recording is severely hampered by audience noise, and makes me wish
that they had recorded this during a closed session.
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