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RECORDINGS |
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| LABEL: |
HÄNSSLER
CLASSICS |
| CATALOG NUMBER: |
HAN 98198 |
| UPC NUMBER: |
040888819820 |
| NUMBER OF DISCS: |
2 |
| RUNNING TIME: |
131:29 |
| YEAR RECORDED: |
1997 |
| CD RELEASE DATE: |
JUNE 22, 2004 |
| CONDUCTOR: |
HELMUTH RILLING |
| ORCHESTRA: |
OREGON BACH FESTIVAL
ORCHESTRA |
| CHOIR: |
OREGON BACH FESTIVAL
CHOIR |
| SOPRANO: |
SIBYLLA RUBENS |
| CONTRALTO: |
INGEBORG DANZ |
| TENOR: |
JAMES TAYLOR |
| BARITONE: |
THOMAS QUASTHOFF |
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DISC ONE
1. Sinfony - Grave -
Allegro moderato 2:42
2. Accompagnato (tenor) - Comfort Ye, Comfort Ye My
People 3:09
3. Air (tenor) - Every Valley Shall Be
Exalted 3:09
4. Chorus - And The Glory Of The Lord 3:10
5. Accompagnato (bass) - Thus Saith The Lord Of
Hosts 1:21
6. Air (alto) - But Who May Abide The Day Of His
Coming 4:24
7. Chorus - And He Shall Purify The Sons of
Levi 2:31
8. Recitative (alto) - Behold, A Virgin Shall
Conceive 0:27
9. Air (alto) and Chorus 3:37
10. O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings To
Zion 1:29
11. Accompagnato (bass) - For Behold, Darkness Shall Cover The
Earth 2:02
12. Air (bass) - The People That Walked In
Darkness 4:27
13. Chorus - For Unto Us A Child Is Born
3:52
14. Pifa - Pastoral Symphony 0:51
15. Accompagnato (soprano) - There Were Shepherds Abiding In The
Field 1:23
16. Recitative (soprano) - And The Angel Said Unto Them / First Part:
Accompagnato (soprano) - And Suddenly There Was
Wi 1:41
17. Air (soprano) - Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter Of
Zion 4:01
18. Recitative (alto) - Then Shall The Eyes Of The Blind Be
Opened 0:33
19. Air (alto and soprano) - He Shall Feed His
Flock 4:34
20. Chorus - His Yoke Is Easy 2:31
21. Chorus - Behold The Lamb Of God 2:17
22. Air (alto) he Was Despised And Rejected Of
Men 9:50
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DISC TWO
1. Chorus - Surely He Hath
Borne Our Griefs 1:59
2. Chorus - And With His Stripes We Are
Healed 1:36
3. Chorus - All We Like Sheep Have Gone
Astray 3:43
4. Accompagnato (tenor) - All They That See
Him 0:42
5. Chorus - He Trusted In God 2:20
6. Accompagnato (tenor) - Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His
Heart 2:05
7. Arioso (tenor) - Behold, And See 1:25
8. Accompagnato (tenor) - He Was Cut Off Out Of The Land Of The
Living 0:33
9. Air (tenor) - But Thou Didst Not Leave His Soul In
Hell 1:42
10. Chorus - Lift Up Your Heads 2:55
11. Recitative (tenor) - Unto Which Of The Angels Said He At Any
Time 0:14
12. Chorus - Let All The Angels Of God Worship
Him 1:22
13. Air (alto) - Thou Art Gone Up On High
2:55
14. Chorus - The Lord Gave The Word 0:58
15. Air (soprano) - How Beautiful Are The Feet Of
Them 1:50
16. Chorus - Their Sound Is Gone Out Into All
Lands 1:17
17. Air (bass) - Why Do The Nations So Furiously Rage
Together 2:41
18. Chorus - Let Us Break Their Bonds
Asunder 1:47
19. Recitative (tenor) - He That Dwelleth In
Heaven 0:12
20. Air (tenor) - Thou Shalt Break Them With A Rod Of
Iron 1:59
21. Chorus - Hallelujah 4:19
22. Air (soprano) - I Know That My Redeemer
Liveth 4:45
23. Chorus - Since By Man Came Death 1:55
24. Recitative - secco (bass) - Behold, I Tell You A
Mystery 0:39
25. Air (bass) - The Trumpet Shall Sound
8:42
26. Recitative - secco (alto) - Then Shall Be Brought To
Pass 0:15
27. Duet (alto and tenor) - O Death, Where Is Thy
Sting 0:54
28. Chorus - But Thanks Be To God 2:02
29. Air (soprano) - If God Is For Us 4:15
30. Chorus - Worthy Is The Lamb 3:33
31. Chorus - Amen 3:03
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SITE RATING: 7/10
SITE REVIEW:
Helmuth Rilling's second recording of Messiah for Hänssler
Classics is one of the more idiosyncratic Messiahs
on the market, and
an interesting listen, due to it's stentorian tempos and rigid
direction. Rilling is perhaps better known for his extensive
recordings of Bach Cantatas, and here, I can only say that this is a
very "Bach"-like approach to Handel's oratorio, with severe attention
being given to the various themes, each being given weight and purpose.
The Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra & Chorus both perform
admirably, giving exact attention to Rilling's tempos.
Unfortunately, like Sir David Willcocks Messiah on EMI, this Messiah
suffers from the strict marching attitude that the director brings to
the proceedings. Instead of a joyful celebration, this recording
feels more like a goose-stepping parade of arms, all proper conduct and
stiff-lipped correctness. All I could concentrate on while
listening was the stiff marcattos and and rolled "r's". Among the
soloists, Sibylla Rubens had the most pleasing, lightest tone, with
alto Ingeborg Danz and baritone Thomas Quasthoff both swallowed
and thick in their vocal qualities, and tenor James Taylor (no,
not THAT James Taylor), giving a light, inconsequential reading to his
arias. And since the soloists are also under the stern eye of
Rilling's rigid direction, they are given little opportunity to bring
an iota of warmth or emotion to their readings. An admirable
performance, with quick, exact performances by all, but more
academically interesting to listen to than purely enjoyable.
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