RECORDINGS

LABEL: THE INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPANY (TIM)
CATALOG NUMBER: 220566
EAN NUMBER: 4011222205667
NUMBER OF DISCS: 2
RUNNING TIME: 69:43, 77:34
YEAR RECORDED: 1999
CD RELEASE DATE: MAY 4, 2006
CONDUCTOR: MORTEN TOPP
ORCHESTRA: AKADEMISK ORKESTER
CHOIR: AKADEMISK KOR
SOPRANO: BODIL ARNESEN
CONTRALTO: ULLA KUDSK JENSEN
TENOR: MICHAEL KRISTENSEN
BASS: HANS LAWAETZ
AUDIO SAMPLES HIGHLIGHTS OTHER RELEASES
DISC ONE

Part 1

1 Symphony .................... 3:24
2 Accompagnato (tenor): Comfort ye. . 2:42
3 Air (tenor): Ev'ry valley. . . ......... 3:22
4 Chorus: And the glory............ 3:14
5 Accompagnato (bass): Thus saith the Lord .............. 1:22
6 Air (bass): But who may abide...... 4:24
7 Chorus: And he shall purify ........ 2:24
O Rectative (alto): Behold, a virgin .... 0:27
9 Air (alto) and Chorus: O thou that tellest 5:59
10 Accompagnato (bass): For behold, darkness .... . ....... 1:57
11 Air (bass): The people that walked... 3:38
12 Chorus: For unto us a Child is born . . 3:54
13 Pifa .... . ..................... 2:40
14 Recitative and accompagnato (soprano): There where shepherds........... 1:40
15 Chorus: Glory to God ............ 1:58
16 Air (soprano): Rejoice ............ 4:25
17 Recitative (alto): Then shall the eyes . 0:31
18 Duet (alto, soprano): He shall feed . . 5:31
19 Chorus: His yoke is easy .......... 2:23

Part 2

20 Chorus: Behold the Lamb of God ... 3:09
21 Air (alto): He was despised ....... 10:28
 DISC TWO

1 Chorus: Surely ................. 1:56
2 Chorus: And with his stripes ........ 2:05
3 Chorus: All we like sheep ............ 3:46
4 Accompagnato (tenore): All they that see Him............. 0:43
5 Chorus: He trusted in God......... 2:36
6 Accompagnato (tenor): Thy rebuke . . 1:29
7 Arioso (tenor): Behold, and see ..... 1:14
8 Accompagnato (tenor): He was cut off. . 0:15
9 Air (tenor): But thou didst not leave . . 2:15
10 Chorus: Lift up your heads ........ 3:09
11 Recitative (tenor):Unto which of the angels ......... 0:14
12 Chorus: Let all the angels of God ... 1:37
13 Air (alto): Thou art gone up on high. . 3:23
14 Chorus: The Lord gave the word .... 1:13
15 Air (soprano): How beautiful ....... 2:36
16 Chorus: Their sound is gone out..... 1:48
17 Air (bass): Why do the nations ...... 2:57
18 Chorus: Let us break............. 1:52
19 Recitative (tenor): He that dwelleth . . 0:11
20 Air (tenor):Thou shalt break ........ 2:04
21 Chorus: Hallelujah .............. 3:50

Part 3

22 Air (soprano): I know that my Redeemer liveth .... 5:53
23 Chorus: Since by man came death . 2:12
24 Accompagnato (bass): Behold, I tell you a mistery ........ 0:33
25 Air (bass): The trumpet shall sound... 8:54
26 Recitative (alto): Then shall be brought 0:16
27 Duet (alto, tenor) and Chorus: O death. . 3:38
28 Air (soprano): If God is for us....... 4:46
29 Chorus: Worthy is the Lamb........ 4:05
30  Chorus: Amen ................. 5:46
SITE RATING:  4/10
SITE REVIEW:  Well, it sure doesn't take long for recordings to become "classics" in Scandinavia - recorded in 1999 and released on the Classico label, and re-released a mere seven years later by German-label The International Music Company, this CD was put out as part of the "Scandinavian Classics" series.  If you had any question that this is a Scandinavian product, all doubts are put to rest due to the prominent depiction of Hans Christian Andersen's "Little Mermaid" statue on the front cover, as well as a full-insert picture of the statue inside!  That aside, this is certainly a competent recording - Morton Topp conducts the Akademisk Orkester and Choir with plenty of verve, with tempos that sound faster than is necessary, and a general heavy-handedness to everything that strips this Messiah of it's lightness and joy, and turns this recording into a bit of a chore.  There is also a strange Italian flavor to the performance, with the Pifa in particular sounding a bit Bellini-esque.  Soprano Bodil Arnesen is spread thin on her high notes, tenor Michael Kristensen is a bit flat-toned in his performance, bass Hans Lawaetz seems to struggle with his breathing and sustaining, and alto Ulla Kudsk Jensen is far too dry and toothless in her performance.  The Akademisk Orkester struggles with line and phrasing, and the Choir is very indistinct and muddy, despite having a pleasing tone.  I'm afraid that if this is what the Scandinavian's consider a "classic" recording of Messiah, I'll wait for the next Renaissance.
The Compleat Messiah All Content Copyright © 2009 Bret D. Wheadon
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