SITE RATING: 4/10
SITE REVIEW:
As far as I'm aware, this is the earliest filmed
performance of Messiah
(although only the first half) ever, which alone makes it of interest.
Included as a bonus performance as part of this boxed-set release
of Omnibus, the 1950s-era
television series hosted by Bernstein in which he, using all of his
considerable charm and musicianship, introduced America to all the vast
variety of music, both classical and modern, jazz, opera, and popular
which you could find in the U.S. at the time. Although of
historical interest, the performance leaves much to be desired in terms
both technical and performance issues. The performance, despite
(or probably because of) Bernstein's presence, is overblown to the
greatest degree, with the greatest offenders being the Schola Cantorum,
who sing with all the fervor of a tent revival, showing little unity in
their blustery sound. The soloists all hail from the Grand Opera
stage, and sing with full-throated efforts, part of which I blame on
the primitive recording equipment available to live television at the
time, and the distraction of them having to sing for a camera.
The recording quality, while somewhat better than a kinescope,
still manages to distract from the performance at nearly every turn,
with the camera either too far back to capture the performers
expression, or too close in, focusing on the more attractive choir
members in steely close-ups. Bernstein's conducting is certainly
energetic, but it doesn't translate into pushed tempos, for Bernstein
keeps things firmly in the Romantic mode, bringing out truckloads of
melodrama, but little subtlety. Recommended for historic Messiah enthusiasts, early TV fans,
musicians, but not a first choice of video performances of Messiah.
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