A Messiah to send Hippites rushing for the smelling salts ?

[Barbirollians]

Due for release next month - Handel Messiah - Halle/Barbirolli with the Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus and Elizabeth Harwood, Marjorie Thomas, Gerald English and Kim Borg - a BBC Broadcast from a concert at Belle Vue in 1964 .

[Petrushka]

Due for release next month - Handel Messiah - Halle/Barbirolli with the Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus and Elizabeth Harwood, Marjorie Thomas, Gerald English and Kim Borg - a BBC Broadcast from a concert at Belle Vue in 1964 .

Coming hot on the heels of Sir Andrew Davis's own version on Chandos smelling salts might well be inadequate!

My own personal favourite Messiah is that from Solti and the Chicago SO but I'll certainly be searching out the Barbirolli.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The 1960 Halle/Barbirolli performance at the King's Hall was my first ever live Messiah. The hall itself was a very large circular building, home of Manchester's annual circus.

[visualnickmos]

'Messiah' is one of those works, that for decades I have thought - "should I, or shouldn't I?" I've never listened to it in its entirity, and have never been quite 100% convinced that I would 'get on with it' - although Solti sounds a good proposition - but it's still on the back-burner, I fear...

Just out of pure interest, only - does anyone have works that are like my feeling about 'Messiah?"

[jean]

I was taken to a large-scale, traditional performance of Messiah - usually conducted by Sargent - every year as a child in the 50s, and after that I thought I would never want to hear it again.

HIPP revived my interest somewhat - but I still wonder why so many Messiahs when there's so much other (and more interesting?) Handel to explore!

.

[VodkaDilc]

Due for release next month - Handel Messiah - Halle/Barbirolli with the Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus and Elizabeth Harwood, Marjorie Thomas, Gerald English and Kim Borg - a BBC Broadcast from a concert at Belle Vue in 1964 .

I fear that those who try to pigeonhole people's tastes in Messiahs (see title of this thread) would be bamboozled by the 'H' section of my CD shelves. The recordings I have are conducted by Sargent (1946), Hogwood (1980), Butt (2006) and Bernius (2009). I would not want to be without any of them. Isn't it a work (like most Bach) which is equally moving in all styles?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I fear that those who try to pigeonhole people's tastes in Messiahs (see title of this thread) would be bamboozled by the 'H' section of my CD shelves. The recordings I have are conducted by Sargent (1946), Hogwood (1980), Butt (2006) and Bernius (2009). I would not want to be without any of them. Isn't it a work (like most Bach) which is equally moving in all styles?

I have four recordings of Messiah - Pinnock, Christie (my favourite), McCreesh, and Beecham.

The Beecham really isn't a Messiah ... it's a very naughty boy!

And Ferrier's recordings of (Bach and) Handel arias are deeply loved by me, and have been for most of my life.

[Richard Tarleton]

Due for release next month - Handel Messiah - Halle/Barbirolli with the Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus and Elizabeth Harwood, Marjorie Thomas, Gerald English and Kim Borg - a BBC Broadcast from a concert at Belle Vue in 1964 .

I remember a televised Messiah featuring Elizabeth Harwood with quite small forces which I watched in the house of some Yorkshire (Ilkley) friends in the late 60s. "She's a Skipton girl", my hosts said approvingly.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I fear that those who try to pigeonhole people's tastes in Messiahs (see title of this thread) would be bamboozled by the 'H' section of my CD shelves. The recordings I have are conducted by Sargent (1946), Hogwood (1980), Butt (2006) and Bernius (2009). I would not want to be without any of them. Isn't it a work (like most Bach) which is equally moving in all styles?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I fear that those who try to pigeonhole people's tastes in Messiahs (see title of this thread) would be bamboozled by the 'H' section of my CD shelves. The recordings I have are conducted by Sargent (1946), Hogwood (1980), Butt (2006) and Bernius (2009). I would not want to be without any of them. Isn't it a work (like most Bach) which is equally moving in all styles?

I have 3 Sargent versions (1946, 1959, 1965), 2 Mackerras, JEG, Beecham & McGegan.

I'm certainly going to buy to buy the Barbirolli. According to the Michael Kennedy biography, JB held off performing Messiah until he was satisfied he had obtained a score representing the composer's own.

[BBMmk2]

I have pre-ordered Sir Andrew Davis's performing edition of Messiah! Can't wait to hear!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I wonder how British listeners will respond to Kim Borg's pronunciation, given that some reactions to his performance in Gerontius suggest that smelling salts were exactly what they needed. (The nation's CRAPPites might furiously rage together?)


("Committee against Regional and for Proper Pronunciation")

[Barbirollians]

I wonder how British listeners will respond to Kim Borg's pronunciation, given that some reactions to his performance in Gerontius suggest that smelling salts were exactly what they needed. (The nation's CRAPPites might furiously rage together?)


("Committee against Regional and for Proper Pronunciation")

I can cope with Borg - it sounds like it is not to be missed .

I tend to find lengthy choral works hard listening from St Matthew Passion to Dream of Gerontius - not because they are not great music with some particularly special moments but not great to listen to at such length . Messiah is an exception I think because it has so many wonderful arias and choruses - like a procession of great hits .

I have only ever had two Pinnock and Sargent with the Mackerras highlights somewhere on cassette in which Elizabeth Harwood was special .

Agree entirely about the Ferrier arias - nobody comes close in "He was despised" for me .

[BBMmk2]

IMO, KF, I just cannot abide!

[Nimrod]

Due for release next month - Handel Messiah - Halle/Barbirolli with the Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus and Elizabeth Harwood, Marjorie Thomas, Gerald English and Kim Borg - a BBC Broadcast from a concert at Belle Vue in 1964 .

From what I hear this is being issued as a Barbirolli Society Limited edition; only 500 are being made and there will be no further copies available after they're sold. I guess it'll be available off their website in the near future?