This is the recording of the "Messiah"
593203
Even tough it is a very light orchestation, it is an extremely powerfull interpretation.  When you listen to this recording, you are taken to heaven and brought back with a vivid impression of your experience.  The sound of  the orchestra is clear and beautiful, lovely.  The soloist are great and  the choir sounds like a choir of angels.  A great choice of Handel's  Masterpiece.
1665709
The Messiah is, by far, my favorite piece of classical music.  It has been a Christmas tradition for me to attend singalong Messiah concerts for many years.  This score has been the choice of the choral conductors and organizers of the concerts of which I have been a part.  I bought this book to give to my son-in-law for Christmas, as part of a package that also included a recording of a radio program about the Messiah and Handel, and a CD of the music.  He is an musician, so I knew he would enjoy it, and I wanted to provide him with material to share with my granddaughters, so they could also become acquainted with this great piece of music. He was very pleased to receive the gift.
1390004
Jesus Messiah, that is all I have to say.  I only bought this CD for this one song, so that is all I listen too.  I might get to the other songs in the future, and thank you for the program Cloud Player.
989539
An excellent production of the masterpiece work by Handel! I listen to it throughout the year - not just during the holidays.  I especially like the choral selections!  Though the "lyrics" are simply Scripture, the words and music together are awe-inspiring!
938126
I agree with the previous reviewer that this is a magnificent recording.  My only difference is what the other greatest recording of the other greatest version is.  I nominate the version by the Hollywood String  Quartet.
Both of these recordings deserve to be in the collection of  any lover of chamber music who believes, as I do, that the true golden of  chamber music was in the 1950's (and also in the 1930's).
This piece  was considered by George Steiner to be equivalent to a proof of the  existence of God. While I'm not sure I could go that far, it is most surely  proof of the indominable spirit of the composer.
Sample the Casals and  the Hollywood Quartet versions.  You'll probably be like me and buy both  versions.
1924382
I recently heard the live recording of the Ninth and believe that the former is superlative. There is no background noise, of course, and there is much more control and precision. This Ninth seems to embrace more wholly the spiritual content of the piece, and additionally, the lieder is included for half the price of the live recording. There is no reason why one would not select this over the other.
2527214
Without reservation this is a fine recording; Michelangeli's is an act of God.  A crude analogy would be as follows: the girl next door is pretty; the girl of one's dreams is the stuff of life.  I urge you to not buy this recording! Buy the michelangeli recording on emi.
2430181
I bought Beecham's Solomon on the original Seraphim 33s back in about 1958. I've played it so much that the old 33s were filled with scratches and skips and finally became unplayable.  I listened to a new performance on CD, and could not enjoy it because it just didn't sound like Handel.

I continued to check for a remastering of Beecham's version, and finally, it's here!  It was and is the best interpretation of Solomon that I've ever heard.  If Beecham has left out some of the original score, he did it for sound reasons.

Beecham put together a performance of Messiah with Jennifer Vivian, Monica Sinclair, etc. that is far and away the best of that Handel work.  It's presumptuous of conductors coming along after Beecham to think that they can improve on Beecham's interpretation of any Handel work, certainly including Solomon.
3508280
this is an outstanding recording of an amazing artist.
2406399
Sorry guys...took too long to get back and review this. No offense to the guy who raved on this. NO! I had a copy of this years ago searching for the same version. This is not it. The copy I'm looking for ROCKED!!!.  This seems almost rushed. Too fast. The version i was looking for is POWERFUL!!!! Moving....I'm sorry, this may be a famous recording....an it has some significants as far as that....but NO....this ain't it. Very dissapointed. If anyone knows what I'm talking bout an knows where i can find a version of this that it slower....powerful as hell, please show me the way. Once again, no offense to the guy who raved on this....but NO...there is a recording of this piece that is simply POWERFUL....this is not it.
3979512
The track I specifically purchased is No. 19, Arise Your Light Has Come by David Danner, any my review is based solely on that.
Unsurprisingly for those who know how these college/university Christmas shows are done, this is a live recording. As such, it has coughs, other audience/ambient noise, and some performance imperfections.
All that being said, this is a pretty good recording in terms of audio quality. The clarity of the choir, brass, and other instruments (organ, percussion) is good and well-balanced. The brass is not perfect; if you listen there are a few bobbles here and there, but on the whole this performance is good and can be listened to repeatedly. The only downside is the applause at the end, which goes on a bit longer than necessary if you have no emotional attachment to the performance itself.
I didn't find any commercial (studio or otherwise) recordings of this work, so until something else comes along this recording will have to suffice.
2022598
This a fantastic product - 3 beautiful discs for about twenty dollars.

The most popular selections from the Messiah are "For Unto Us A Child is Born" and "Hallelujah". So, let me review those two tracks.
The choir's sound is clean, yet rich and colorful. Each voice part executes the rapidly moving section at the end of the phrase "for unto us a child is born" with clarity and beauty, setting the choir apart as a world class one. (Most amateur choirs butcher this section, their voices not being agile enough; and even some professional choirs nail the intonation but that's about it)
The rich and resonant soprano section in the Hallelujah chorus makes the top notes seem so effortless and triumphant. I sing soprano so I can truly tell good soprano sections when I hear them (and the bad ones too!), but I'm sure the other sections are also equally good in this recording.

All the other tracks are great. I loved the alto soloist in "Thou that tellest good tidings to Zion".

In other words, don't let the price scare you. This is really a recording worth having.
676186
This is a rare recording in that it is the only cd I know of available in the English-speaking world that contains an audio recording of the Ethiopian Divine Liturgy service. As a member of the American Orthodox church, I recognize the basic structure of the service as being very similar to that of other Orthodox churches, with a few exceptions, even though the only word I can recognize on the recording is "Amen".

In terms of production, the cd consists of one track lasting over an hour (kind of annoying to have to fast forward to parts you want to hear) and while the liner notes tell a little about the Ethiopian church they tell almost nothing about the recording. There are points where this live recording goes from barely audible to very loud, as if it was recorded in the back of the church with a single microphone with no compression at all. It should be remembered this is a recording of a church service sung by non-professional singers who are worshipping God, not putting on a performance. Still, there are some beautiful and interesting melodies sung by a soloist about 45 minutes to an hour into the recording. To me they sound similar in melody to North Indian singing, very melismatic. I would have given 3 stars but it is the only recording by the only sub-saharan african christian church more than 600 years old, being founded by one of Christ's apostles.
522411
A miraculous recording.  I have just listened to it twice, and I am entranced.  To being with, Brahm's easily muddied textures are crystal clear.  This is due in part to playing of the very finest quality and unanimity of understanding - no gimmicks, just very, very good playing and ensemble - and partly due to some of the cleanest, clearest recording I have ever heard.  The quality of the playing and the sound leap out at you from the fist measure: this is something special.  There is full investment in the inner drama of the music, done with musical means, and never beating you over the head with it, as some younger quartets are won't to do.  Buy this.  It is wonderful and amazing, and CD to live with for a very long time.
2516841
I love the Robert Shaw interpretation of MESSIAH.  Compared to some heavier versions, this has a clarity, precision, and lighter feel to it, capturing the majesty at the same time.  Had a couple of other versions which seemed ponderous.
271269
It isn't. It's great. The recordings, by the original artists, are of excellent quality. The oversize booklet adds greatly to the enjoyment -- it contains the lyrics of all but the Christmas songs, two articles, many photos, and extensive information about the performers and personnel.

And why is it in mono? Because that's the way Spector wanted it! -- to get his famous Wall of Sound effect.

Grab this one while it's still available.
987635
I attended about 10 Handel's Messiah concerts by the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and Toronto Symphony between 1979 and 2000 under at least three different conductors.

I have to say that the one I attended in December 1986 ,with Andrew Davis as the conductor, and Katheleen Battle as the Soprano, is by far the best. About two years later, I bought an LP version the recording but lost it in a  downtown restaurant .

In 2002, when  I was living in Ottawa, I bought this CD from an EMI store in downtown . I have been listening to it during every Christmas  since.