Naxos
Handel: Messiah / Higginbottom, AAM, Oxford New College Choir
$29.99
Details
- Composer
- HANDEL
- Artist
- Higginbottom, Soloists
- Format
- CD
- Label
- Naxos
- Released
- Oct 31, 2006
- Catalog #
- 8570131-32
- UPC
- 747313013173
About
If Handel were alive today, he'd still be revising Messiah--it's the nature of this remarkable work, and it was the nature of its very practical, theatre-savvy composer. The various "official" performing versions and hybrids, along with alternate arias and added choruses, have given modern choirs a wealth of choices for their own performances, including license to just cobble together a version to suit the needs of the available forces--just as Handel would have done. This recording claims to offer "the only modern account of Handel's unique London performances in April and May 1751, when he used [boy] treble voices for choruses and arias." Conductor Edward Higginbottom can't find an explanation for that decision, but just the same he selected three boys from his excellent choir to help replicate the event. Indeed, of all the British chapel, cathedral, and university-based choirs, Higginbottom's Choir of New College Oxford always has cultivated the most ingratiatingly warm, clear, full-bodied, centered treble tone, complemented by robust basses and rich-colored middle voices--which is why his is the ideal group to bring this particular Messiah setting to disc.
Of course, for the most part, the arias, recits, and choruses are the same here as for any other complete Messiah performance; variations occur in the use of countertenor rather than female alto, and in the several numbers where a treble sings instead of the usual female soprano. And the three trebles who share the work here are fabulous; nothing is lost in expression or technique, and there's something to be said for their pure, completely unmannered style in such hugely familiar music, so often overwrought and excessively ornamented. And speaking of ornaments, Higginbottom doesn't allow the "all-about-me" kind of decoration from his soloists that renders many performances different but ultimately irritating; instead the ornamenting is tasteful and artful.
Higginbottom's command of the orchestra also is impressive; he has a firm grasp of the larger picture of the oratorio, and consequently makes decisions regarding pacing that just "feel" right. It's interesting that among the vast volumes of writing about Messiah, almost no one ever discusses tempo--and yet it's tempo more than anything that determines a successful performance. The current "speed for speed's sake" obsession of some conductors simply ruins choruses such as "And He shall purify", "His yoke is easy", and "All we like sheep", and arias like "Rejoice greatly"--but here we are treated to mostly sensible (but certainly not slow!) tempos that properly capture the essential rhythmic and melodic--and textual--aspects of a given movement (except for Higginbottom's insanely fast "All we like sheep", which the choir almost pulls off!). The lively movements dance; the more reflective and solemn ones are appropriately weighty or delicate as required. In other words, this is a very intelligent, articulate, and consummately musical--as well as entertaining--Messiah.
The choir is as good as any you'll hear in this music, and the soloists--none of them big names, but all experts in this repertoire--couldn't be more ideally chosen. There are many scintillating moments--including the chorus "For unto us a Child is born", which has never been more excitingly rendered on a recording (at least among the two-dozen-plus sets in my collection)--and there are some occasions, the "Hallelujah" chorus for one, where the choir is covered just a little more than we'd like by the exuberant orchestra.
Being a very critical Messiah observer, I was pleasantly surprised by this "treble"-voice version. In fact, along with the reference recordings above, it's becoming one of my favorites, simply because it renders this beloved and time-worn work with respect for its innate structural and expositional integrity--no fancy, quirky self-indulgences, no artificial additives, just pure, unprocessed, organic Handel. A pleasure!
--David Vernier, ClassicsToday.com
Of course, for the most part, the arias, recits, and choruses are the same here as for any other complete Messiah performance; variations occur in the use of countertenor rather than female alto, and in the several numbers where a treble sings instead of the usual female soprano. And the three trebles who share the work here are fabulous; nothing is lost in expression or technique, and there's something to be said for their pure, completely unmannered style in such hugely familiar music, so often overwrought and excessively ornamented. And speaking of ornaments, Higginbottom doesn't allow the "all-about-me" kind of decoration from his soloists that renders many performances different but ultimately irritating; instead the ornamenting is tasteful and artful.
Higginbottom's command of the orchestra also is impressive; he has a firm grasp of the larger picture of the oratorio, and consequently makes decisions regarding pacing that just "feel" right. It's interesting that among the vast volumes of writing about Messiah, almost no one ever discusses tempo--and yet it's tempo more than anything that determines a successful performance. The current "speed for speed's sake" obsession of some conductors simply ruins choruses such as "And He shall purify", "His yoke is easy", and "All we like sheep", and arias like "Rejoice greatly"--but here we are treated to mostly sensible (but certainly not slow!) tempos that properly capture the essential rhythmic and melodic--and textual--aspects of a given movement (except for Higginbottom's insanely fast "All we like sheep", which the choir almost pulls off!). The lively movements dance; the more reflective and solemn ones are appropriately weighty or delicate as required. In other words, this is a very intelligent, articulate, and consummately musical--as well as entertaining--Messiah.
The choir is as good as any you'll hear in this music, and the soloists--none of them big names, but all experts in this repertoire--couldn't be more ideally chosen. There are many scintillating moments--including the chorus "For unto us a Child is born", which has never been more excitingly rendered on a recording (at least among the two-dozen-plus sets in my collection)--and there are some occasions, the "Hallelujah" chorus for one, where the choir is covered just a little more than we'd like by the exuberant orchestra.
Being a very critical Messiah observer, I was pleasantly surprised by this "treble"-voice version. In fact, along with the reference recordings above, it's becoming one of my favorites, simply because it renders this beloved and time-worn work with respect for its innate structural and expositional integrity--no fancy, quirky self-indulgences, no artificial additives, just pure, unprocessed, organic Handel. A pleasure!
--David Vernier, ClassicsToday.com
Tracklist 52 tracks
- Disc 1
-
1 Part I: Sinfonia 03:04
- Track
- 1
- Title
- Part I: Sinfonia
- Duration
- 03:04
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Ensemble
- Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
2 Part I: Comfort Ye, My People 03:16
- Track
- 2
- Title
- Part I: Comfort Ye, My People
- Duration
- 03:16
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Toby Spence
- Ensemble
- Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
3 Part I: Every Valley Shall Be Exalted 03:19
- Track
- 3
- Title
- Part I: Every Valley Shall Be Exalted
- Duration
- 03:19
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Toby Spence
- Ensemble
- Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
4 Part I: And the Glory of the Lord 02:32
- Track
- 4
- Title
- Part I: And the Glory of the Lord
- Duration
- 02:32
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Ensemble
- Choir of New College Oxford, Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
5 Part I: Thus Saith the Lord of Hosts 01:27
- Track
- 5
- Title
- Part I: Thus Saith the Lord of Hosts
- Duration
- 01:27
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Eamonn Dougan
- Ensemble
- Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
6 Part I: But Who May Abide the Day of His Coming 04:31
- Track
- 6
- Title
- Part I: But Who May Abide the Day of His Coming
- Duration
- 04:31
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Iestyn Davies
- Ensemble
- Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
7 Part I: And He Shall Purify 02:32
- Track
- 7
- Title
- Part I: And He Shall Purify
- Duration
- 02:32
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Ensemble
- Choir of New College Oxford, Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
8 Part I:Behold, a Virgin Shall Conceive, and Bear a Son 00:24
- Track
- 8
- Title
- Part I:Behold, a Virgin Shall Conceive, and Bear a Son
- Duration
- 00:24
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Iestyn Davies
- Ensemble
- Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
9 Part I: O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings to Zion 05:41
- Track
- 9
- Title
- Part I: O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings to Zion
- Duration
- 05:41
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Iestyn Davies
- Ensemble
- Choir of New College Oxford, Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
10 Part I: For Behold, Darkness Shall Cover the Earth 02:11
- Track
- 10
- Title
- Part I: For Behold, Darkness Shall Cover the Earth
- Duration
- 02:11
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Eamonn Dougan
- Ensemble
- Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
11 Part I: The People That Walked in Darkness 03:34
- Track
- 11
- Title
- Part I: The People That Walked in Darkness
- Duration
- 03:34
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Eamonn Dougan
- Ensemble
- Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
12 Part I: For unto Us a Child Is Born 03:52
- Track
- 12
- Title
- Part I: For unto Us a Child Is Born
- Duration
- 03:52
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Ensemble
- Choir of New College Oxford, Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
13 Part I: Pifa 02:14
- Track
- 13
- Title
- Part I: Pifa
- Duration
- 02:14
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Ensemble
- Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
14 Part I: There Were Shepherds Abiding in the Field 01:28
- Track
- 14
- Title
- Part I: There Were Shepherds Abiding in the Field
- Duration
- 01:28
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Robert Brooks, Henry Jenkinson
- Ensemble
- Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
15 Part I: Glory to God in the Highest 02:15
- Track
- 15
- Title
- Part I: Glory to God in the Highest
- Duration
- 02:15
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Ensemble
- Choir of New College Oxford, Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
16 Part I: Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter of Zion 04:06
- Track
- 16
- Title
- Part I: Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter of Zion
- Duration
- 04:06
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Toby Spence
- Ensemble
- Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
17 Part I: Then Shall the Eyes of the Blind Be Opened 00:24
- Track
- 17
- Title
- Part I: Then Shall the Eyes of the Blind Be Opened
- Duration
- 00:24
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Otta Jones
- Ensemble
- Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
18 Part I: He Shall Feed His Flock Like a Shepherd 04:54
- Track
- 18
- Title
- Part I: He Shall Feed His Flock Like a Shepherd
- Duration
- 04:54
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Iestyn Davies, Otta Jones
- Ensemble
- Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
19 Part I: His Yoke Is Easy, His Burthen Is Light 02:14
- Track
- 19
- Title
- Part I: His Yoke Is Easy, His Burthen Is Light
- Duration
- 02:14
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Ensemble
- Choir of New College Oxford, Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
20 Part II: Behold, the Lamb of God 02:55
- Track
- 20
- Title
- Part II: Behold, the Lamb of God
- Duration
- 02:55
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Ensemble
- Choir of New College Oxford, Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
21 Part II: He Was Despised and Rejected of Men 12:21
- Track
- 21
- Title
- Part II: He Was Despised and Rejected of Men
- Duration
- 12:21
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Iestyn Davies
- Ensemble
- Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
- Disc 2
-
1 Part II: Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs and Carried Our Sorrows 02:03
- Track
- 1
- Title
- Part II: Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs and Carried Our Sorrows
- Duration
- 02:03
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Ensemble
- Choir of New College Oxford, Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
2 Part II: And with His Stripes We Are Healed 01:55
- Track
- 2
- Title
- Part II: And with His Stripes We Are Healed
- Duration
- 01:55
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Ensemble
- Choir of New College Oxford, Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
3 Part II: All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray 03:34
- Track
- 3
- Title
- Part II: All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray
- Duration
- 03:34
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Ensemble
- Choir of New College Oxford, Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
4 Part II: All They That See Him, Laugh Him to Scorn 00:42
- Track
- 4
- Title
- Part II: All They That See Him, Laugh Him to Scorn
- Duration
- 00:42
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Ensemble
- Choir of New College Oxford, Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
5 Part II: He Trusted in God That He Would Deliver Him 02:20
- Track
- 5
- Title
- Part II: He Trusted in God That He Would Deliver Him
- Duration
- 02:20
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Ensemble
- Choir of New College Oxford, Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
6 Part II: Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His Heart 01:47
- Track
- 6
- Title
- Part II: Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His Heart
- Duration
- 01:47
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Toby Spence
- Ensemble
- Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
7 Part II: Behold, and See If There Be Any Sorrow Like unto His Sorrow 01:33
- Track
- 7
- Title
- Part II: Behold, and See If There Be Any Sorrow Like unto His Sorrow
- Duration
- 01:33
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Toby Spence
- Ensemble
- Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
8 Part II: He Was Cut Off, Out of the Land of the Living 00:18
- Track
- 8
- Title
- Part II: He Was Cut Off, Out of the Land of the Living
- Duration
- 00:18
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Henry Jenkinson
- Ensemble
- Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
9 Part II: But Thou Didst Not Leave His Soul in Hell 01:59
- Track
- 9
- Title
- Part II: But Thou Didst Not Leave His Soul in Hell
- Duration
- 01:59
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Henry Jenkinson
- Ensemble
- Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
10 Part II: Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates 03:09
- Track
- 10
- Title
- Part II: Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates
- Duration
- 03:09
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Ensemble
- Choir of New College Oxford, Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
11 Part II: Unto Which of the Angels Said He at Any Time 00:19
- Track
- 11
- Title
- Part II: Unto Which of the Angels Said He at Any Time
- Duration
- 00:19
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Toby Spence
- Ensemble
- Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
12 Part II: Let All the Angels of God Worship Him 01:40
- Track
- 12
- Title
- Part II: Let All the Angels of God Worship Him
- Duration
- 01:40
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Ensemble
- Choir of New College Oxford, Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
13 Part II: Thou Art Gone Up on High 03:10
- Track
- 13
- Title
- Part II: Thou Art Gone Up on High
- Duration
- 03:10
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Iestyn Davies
- Ensemble
- Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
14 Part II: The Lord Gave the Word 01:12
- Track
- 14
- Title
- Part II: The Lord Gave the Word
- Duration
- 01:12
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Ensemble
- Choir of New College Oxford, Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
15 Part II: How Beautiful Are the Feet of Them That Preach the Gospel of Peace 02:18
- Track
- 15
- Title
- Part II: How Beautiful Are the Feet of Them That Preach the Gospel of Peace
- Duration
- 02:18
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Henry Jenkinson
- Ensemble
- Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
16 Part II: Their Sound Is Gone Out into All Lands 01:32
- Track
- 16
- Title
- Part II: Their Sound Is Gone Out into All Lands
- Duration
- 01:32
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Ensemble
- Choir of New College Oxford, Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
17 Part II: Why Do the Nations So Furiously Rage Together 02:49
- Track
- 17
- Title
- Part II: Why Do the Nations So Furiously Rage Together
- Duration
- 02:49
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Eamonn Dougan
- Ensemble
- Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
18 Part II: Let Us Break Their Bonds Asunder 01:53
- Track
- 18
- Title
- Part II: Let Us Break Their Bonds Asunder
- Duration
- 01:53
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Ensemble
- Choir of New College Oxford, Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
19 Part II: He That Dwelleth in Heaven Shall Laugh Them to Scorn 00:10
- Track
- 19
- Title
- Part II: He That Dwelleth in Heaven Shall Laugh Them to Scorn
- Duration
- 00:10
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Toby Spence
- Ensemble
- Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
20 Part II: Thou Shalt Break Them with a Rod of Iron 02:17
- Track
- 20
- Title
- Part II: Thou Shalt Break Them with a Rod of Iron
- Duration
- 02:17
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Otta Jones
- Ensemble
- Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
21 Part II: Hallelujah 03:58
- Track
- 21
- Title
- Part II: Hallelujah
- Duration
- 03:58
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Ensemble
- Choir of New College Oxford, Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
22 Part III: I Know That My Redeemer Liveth 05:49
- Track
- 22
- Title
- Part III: I Know That My Redeemer Liveth
- Duration
- 05:49
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Robert Brooks
- Ensemble
- Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
23 Part III: Since by Man Came Death 02:04
- Track
- 23
- Title
- Part III: Since by Man Came Death
- Duration
- 02:04
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Ensemble
- Choir of New College Oxford, Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
24 Part III: Behold, I Tell You a Mystery 00:38
- Track
- 24
- Title
- Part III: Behold, I Tell You a Mystery
- Duration
- 00:38
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Eamonn Dougan
- Ensemble
- Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
25 Part III: The Trumpet Shall Sound 08:38
- Track
- 25
- Title
- Part III: The Trumpet Shall Sound
- Duration
- 08:38
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Eamonn Dougan
- Ensemble
- Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
26 Part III: Then Shall Be Brought to Pass the Saying That Is Written 00:16
- Track
- 26
- Title
- Part III: Then Shall Be Brought to Pass the Saying That Is Written
- Duration
- 00:16
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Iestyn Davies
- Ensemble
- Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
27 Part III: O Death, Where Is Thy Sting 01:06
- Track
- 27
- Title
- Part III: O Death, Where Is Thy Sting
- Duration
- 01:06
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Toby Spence, Iestyn Davies
- Ensemble
- Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
28 Part III: But Thanks Be to God 02:11
- Track
- 28
- Title
- Part III: But Thanks Be to God
- Duration
- 02:11
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Ensemble
- Choir of New College Oxford, Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
29 Part III: If God Is for Us, Who Can Be Against Us 04:52
- Track
- 29
- Title
- Part III: If God Is for Us, Who Can Be Against Us
- Duration
- 04:52
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Iestyn Davies
- Ensemble
- Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
30 Part III: Worthy Is the Lamb That Was Slain 03:18
- Track
- 30
- Title
- Part III: Worthy Is the Lamb That Was Slain
- Duration
- 03:18
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Ensemble
- Choir of New College Oxford, Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom
-
31 Part III: Amen 03:35
- Track
- 31
- Title
- Part III: Amen
- Duration
- 03:35
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Ensemble
- Choir of New College Oxford, Academy of Ancient Music
- Conductor
- Edward Higginbottom