Händel: Messiah / Suzuki, Bach Collegium Japan

$34.99
Label
BIS
Release Date
August 1, 1997
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      HANDEL, GEORG FRIEDRICH
    • PERFORMER
      Counter-Tenor, John Elwes, David Thomas, Bach Collegium Japan Masaaki, Midori Suzuki, Yoshikazu Mera
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      August 01, 1997
    • UPC
      7318598918922
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      BIS-CD-891-92
    • LABEL
      BIS
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      2
    • GENRE
      Christmas / Chanukkah
    Works ⌄

    1. Majora Canamus: And without controversy (Narrator)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    2. Symphony

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    3. Accompanied Recitative: Comfort ye my people (Tenor)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    4. Aria: Ev'ry valley shall be exalted (Tenor)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    5. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed (Chorus)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    6. Accompanied Recitative: Thus saith the Lord (Bass)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    7. Aria: But who may abide the day of His coming (Alto)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    8. And He shall purify the sons of Levi (Chorus)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    9. Recitative: Behold, a virgin shall conceive (Alto)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    10. Aria and Chorus: O Thou that tellest good tidings to Zion (Alto)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    11. Accompanied Recitative: For behold, darkness shall cover the earth (Bass)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    12. Aria: The people that walked in darkness (Bass)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    13. For unto us a child is born (Chorus)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    14. Pifa

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    15. Recitative: There were shepherds abiding (Soprano)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    16. Accompanied Recitative: And lo, the angel of the Lord (Soprano)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    17. Recitative: And the angel said unto them (Soprano)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    18. Accompanied Recitative: And suddenly there was with the angel (Soprano)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    19. Glory to God in the highest (Chorus)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    20. Aria: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion (Soprano)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    21. Recitative: Then shall the eyes of the blind be open'd (Alto)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    22. Duet: He shall feed His flock (Alto, Soprano)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    23. His yoke is easy, His burthen is light (Chorus)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    24. Behold the Lamb of God (Chorus)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    25. Aria: He was despised and rejected of men (Alto)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    26. Surely, He hath borne our griefs (Chorus)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    27. And with His stripes we are healed (Chorus)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    28. All we like sheep have gone astray (Chorus)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    29. Accompanied Recitative: All they that see Him laugh (Tenor)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    30. He trusted in God that He would deliver Him (Chorus)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    31. Accompanied Recitative: Thy rebuke hath broken His heart (Tenor)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    32. Arioso: Behold, and see if there be any sorrow (Tenor)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    33. Accompanied Recitative: He was cut off out of the land (Soprano)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    34. Aria: But thou didst not leave His soul in Hell (Soprano)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    35. Lift up your heads, O ye gates (Chorus)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    36. Recitative: Unto which of the angels said He (Tenor)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    37. Let all the angels of God worship him (Chorus)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    38. Aria: Thou art gone up on high (Alto)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    39. The Lord gave the word (Chorus)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    40. Aria: How beautiful are the feet of Him (Soprano)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    41. Their sound is gone out (Chorus)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    42. Aria: Why do the nations so furiously rage together (Bass)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    43. Let us break their bonds asunder (Chorus)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    44. Recitative: He that dwelleth in heaven (Tenor)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    45. Aria: Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron (Tenor)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    46. Hallelujah! (Chorus)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    47. Aria: I know that my Redeemer liveth (Soprano)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    48. Since by man came death (Chorus)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    49. Accompanied Recitative: Behold, I tell you a mystery (Bass)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    50. Aria: The trumpet shall sound (Bass)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    51. Recitative: Then shall be brought to pass (Alto)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    52. Duet: O Death, where is thy sting (Alto, Soprano)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    53. But thanks be to God (Chorus)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    54. Aria: If God be for ever (Alto)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

    55. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain (Chorus)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel


With forty or so complete recordings and countless discs of highlights, a Japanese performance of this most beloved of English choral works may seem an unlikely contender. Yet the Bach Collegium Japan has already established itself as one of the most interesting period ensembles specialising in Baroque music, and this account has much to recommend it, not least Suzuki’s obvious affection for the piece. The sound is warm and detailed, though occasionally the voices are swamped by the orchestra; tempi are thoughtfully judged and the fresh-voiced choir sings with remarkable clarity and impeccable diction. Suzuki has chosen two very young Japanese soloists for the soprano and countertenor parts, alongside two highly experienced English singers for the tenor and bass. Soprano Midori Suzuki has a light, boyish voice, not without imperfection but affectingly naive; countertenor Yoshikazu Mera has an innocent, tender alto range that belies a surprisingly powerful lower register; tenor John Elwes is agile, lyrical, perfectly focused; and David Thomas makes an imposing, if somewhat stentorian, bass. By pitting innocence against experience, Suzuki has achieved a particularly moving account.

-- Kate Bolton, BBC Music Magazine