Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. Sinfonia
2. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. Comfort ye, my people
3. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. Ev'ry valley shall be exalted
4. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. And the glory of the Lord
5. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. Thus saith the Lord
6. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. But who may abide
7. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. And He shall purify
8. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. Behold, a virgin shall conceive
9. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion (Aria) / O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion
10. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth
11. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. The people that walked in darkness
12. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. For unto us a Child is born
13. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. Pifa - Sinfonia pastorale
14. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. There were shepherds / And lo, the angel of the Lord / And the angel said unto them / And s
15. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. Glory to God
16. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. Rejoice greatly
17. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. Then shall the eyes of the blind
18. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. He shall feed His flock
19. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. His yoke is easy
20. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. Behold the Lamb of God
21. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. He was despised
22. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. Surely, He hath borne our griefs
23. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. And with His stripes
24. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. All we like sheep have gone astray

Disc 2:

1. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. All they that see Him
2. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. He trusted in God
3. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. Thy rebuke hath broken His heart
4. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. Behold, and see
5. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. He was cut off
6. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. But Thou didst not leave
7. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. Lift up your heads
8. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. Unto which of the angels
9. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. Let all the angels of God
10. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. Thou art gone up on high
11. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. The Lord gave the word
12. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. How beautiful are the feet (alternative version)
13. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. Their sound is gone out (alternative version)
14. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. Why do the nations
15. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. He that dwelleth in heaven
16. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. Thou shalt break them
17. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. Hallelujah
18. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 3. I know that my Redeemer liveth
19. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 3. Since my man came death
20. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 3. Behold, I tell you a mystery
21. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 3. The trumpet shall sound
22. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 3. Then shall be brought to pass
23. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 3. O death, where is thy sting?
24. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 3. If God is for us
25. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 3. Worthy is the Lamb... Amen.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #46429 in Music
• Brand: Philips
• Released on: 2003-01-14
• Number of discs: 2
• Dimensions: .51 pounds

Amazon.com
John Eliot Gardiner's is a highly musical and inspired account of Messiah, featuring an excellent group of soloists and an outstanding period-instrument band. With dance rhythms athletically sprung and da capo arias tastefully ornamented, the performance generates consistent interest and is lively in spite of its length. There is splendid choral singing from the Monteverdi Choir--the ending of "All We Like Sheep" is quite potent--and much wonderful work from the soloists. The recording, made in 1982, is impeccable. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews

The best known Messiah ?
This 1982 Phillips _Messiah_ by Sir John Gardiner is still very often recomended as the best. But keep in mind that no version is generaly recognized as definative so it's wise to sample before purchase. With that in mind, I'm happy to say that right now (Oct 2004) you can hear all the tracks over on Amazon's page for another boxset of this same recording.

Actually there's three, this two disk Phillips version, an older three disk version (the identical recording but with the same tracks spread over three disks and therefore higher priced), and a one disk 'highlights'.

Search Gardiner Handel Messiah to jump to the three disk page, Sample from disk two _The Lord gave the word_, and _Why do the nations?..._ This will demonstrate how every part of the staged ensemble can be discerned with clarity, in either chorus or aria.

Precision playing is a Gardiner trademark. Note his style is stately rather than devotional; the presentation is dramatic and energetic, rather than emotional. As a result I found this recording of lasting appeal, and never got tired of it over all these years.

My favorite Messiah
This is one of the best versions of Handel's Messiah. J. Eliot Gardiner is always great with conducting oratorios and this version is done on authentic instruments with a smaller choir. The choir singing is excellent -- the tempos for such favorites such as "For unto us a Child is born" is just perfect -- not too fast or slow, but graceful and lively. The soprano, Margaret Marshall, is particularly outstanding and beautiful, especially on arias such as "Rejoice Greatly," and "For My Redeemer Liveth." The tenor, Rolfe Johnson is also wonderful. Some of the alto pieces are sung by a male alto and others by the female alto. The only soloist that I found somewhat disappointing was the bass, especially on "For the trumpet shall sound" -- his singing was pretty heavy-handed and not distinct enough on the words "for the trumpet shall sound." (I listen to other versions for the bass solos).

That aside, I still love this version of the Messiah and would rate it as one of the best versions of Handel's Messiah alongside Trevor Pinnock's version, which I also highly recommend.

Still A Good Messiah Recording!!!
This recording is a reissue of Phillips 411041 which is a Three

Disc set. Universal Classics which includes Decca who now owns

Phillips decided to make this recording a little bit more

affordable by issuing it on Two CDs It is still one of the best

"Original Instrument" "Messiah" recordings on the market today.

This in an ever growing field of Messiah recordings. Enjoy.