Admirers of Harry Christophers and his exemplary choral ensemble The Sixteen will no doubt have the highest expectations for this 2008 Coro release of George Frederick Handel's Messiah, especially because the group is almost ideal in size, sonority, and technical mastery to render this work in the best period performance style. Even the most demanding listeners will not be disappointed in this recording because Christophers' scholarship is impeccable, and he leads the performance with sharp Baroque rhythms, brisk tempos, ...
Read More
Admirers of Harry Christophers and his exemplary choral ensemble The Sixteen will no doubt have the highest expectations for this 2008 Coro release of George Frederick Handel's Messiah, especially because the group is almost ideal in size, sonority, and technical mastery to render this work in the best period performance style. Even the most demanding listeners will not be disappointed in this recording because Christophers' scholarship is impeccable, and he leads the performance with sharp Baroque rhythms, brisk tempos, vivid interpretations, and a great flexibility in instrumental combinations, which gives the music greater richness through doublings of the stings with woodwinds and supplies a pleasantly varied basso continuo. The four vocalists -- soprano Carolyn Sampson, alto Catherine Wyn-Rogers, tenor Mark Padmore, and bass Christopher Purves -- are all seasoned Handelians, and their arias are eloquent in expression and beautifully delivered with a tasteful modicum of ornamentation, but no more...
Read Less
![Handel: Messiah [Includes Bonus CD] - Andrew Lawrence-King (harp); Carolyn Sampson (soprano); Catherine Wyn-Rogers (alto); Christopher Purves (bass);...](https://www3.alibris-static.com/handel-messiah-includes-bonus-cd/cover/m58102kjk6n_l.jpg)
![Handel: Messiah [Includes Bonus CD]](https://www0.alibris-static.com/handel-messiah-includes-bonus-cd/cover/m58102kjk6n.jpg)
Portions of content provided by Rovi Corporation. © 2024 Rovi Corporation.