Composer: George Frideric Handel
Performer: Carolyn Sampson, Daniel Taylor, Benjamin Hulett, Peter Harvey, Kammerchor Stuttgart
Orchestra: Barockorchester Stuttgart
Conductor: Freider Bernius
Number of Discs: 2
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Carus
Catalogue: CARUS83219
Release: 2009
Size: 611 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
Messiah, HWV 56
CD 01
Part 1
01. Symphony
02. Comfort Ye, My People
03. Ev’ry Valley Shall Be Exalted
04. And the Glory of the Lord
05. Thus Saith the Lord
06. But Who May Abide the Day of His Coming
07. And He Shall Purify
08. Behold, A Virgin Shall Conceive; O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings to Zion
09. For Behold, Darkness Shall Cover
10. The People That Walked in Darkness
11. For Onto Us A Child Is Born
12. Pifa; There Were Shepherds Abiding in the Fields
13. And Lo, the Angel of the Lord
14. And the Angel Said Unto Them; And Suddenly There Was with the Angel
15. Glory to God in the Highest
16. Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter of Zion
17. Then Shall the Eyes of the Blind Be opened; He Shall Feed His Flock Like a Shepherd
18. His Yoke Is Easy
Part 2
19. Behold the Lamb of God
20. He Was Despised
CD 02
Part 2
01. Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs
02. And with His Stripes We Are Healed
03. All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray
04. All They That See Him
05. He Trusted in God That He Would Deliver Him
06. Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His heart
07. Behold and See If There Be Any Sorrow
08. He Was Cut Off
09. But Thou Didst Not Leave His Soul in Hell
10. Lift Up Your Heads
11. Unto Hich of the Angels; Let All the Angels of God
12. Thou Art Gone Up On High
13. The Lord Gave the Word
14. How Beautiful Are the Feet
15. Their Sound Is Gone Out
16. Why Do the Nations
17. Let Us Break Their Bonds Asunder
18. He That Dwelleth in Heaven; Thou Shalt Break Them
19. 44. “Hallelujah”
Part 3
20. I Know That My Redeemer Liveth
21. Since By Man Came Death
22. Behold, I Tell You A Mystery
23. The Trumpet Shall Sound
24. Then Shall Be Brought to Pass; O Death, Where Is thy Sitting
25. But Thanks Be to God
26. If God Be for Us
27. Worthy Is the Lamb That Was Slain; Amen
Anyone who can never get enough of Handel’s Messiah should be interested in this first-class performance and first-rate recording by Frieder Bernius, with the Kammerchor Stuttgart and Barockorchester Stuttgart, recorded in super audio digital sound for Carus in 2008. Bernius knows Messiah backwards, forwards, inside-out, and sideways, and his tempos, balances, and interpretation can no more be faulted for technical imperfections any more than his interpretations can be regarded as outside the accepted norms of period performance. The chorus and orchestra know the work well, and the performances are as note-perfect as they are deeply felt. The soloists, too, turn in exemplary performances, and soprano Carolyn Sampson is especially affecting. Listeners may not find new insights here — Bernius’ reading does not stray from the standard celebratory take on the work; nor do his performers top the great performers of the past — Elisabeth Schwarzkopf’s star turn in Otto Klemperer’s recording still cannot be beat — but listeners are not likely to go away disappointed, especially in Carus’ “you are there” super audio sound.