Break You Off [CD-single]

Track Listings

1. Break You Off

2. You're the One

3. Thinking of You [Remix]

Break You Off,Mishon,Dynasty Records,Pop,R&B

Tracks:

Messiah: Part One - 1. Sinfony (Grave - Allegro moderato)
Messiah: Part One - 2. Accompagnato : Comfort Ye My People
Messiah: Part One - 3. Air : Ev'ry Valley Shall Be Exalted
Messiah: Part One - 4. Chorus : And The Glory Of The Lord Shall Be Revealed
Messiah: Part One - 5. Accompagnato : Thus Saith The Lord Of Hosts
Messiah: Part One - 6. Air : But Who May Abide The Day Of His Coming
Messiah: Part One - 7. Chorus : And He Shall Purify
Messiah: Part One - 8. Recitative : Behold, A Virgin Shall Conceive
Messiah: Part One - 9. Air and Chorus : O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings
Messiah: Part One - 10. Accompagnato : For Behold, Darkness Shall Cover
Messiah: Part One - 11. Air : The People That Walked In Darkness
Messiah: Part One - 12. Chorus : For Unto Us A Child Is Born
Messiah: Part One - 13. Pifa (Pastoral Symphony)
Messiah: Part One - 14. Recitative: There Were Shepherds Abiding In The Field - Accompagnato: And Lo, The Angel Of The Lord - 15. Recitative: And The Angel Said Unto Them - 16. Accompagnato: And Suddenly There Was With The Angel
Messiah: Part One - 17. Chorus : Glory To God In The Highest
Messiah: Part One - 18. Air : Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter Of Zion
Messiah: Part One - 19. Recitative : Then Shall The Eyes Of The Blind
Messiah: Part One - 20. Air : He Shall Feed His Flock
Messiah: Part One - 21. Chorus : His Yoke Is Easy, His Burthen Is Light
Messiah: Part Two - 22. Chorus : Behold The Lamb Of God
Messiah: Part Two - Air : 23. He Was Despised

Tracks:

Messiah: Part Two - 24. Chorus : Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs
Messiah: Part Two - 25. Chorus : And With His Stripes We Are Healed
Messiah: Part Two - 26. Chorus : All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray
Messiah: Part Two - 27. Accompagnato : All They That See Him
Messiah: Part Two - 28. Chorus : He Trusted In God
Messiah: Part Two - 29. Accompagnato : Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His Heart
Messiah: Part Two - 30. Arioso : Behold, And See If There Be Any Sorrow
Messiah: Part Two - 31. Accompagnato : He Was Cut Off Out Of The Land
Messiah: Part Two - 32. Air : But Thou Didst Not Leave His Soul
Messiah: Part Two - 33. Chorus : Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates
Messiah: Part Two - 34. Recitative : Unto Which Of The Angels
Messiah: Part Two - 35. Chorus : Let All The Angels Of God Worship Him
Messiah: Part Two - 36. Air : Thou Art Gone Up On High
Messiah: Part Two - 37. Chorus : The Lord Gave The Word
Messiah: Part Two - 38. Air : How Beautiful Are The Feet
Messiah: Part Two - 39. Chorus : Their Sound Is Gone Out
Messiah: Part Two - 40. Air : Why Do The Nations So Furiously Rage
Messiah: Part Two - 41. Chorus : Let Us Break Their Bonds Asunder
Messiah: Part Two - 42. Recitative : He That Dwelleth In Heaven
Messiah: Part Two - 43. Air : Thou Shalt Break Them
Messiah: Part Two - 44. Chorus : Hallelujah
Messiah: Part Three - 45. Air : I Know That My Redeemer Liveth
Messiah: Part Three - 46. Chorus : Since By Man Came Death
Messiah: Part Three - 47. Recitative : Behold, I Tell You A Mystery
Messiah: Part Three - 48. Air : The Trumpet Shall Sound
Messiah: Part Three - 49. Recitative : Then Shall Be Brought To Pass
Messiah: Part Three - 50. Duet : O Death, Where Is Thy Sting?
Messiah: Part Three - 51. Chorus : But Thanks Be To God
Messiah: Part Three - 52. Air : If God Be For Us
Messiah: Part Three - 53. Chorus : Worthy Is The Lamb That Was Slain --- Amen

Amazon.com essential recording

This is a terrific performance of Messiah. Not only are the soloists all superb, but Trevor Pinnock completely contradicts the image of many period instrument performances as small-scale, scrappy affairs. Indeed, he invests the choruses with as much genuine Handelian pomp as Beecham at his most extravagant. The trumpets really blaze, and the timpani thunder, and everyone simply has a great time. A joyous performance, just right for the holiday season. --David Hurwitz

Amazon.com

Trevor Pinnock meets with mixed success in this account of the Messiah with the English Concert & Choir and soloists Arleen Auger, Anne Sofie von Otter, Michael Chance, Howard Crook, and John Tomlinson, recorded and released in 1988. Its strengths are the strengths of the early-music movement in general. The size and distribution of the instrumental and vocal forces are optimal, which means that textures are clear and balances apt. Rhythms are nicely pointed, though often, in Pinnock's case, not quite well enough sprung. Tempos are well chosen; for example, "All we like sheep"--which turns out to be one of the set's best numbers--is a real bourré, and Pinnock animates it in just the right way. But the performance often seems workmanlike and unemotional, weighed down in too many instances by the humdrum work of the chorus. The alto section in particular, which is half male and half female, sings timidly and is constantly swallowing its entrances. Bass soloist John Tomlinson is a further drag on the effort. He has the right idea--that there's an Italian opera hiding behind all this biblical imagery--but his cottony sound is out of place, a misguided attempt to mimic Nicolai Ghiaurov. His usable range is less than a tenth (he croaks the low G's and F-sharps), and his diction is horrible. "Thus spake the Lord" is strangled, and when, in "The trumpet shall sound" Tomlinson gets to the words "we shall be changed," one can't help wishing that he had been changed too, right before the sessions started. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

Ladies & gentleman: The Lord'n Savior, God Almighty.......2007-06-13

Handel's Messiah is my favorite piece of classical music. Of the two versions that I had I only have left this one, and it is not the best (the other had been a cheap recording whose author's name I forgot too). This version seems to lack a little enthusiasm from the voices; too melancholic. Anyway, this is the first review of any music that I write, and probably will be the last too, so I just want to leave my impression of how I feel when I hear these solemn and heavenly sounds. One feels so raised to the heavenlies... I can almost sense the presence of the Lord Almighty up yonder among the clouds, and me being carried in solemnity to meet Him. Far away are the buzzing sounds of earthly chores. The air is fresh and clean as we are raised above the valleys, and we come to meet God's elected amid the singing, stronger and stronger. Jubilant, bathed in the glorious rays of the Savior's Light, we come together and sing: Glory to God, glory to God, praise and glory for He is coming...

So Fashionable, and So Disappointing.......2007-02-01

This would be a great 21st Century Reader's Digest version of Messiah, if such a thing existed any more. Handel did as much as he could, but really, the performers still have to do something besides posture, which, by the way, seems to me to characterize many performances these days. Fashionable, but musically deficient.

Specifically: John Tomlinson sings like he thinks he IS God, instead of singing about Him. Heavy, cumbersome, and overblown. May I add boorish?

Arleen Auger has a very sweet voice. And??

Despite the program notes insisting that certain segments of this Messiah are given to "the contralto", Anne Sofie von Otter is NOT a contralto. Not even close.

The male alto can barely sustain a legato line - why he insists upon throwing in those complicated, badly-performed embellishments I can't figure. Well, I can, but I'd really rather not say.

Wake up, choristers!! It's 'For Unto Us A Child Is Born," not "Oy, I have to go to the grocery store today."

Boy do I regret having spent almost $40 on this one. Thank goodness I have the Colin Davis to console me.

A nice combination of period nad tradiitonal.......2006-12-17

This 1988 recording sits between the euqally English, euqally period-ifnluenced Hogwood and Garidner. Of the three, Hogwood sounds more 'authentic' because it uses boys in the chorus and singers schooled period practice. By comparison, Pinnock's soprano, Arleen Auger, and mozeeo, Von Otter, are essentially modern singers--gorgeous ones, of course, Gardiner is far more anemic in his conducting and uses a scrwny-sounding orchestra, so if that's more authentic, so be it. Of the three, Pinnock gives us more traditional music values in his emotional expression and instrumental timbres.

The competiiton is mushc stiffer now than in 1988, but Pinnock's reading has survived the test of time. He is not a genuinely inspired conductor--sadly, Messiah has become a cottage industry that excludes most big-name talents--but neither are Gardiner and Hogwood. (For sheer musicality, I tend to put my money on Andrew Parrott, Robert King, Marc Minkowski, Niklaus Harnoncourt, and Rene Jacobs.) But he's certainly good eough. The reason I haven't given five stars is that the male soloists aren't first-rate, and in particular the Wotan voice of John Tomlinson sounds cavernous in the bass arias. Add to that Pinnock's tendency toward tepidness, and what you end up with is a very good but not great performance.

Wait! Before you buy..........2006-05-28

... This Messiah has recently been re-released at a much cheaper price. Go back and look for the DG "The Originals" release, which is being sold new for under $12.

La mas bella y fidedigna interpretacion que se pueda obtener.......2004-12-29

Soy uno de los mas fanaticos seguidores de Handel y de su obra El Mesias... He escuchado muchas versiones de esta genial e impresionante obra del maestro Handel y, sencillamente no me queda mas que recomendar esta interpretacion, bajo la batuta del maestro Trevor Pinnock. Se nota la exigencia con que esta version se interpreto, dentro el contexto del arte barroco y la magnificencia de la pronunciacion del ingles de la epoca. La orquesta se luce impresionantemente desde la obertura... y le da a cada movimiento, toda aquella fuerza y a la vez delicadeza requerida en el sentimiento que aplica en cada uno de los textos biblicos escogidos por el guionista Jennens. El Coro del English Concert es arrebatador y demuestra maestria en la interpretacion de cada una de las arias que le corresponde. La soprano Arleen Auger, la puedo definir como un angel cantando y resulta ser una caricia a los oidos, a la vez que es capaz de arrancarle a uno las lagrimas por lo excelso de su magia interpretativa. El tenor Crook, aunque no es un tenor con tesitura para canto barroco, es realmente habil y agil al momento de interpretar los melismas caracteristicos de este brillante periodo musical. El contratenor Michael Chance, es fenomenal y quiera Dios que yo tenga el honor de conocer a este genio del canto: "But who may abide..." interpretado por Chance en esta version, es como para caer en extasis. La contralto Anne Sophie von Otter..., tiene una voz oscura y redondeada..., tambien resulta una caricia a los oidos y su "If God be for us..." es desbordante, capaz tambien de hacerle a uno derramar lagrimas por su belleza interpretativa. El bajo Tomlinson..., es barbaro!!! (Soy bajo-baritono en el Coro de la Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Costa Rica...) A pesar de su voz tan oscura, es tremendamente agil cuando le toca cantar los melismas y es genial al alcanzar la tonalidad brillante en las partes de notas altas y agudas...; por ejemplo: "The people that walked in darkness..." y "Why do the nations..." Tengo seis años de experiencia, interpretando musica coral y tengo que decir que espere esos seis años, desde 1999, para felizmente cantar esta obra "El Mesias". Ha sido fantastico finalmente lograr este objetivo..., la espera valio la pena y debo admitir que mi inspiracion ha sido sin duda alguna, la version que puede usted encontrar en este disco compacto. Doy gracias a todos los que intervinieron en esta grabacion (al maestro Trevor Pinnock, al English Concert and Choir y a los solistas ya mencionados), en nombre mio y en nombre del maestro Handel.

Handel - Messiah / McNair · von Otter · Chance · Hadley · Lloyd · Marriner

Average customer rating:

a voice teacher and early music fan
I really love this recording
Some very good parts
Great mezzo and trumpet
And He Shall Reign Forever and Ever, Amen.

Handel - Messiah / McNair · von Otter · Chance · Hadley · Lloyd · Marriner
George Frideric Handel , Neville Marriner , Anne Sofie von Otter , Michael Chance , Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields , Sylvia McNair , Jerry Hadley , and Robert Lloyd
Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Otter, Anne Sophie von | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Handel - Messiah - The 250th Anniversary Performance / Marriner, Academy and Chorus of St. Martin in the Fields
Handel - Messiah / Ameling · A. Reynolds · Langridge · Howell · Marriner
Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (The Historic 1955 Debut Recording)

ASIN: B00000414Y
Release Date: 1992-11-17

Tracks:

Messiah: Part I: Symphony
Messiah: Part I - No. 1 Accompagnato: Comfort Ye, Comfort Ye, My People
Messiah: Part I - No. 2: Air Ev'ry Valley Shall Be Exalted
Messiah: Part I - No. 3 Chorus: And The Glory Of The Lord
Messiah: Part I - No. 4 Accompagnato: Thus Saith The Lord
Messiah: Part I - No. 5 Air: But Who May Abide The Day Of His Coming
Messiah: Part I - No. 6 Chorus: And He Shall Purify The Sons Of Levi
Messiah: Part I - No. 7 Recitative: Behold, A Virgin Shall Conceive
Messiah: Part I - Nos. 8-9 Air And Chorus: O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings
Messiah: Part I - No. 10 Accompagnato: For Behold, Darkness Shall Cover The Earth
Messiah: Part I - No. 11 Air: The People That Walked In Darkness
Messiah: Part I No. 12 Chorus: For Unto Us A Child Is Born
Messiah: Part I No. 13 Pifa: Pastoral Symphony
Messiah: Part I No. 14 Recitative: There Were Shepherds - And Lo, The Angel Of The Lord - And The Angel Said Unto Them - And Suddenly There Was
Messiah: Part I No. 15 Chorus: Glory To God In The Highest
Messiah: Part I No. 16 Air: Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter Of Zion
Messiah: Part I No. 17a Recitative:Then Shall The Eyes Of The Blind
Messiah: Part I No. 18a Duet: He Shall Feed His Flock
Messiah: Part I No. 19 Chorus: His Yoke Is Easy
Messiah: Part II No. 20 Chorus: Behold The Lamb Of God
Messiah: Part II No. 21 Air: He Was Despised
Messiah: Part II No. 22 Chorus: Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs
Messiah: Part II No. 23 Chorus: And With His Stripes We Are Healed
Messiah: Part II No. 24 Chorus: All We Like Sheep

Tracks:

Messiah: Part II No. 25 Accompagnato: All They That See Him
Messiah: Part II No. 26 Chorus: He Trusted In God
Messiah: Part II No. 27 Accompagnato: Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His Heart
Messiah: Part II No. 28 Arioso: Behold, And See
Messiah: Part II No. 29 Accompagnato: He Was Cut Off
Messiah: Part II No. 30 Aria: But Thou Didst Not Leave
Messiah: Part II No. 31 Chorus: Lift Up Your Heads
Messiah: Part II No. 32 Recitative: Unto Which Of The Angels
Messiah: Part II No. 33 Chorus: Let All The Angels Of God
Messiah: Part II No. 34a Air: Thou Art Gone Up On High
Messiah: Part II No. 35 Chorus The Lord Gave The Word
Messiah: Part II No. 36 Air: How Beautiful Are The Feet
Messiah: Part II No. 37a Arioso: Their Sound Is Gone Out
Messiah: Part II No. 38 Air: Why Do The Nations
Messiah: Part II No. 39 Chorus: Let Us Break Their Bonds Asunder Let us break their bonds asunder
Messiah: Part II No. 40 Recitative: He That Dwelleth In Heaven
Messiah: Part II No. 41 Air: Thou Shalt Break Them
Messiah: Part II No. 42 Chorus: Hallelujah
Messiah: Part III No. 43 Air: I Know That My Redeemer Liveth
Messiah: Part III No. 44 Chorus: Since By Man Came Death
Messiah: Part III No. Accompagnato: Behold, I Tell You A Mystery
Messiah: Part III No. 46 Air: The Trumpet Shall Sound
Messiah: Part III No. 47 Recitative: Then Shall Be Brought To Pass
Messiah: Part III No. 48 Duet: O Death, Where Is Thy Sting?
Messiah: Part III No. 49 Chorus: But Thanks Be To God
Messiah: Part III No. 50 Air: If God Be For Us
Messiah: Part III No. 51 Chorus: Worthy Is The Lamb - Blessing And Honour
Messiah: Part III: Amen

Customer Reviews:

a voice teacher and early music fan.......2006-10-21

The "Messiah" was composed by Handel at his London home in the late summer of 1741..Charles Jennens described his libretto for the 'Messiah' as a "Scripture Collection", because it consists of a cleverly-arranged selection of biblical texts. Musically speaking, the recitatives and arias are definately in a style derived from opera, supplemented by choruses of the type Handel has developed in his English odes and oratorios-the presentation of the story was unconventional. The work is divided into three acts or parts, but the narrative is largely confined to Part Two: Part One is mainly concerned with prophecy and its fullfilment and Part Three with commentary on the importance of the previous story. This recording of the famous 1992 performance at Dublin took place at the Point Theatre on the 250th anniversary of the work's premeire which took place in Dublin on April 13th 1742. It is an outstanding performance, especially chorally and instrumentally. The soloists: Sylvia McNair(soprano)-Anne Sofie von Otter(mezzo)-Michael Chance (alto) were superb!!! Personally I was not pleased by Jerry Hadley's interpretation of Handel; I have a recording of him singing show tunes, and I think he does that best! Robert Lloyd's (bass) diction was most peculiar and annoyed me. However, the last 2 comments may not be universally accepted. All in all, it's one of the best 'Messiahs' I have heard, and is actually my favorite of many that I own.

I really love this recording.......2005-03-26

While I haven't sampled that many different recordings of the Messiah, I really like this version. I sometimes find myself singing it, and this is the version I hear. One thing I don't like about it is that it is a 2-disc set, but the Messiah has three parts. Part II is divided -- the first half on disc 1 and the second part on disc 2. It would be nice if the parts weren't divided in the middle.

Some very good parts.......2002-12-14

This is my fifth Messiah disk and I had hoped my last. Von Otter is a real draw and she is truly great. Marriner's pacing is still good. But many aspects of this CD pull it down. I have a theory that the tenor (Jerry Hadley) was mad at Marriner and sang technically perfect with zero emotion. I don't how he was allowed to get away with this. I also did not like the baritone. While I think varying the size of the chorus in this piece has merit, this choir is generally on the small side and does not have the punch when needed. Messiah choirs carry a two edged burden, either the choir is large and it gets muddy in the delicate sections or it is small and can't punch the big sections. This disk errs on the small side. The recording quality is very good, something that dodges many Messiahs. The violins are too close to the soloist microphone (or poorly mixed) and come in much too loud. So whenever there is an sprite from the violins it jumps out at you and drowns the soloists.

The best Messiah for me is still Marriner's 1976 disk, much better overall rendition.

Great mezzo and trumpet.......2002-05-17

This is one of the better Messiahs, although not quite up to Westenberg's level.

Its world-beater aspects include mezzo Anne-Sophie von Otter, whose "He was despised" is well north of magnificent: Warmly mournful in the slow sections, snarling and spitting in the center section.

Trumpeter Mark Bennett does by far the best trumpeting on any of my 30 complete Messiahs. "Glory to God" and "Hallelujah" are as good as it gets -- no, better than any other recording gets.

Countertenor Michael Chance is quite good in "If God be for us" -- I say that as someone who doesn't like countertenors.

Some of the other choruses are also well done. But tenor Jerry Hadley seems to have thought he had more lucrative things to do with his time than to think about Messiah.

And He Shall Reign Forever and Ever, Amen........2002-01-01

This recording ranks itself on the top of the greatest recordings of Handel's Messiah. Being a live recording, it surpasses every other studio recordings of this piece in terms of interpretation and drama. The soloists are superb, the chorus are crisp and vital, and the ensemble plays with great virtuoso. My special remark goes to Miss McNair, I simply cannot grow tired of her! Her lyrical voice is simply destined for this work, especially in aria no 16 `Rejoice greatly, o daughter of Zion' - rejoice indeed! It is to Marriner we should all be grateful for producing this remarkable recording in the first place. Known mainly for his stupendous recordings of Mozart, it is not surprising that he's able to interpret in a true Handelian way. It's a pity that he seldom records works by Handel - I don't know if he performs them unrecorded.
There are actually two versions of this live performance, the one here and the other is available on LaserDisc. I believe that they were recorded on two different performance time, for on some arias the soloists have different style in singing the cadenza. Whichever you prefer, this is a recording you must simply own - even when your music library boasts a dozen or so of Handel's Messiah!!

Handel - Messiah / Vyvyan · Sinclair · Vickers · Tozzi · Royal PO · Beecham

Average customer rating:

Beecham's noisy Messiah
The Big Victorian Handel 'Messiah': Indulge Yourself!
Comfort Ye!
Familiarity hasn't bred much affection
Thanks to Jon!

Handel - Messiah / Vyvyan · Sinclair · Vickers · Tozzi · Royal PO · Beecham
George Frideric Handel , Sir Thomas Beecham , Jennifer Vyvyan , Monica Sinclair , Royal Philharmonic Orchestra , Jon Vickers , and Giorgio Tozzi
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Opera & Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

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Samson

ASIN: B000003FB8
Release Date: 1992-07-14

Tracks:

Messiah: Overture - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Messiah: Recit: Comfort Ye, My People (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
Messiah: Air: Every Valley Shall Be Exalted (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
Messiah: Chorus: And The Glory Of The Lord - John McCarthy
Messiah: Recit: Thus Saith The Lord Of Hosts (Bass) - Giorgio Tozzi
Messiah: Air: But Who May Abide (Bass) - Giorgio Tozzi
Messiah: Chorus: And He Shall Purify - John McCarthy
Messiah: Recit: Behold, A Virgin Shall Conceive (Contralto) - Monica Sinclair
Messiah: Air & Chorus: O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings (Contralto) - John McCarthy
Messiah: Recit: For, Behold, Darkness Shall Cover (Bass) - Giorgio Tozzi
Messiah: Air: The People That Walked In Darkness (Bass) - Giorgio Tozzi
Messiah: Chorus: For Unto Us A Child Is Born - John McCarthy
Messiah: Pastoral Symphony - Royal Philharmonic Chorus
Messiah: Recit: There Were Shepherds Abiding (Soprano) - Jennifer Vyvyan
Messiah: Recit: And The Angel Said Unto Them (Soprano) - Jennifer Vyvyan
Messiah: Recit: And Suddenly There Was (Soprano) - Jennifer Vyvyan
Messiah: Chorus: Glory To God In The Highest - John McCarthy
Messiah: Air: Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter (Soprano) - Jennifer Vyvyan
Messiah: Recit: Then Shall The Eyes (Contralto) - Monica Sinclair
Messiah: Air: He Shall Feed His Flock; Come Unto Him (Contralto & Soprano) - Monica Sinclair
Messiah: Chorus: His Yoke Is Easy - John McCarthy

Tracks:

Messiah: Chorus: Behold The Lamb Of God - John McCarthy
Messiah: Air: He Was Despised (Contralto) - Monica Sinclair
Messiah: Chorus: Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs - John McCarthy
Messiah: Chorus: And With His Stripes We Are Healed - John McCarthy
Messiah: Chorus: All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray - John McCarthy
Messiah: Recit: All They That See Him (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
Messiah: Chorus: He Trusted In God - John McCarthy
Messiah: Recit: Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His Heart (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
Messiah: Air: Behold, And See If There Be (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
Messiah: Recit: He Was Cut Off Out Of The Land (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
Messiah: Air: But Thou Didst Not Leave (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
Messiah: Chorus: Lift Up Your Heads - John McCarthy
Messiah: Air: How Beautiful Are The Feet (Soprano) - Jennifer Vyvyan
Messiah: Chorus: Their Sound Is Gone Out Into All Lands - John McCarthy
Messiah: Air: Why Do The Nations So Furious Rage (Bass) - Giorgio Tozzi
Messiah: Chorus: Lets Us Break Their Bonds Asunder - John McCarthy
Messiah: Recit: He That Dwelleth In Heaven (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
Messiah: Air: Thou Shalt Break Them (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
Messiah: Chorus: Hallelujah! - John McCarthy
Messiah: Part III - Air: I Know That My Redeemer Liveth (Soprano) - Jennifer Vyvyan
Messiah: Chorus: Since By Man Came Death - John McCarthy
Messiah: Recit: Behold, I Tell You A Mystery (Bass) - Giorgio Tozzi
Messiah: Air: The Trumpet Shall Sound (Bass) - Giorgio Tozzi
Messiah: Chorus: Worthy Is The Lamb - John McCarthy

Tracks:

Messiah: Recit: Unto Which Of The Angels (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
Messiah: Chorus: Let All The Angels Of God Worship Him - John McCarthy
Messiah: Air: Thou Art Gone Up On High (Bass) - Giorgio Tozzi
Messiah: Chorus: The Lord Gave The Word - John McCarthy
Messiah: Recit: Then Shall Be Brought To Pass (Contralto) - Monica Sinclair
Messiah: Duet: O Death, Where Is Thy Sting? (Contralto & Tenor) - Monica Sinclair
Messiah: Chorus: But Thanks Be To God - John McCarthy
Messiah: Air: If God Be For Us (Soprano) - Jennifer Vyvyan

Amazon.com essential recording

Sir Thomas Beecham's Messiah has become notorious among baroque purists (like this writer) for embodying the worst excesses of pre-1960 Handel performance: ponderous tempos, stentorian opera singers, huge lumbering choruses and orchestras, crashing cymbals, clanging triangles.... Well, we'll need a new straw man: this performance is WONDERFUL. Jon Vickers and Giorgio Tozzi negotiate Handel's writing surprisingly well; Jennifer Vyvyan takes to it naturally. The chorus and orchestra (yes, including trombones, tuba, triangle, and cymbals) may obscure the part-writing, but they fill the music with power, grandeur, and faith. If Mozart could re-orchestrate Messiah, why not Beecham? This may not be Handel's Messiah as such, it may even be a period piece itself--but it's magnificent. --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews:

Beecham's noisy Messiah.......2006-12-23

Here's the famous Messiah from Thomas Beecham and forces that uses crashing cymbals, enhanced timpani and brass to make it sound like a collusion between classical forces, a rock band and Canadian Brass. Listen to second CD excerpt from "Hallelujah!" for the opening cymbal crash to get an idea of what's going on.

This performance has been debated for 40 years as to whether it is musically adept, musically correct, an exemplar of the English choral tradition, or just a big old batch of fun at Handel's expense. I first owned this during a time when I also owned a recording Handel's "Royal Fireworks Music" featuring 40 woodwinds. The two made roughly an equal amount of noise.

There isn't much question this performance is completely out of step with the way Handel is performed in most venues today. Check out the wonderful Jon Vickers' highly operatic opening aria, "Comfort ye", then compare that to any leaned-out period group you've heard. You'll get another idea of the dimension of Beecham's project.

While not on the agenda of the Flat Earth Society, the only real interest in a performance like this -- especially having to endure it on three CDs when just about everyone else puts it on two -- is nostalgia or history, whichever happens to be the case for you.

My personal favorite version is in the 4-CD box of "Messiah" and "Israel In Egypt" where Andrew Parrott leads his Taverner Choir & Players and some of the best early music singers including Emma Kirkby, Emily van Evera, Margaret Cable, David Thomas, and Joseph Cornwall. HIs Messiah isn't perfect -- it uses a countertenor for a bass in one aria -- but it is more moderate than most PPP recordings and has a wonderful romantic edge to most of the score. It comes with a top notch recording of "Israel in Egypt" and still costs less than the Beehcham.

The Big Victorian Handel 'Messiah': Indulge Yourself!.......2006-12-16

We live in an era when purity of intent and respect for composers' works is at an all time high. Not only are we blessed with superb 'authentic' performances on period instruments and with small choruses and countertenors and state of the art bel canto singers for Handel's evergreen "Messiah", there are many superlative recordings that are as polished as any one work on current recordings. Supposedly we are hearing Messiah the way Handel envisioned it. Perhaps so, but who is to say that had Handel the resources available today he wouldn't have jumped for joy at the drama of the old British Choral Societies version that Sir Thomas Beecham conducts on this anything but dusty recording from many years ago. The 'Old School' had its good points.

Beecham goes all out with an orchestration, while attributed to Sir Eugene Goosens is also probably some of Beecham's own inimitable tinkering, that adds instruments not only in numbers but also in color and depth of sound. Winds double strings, percussion includes the full battery instead of just tympani, the big cello and viola sound stand equally with the big violin sound, etc. The chorus is huge, and while this allows the big dramatic moments to be intense, the fine diction Beecham demanded remains solidly intact.

The soloists are in an operatic class of their own. Jennifer Vyvyan and Monica Sinclair were major singers when this recording was made and their singing is big and well ornamented. Jon Vickers and Giorgio Tozzi bring Verdi into the room and he is a welcome visitor to Beecham's vision of this work.

For this listener, who prefers the 'correct, authentic' performance, this recording and others even older that celebrate the BIG Messiah are a delight. And that just proves that performance standards, no matter the interpretation of the conductor, are paramount: Beecham gives a solid, convincing interpretation to the operatic Messiah. It is lush, and huge, and absolutely wonderful to hear again! Grady Harp, December 06

Comfort Ye!.......2006-10-30

If your not familiar with "Messiah" don't let the reviews scare you - this is certainly a great choice for your first or only recording. There is a lot of feeling in the playing and singing, and i feel it is quite respectful not only of the composer, but the subject matter. It includes a booklet with all the lyrics, and an essay by Beecham himself about the piece. It is a complete recording, with a "bonus cd" of extra verses not usually performed (as explained in the essay). The audio quality is great for the time it was recorded. Its much more worthy to be listened to and contemplated than to be put on as backround music at Christmastime. The price is certainly reasonable in light of the quality of the performance.

Familiarity hasn't bred much affection.......2005-11-02

I first became acquainted with this recording at the tender age of 12 when I received the original Soria edition as a Christmas gift. I remember being intensely disappointed at what seemed to me then as more circus than music. Time has mellowed that negative reaction and gives a more balanced assessment of Beecham's achievement - I bought the CD reissue after all. It still doesn't inspire much affection in yours truly although I can appreciate the soloists' contributions, particularly Tozzi. The lamented Vyvyan was in better voice with Boult. Here she has a rapid vibrato and a curious way of articulating the high notes. The orchestrations seem to maintain more of the clarity of the writing by concentrating on the bass and the top without clogging up the middle voices in the manner of the Victorians. There are three pieces where it just doesn't work at all to these ears: the brassy "All we like sheep," "Hallelujah" (which summons visions of Fucik's 'Entry of the Gladiators' every time I hear it), and the disintegration of the obbligato trumpet into flute noodlings in "The trumpet shall sound," in a lightweight performance that is at odds with the grandeur of the text. I'll also admit that the splashy brilliance of "For unto us a Child is born" and the surging drama of "Surely, He hath borne our griefs" are very satisfying.

In the forty some recordings I own (and the many performances I've attended) there's no best and no definitive. This is one I respect but don't care to hear very often.

Thanks to Jon!.......2005-03-08

This recording is worth having first of all beacause of the credible singing of Jon Vickers! Yes, he really sings on the words. The "Comfort Ye" and "Every valley..." have a knew dimension after Jons reading of the score. Of course I know that in tradition we want a very much more lyrical voice to this masterpiece. But he's not alone here, and now we are already into the problem; the choir! It's just terrible, yes terrible!
I'm just ending up with "Thanks to Jon!"

Average customer rating:

O Sweet Woods

Manufacturer: Metronome
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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In Darknesse Let Me Dwell

ASIN: B00005YKTL
Release Date: 1995-03-08

Average customer rating:

Old Fashioned Sincerity
One of the worst recordings ever made
Pete's Dad

Handel's Messiah

Manufacturer: Golden Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00013ND8M
Release Date: 2004-02-10

Tracks:

Overture
Comfort Ye My People
Ev'ry Valley Shall Be Exalted
And the Glory of the Lord
Thus Saith the Lord of Hosts
But Who May Abide the Day of His Coming?
And He Shall Purify the Sons of Levi
Behold a Virgin Shall Conceive
O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings to Zion
For Behold, Darkness Shall Cover the Earth
People That Walked in Darkness
For Unto Us a Child Is Born
Pastorale Symphony
There Were Shepherds Abiding in the Field
Glory to God in the Highest
Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter of Zion
Then Shall the Eyes of the Blind Be Open'd
He Shall Feed His Flock Like a Shepherd
His Yoke Is Easy, His Burden Is Light
Behold the Lamb of God

Tracks:

He Was Despised and Rejected of Men
Surely, He Hath Borne Our Griefs
And With His Stripes We Are Healed
All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray
All They That See Him, Laugh Him to Scorn
He Trusted in God That He Would Deliver Him
Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His Heart
Behold, And See If There Be Any Sorrow
He Was Cut Off Out of the Land of the Living
But Thou Didst Not Leave His Soul in Hell
Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates
How Beautiful Are the Feet of Them
Why Do the Nations So Furiously Rage
Let Us Break Their Bonds Asunder
He That Dwelleth in Heaven
Thou Shalt Break Them With a Rod of Iron
Hallelujah - London Philharmonic Chorus
I Know That My Redeemer Liveth
Since by Man Came Death - For as in Adam, Even So in Christ
Behold, I Tell You a Mystery
Trumpet Shall Sound
Worthy Is the Lamb That Was Slain
Amen

Customer Reviews:

Old Fashioned Sincerity.......2006-12-30

This is not the best recording of Messiah but it is by no means a disaster. Susskind was an able conductor with a valid view of this great piece. The recording from the 1950s is more than adequate (there is some roughness in the treble but it is full and clear - though some edits are very obvious indeed). The orchestra is excellent and the choir sing well. The soloists - all of them - are superb, among the very best in any version of Messiah! Susskind's tempos are slow by modern standards but there is good rhythmical bounce and a genuine sense of the greatness of the piece. If you can adjust to the broad tempos and the big scale conception then you will discover important aspects of this masterpiece in this performance - and the set costs next to nothing!

One of the worst recordings ever made.......2006-05-10

This is only my second one star review. And I am rather generous with stars. But this recording is just horrible, especially considering that all of the participants are legendary musicians. First of all, this is extremely old fashioned Handel. The textures are way too heavy for music of the baroque. But worst of all, the performance just sits there like mud on your tires that won't come off. Yes, the price is very low, but whatever you do, do not buy this recording.

Pete's Dad.......2005-12-11

I have had a CD of the London Philharmonic version of the Messiah conducted by Fredrick Jackson for several years and enjoyed listening to it. However, the quality of the recording leaves something to be desired.

Average customer rating:

Finally a Messiah with fervor!
Great recording!
Good and Bad
This is a great recording!

Handel: Messiah

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Christmas at Trinity

ASIN: B00002R16A
Release Date: 1999-11-30

Tracks:

Messiah: No. 1 Overture
Messiah: No. 2 Arioso For Tenor
Messiah: No. 3 Air For Tenor
Messiah: No. 4 Chorus
Messiah: No. 5 Recitative For Bass
Messiah: No. 6 Air For Bass
Messiah: No. 7 Chorus
Messiah: No. 8 Recitative For Alto
Messiah: No. 9 Air For Alto And Chorus
Messiah: No. 10 Arioso For Bass
Messiah: No. 11 Air For Bass
Messiah: No. 12 Chorus
Messiah: No. 13 Pifa (Pastoral Symphony)
Messiah: No. 14a Recitative And No. 14b Arioso For Soprano
Messiah: No. 15 Recitative For Soprano
Messiah: No. 16 Arioso For Soprano
Messiah: No. 17 Chorus
Messiah: No. 18 Air For Soprano
Messiah: No. 19 Recitative For Alto
Messiah: No. 20 Air For Alto And Soprano
Messiah: No. 21 Chorus
Messiah: No. 22 Chorus
Messiah: No. 23 Air For Alto
Messiah: No. 24 Chorus
Messiah: No. 25 Chorus
Messiah: No. 26 Chorus

Tracks:

Messiah: No. 27 Arioso For Tenor
Messiah: No. 28 Chorus
Messiah: No. 29 Recitative For Tenor
Messiah: No. 30 Air For Tenor
Messiah: No. 31 Recitative For Tenor
Messiah: No. 32 Air For Tenor
Messiah: No. 33 Chorus
Messiah: No. 34 Recitative For Tenor
Messiah: No. 35 Chorus
Messiah: No. 36 Air For Alto
Messiah: No. 37 Chorus
Messiah: No. 38 Aria For Soprano
Messiah: No. 39 Chorus
Messiah: No. 40 Air For Bass
Messiah: No. 41 Chorus
Messiah: No. 42 Recitative For Tenor
Messiah: No. 43 Air For Tenor
Messiah: No. 44 Chorus
Messiah: No. 45 Air For Soprano
Messiah: No. 46 Chorus
Messiah: No. 47 Recitative For Bass
Messiah: No. 48 Air For Bass
Messiah: No. 49 Recitative For Alto
Messiah: No. 50 Duet For Alto And Tenor
Messiah: No. 51 Chorus
Messiah: No. 52 Air For Soprano
Messiah: No. 53 Chorus
Messiah: Amen

Customer Reviews:

Finally a Messiah with fervor!.......2005-10-20

I've hunted a thrilling performance of The Messiah through 240 versions so far. This is the best I've found. Some are self-conscious, dutifully singing as instructed. Some are almost childish in their lilt. Some are overblown with so much bombast that you can barely hear the heart of the music. Some are concentrated on faithfulness to the original instruments. If you want a performance that will make you shiver with the power and joy of the music, this is the one. The singers are singing about GLORY. They sound as if they are ecstatic. The musicians are at one with the music and they create a virtual cathedral wherever this CD is played, just close your eyes. Or, let your own imagery, be it celestial, or of great oceans...carry you away.

Great recording!.......2003-09-22

There are so many performances of the Messiah out there that it is very difficult to point to a difinative one, but I'd put this in the catagory of the "very good" ones. As other reviewers have said, every performance is different and has its own character. Each has stronger and weaker points. Here the conductor and musicians have made good, solid musical choices. There is an amazing attention to detail which is not so obvious the first listen through but which makes the piece shine. The tempos seem to be right on, and there is no frivolous over-embellishment by the soloists. There is no attempt to be showey. The dramatic dynamics in the first section of the overture are interesting, but seem to work after you hear it a few times. This performance also includes sections which are often omitted (Second half of "He shall feed his flock," "Thou art gone up on high," "Great was the company of the preachers," and "Death where is thy sting"). I prefer the more intimate quality of a small ensemble of musicians to the mega-performances by the London Philharmonic, Vienna State Opera Orchestra, etc.. As with this performance, the smaller group lends a clarity to the music, where the larger ensembles can get a little "muddy" at times. Just my personal preference. Overall, this is a very good performance, and certainly the low price (being on the Naxos lable) makes this a clear choice.

Good and Bad.......2000-04-09

I was more interested in "The Messiah" for the religious content than as a music critic, but this was too much. The strings are tinny. The orchestra is plodding. The soloists and choir are thankfully very good and seem to understand the meaning of the words. It is a shame the sound mix is uneven. The male parts come across loud and clear, but the poor women. For instance, No. 9 Oh thou that tellest..., the soloist sounded like she was singing in an echo chamber far from the mike. This is one of the most disappointing versions of "The Messiah" I have heard in a long time.

This is a great recording!.......2000-02-11

I was really surprised with the new that the Messiah's New World premiere was held at Trinity Church in October 1770, twenty-eight years after it was written. This fact only will make one proud in having this CD among his collection.

Anyhow, this is nothing more than a historic detail and would not count if this recording had not an outstanding first-rate ensemble of singers. Without doubt there is no definitive version of Messiah. Each one has its own distinctive touch and feeling and exploring it is always a pleasant journey through imagination.

As stated by the conductor: "we must concede that performing Messiah with twenty singers and an appropriately balanced instrumental ensemble represents, at best, an imperfect comprimise", it will be easy to understand that this recording does not stand among the greatest and will probably carry some imperfections. I will mention two that kind of disppointed me a little bit. The Overture and the Chorus Worthy is the Lamb, for some reason misses the habitual vigor and strenght. Everything else is great and this is definitely a worth buying.

The String Quartet Tribute to The Roots
Average customer rating:

Worth Checking Out

what!

The String Quartet Tribute to The Roots

Manufacturer: Vitamin Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B0002DB5HC
Release Date: 2004-07-13

Tracks:

Pussy Galore
Adrenaline!
Break You Off
You Got Me
The Seed 2.0
Don't See Us
Proceed
Act Too (The Love Of My Life)
What They Do
Concerto Of Desperado
What You Want
Sacrifice

Product Description

1. What They Do
2. Concerto of Desperado
3. What You Want
4. Pussy Galore
5. Break You Off
6. The Seed 2.0
7. Sacrifice
8. You Got Me
9. Act Too (The Love Of My Life)
10. Proceed

Bonus Tracks:
11. Adrenaline!
12. Don't See Us

Format: CD

Customer Reviews:

Worth Checking Out.......2005-05-12

As a roots fan, i actually HAVE heard this CD, and liked it. Its different, but not in a bad way. The quartet does a good job of staying true to the beats, and has a good selection of tracks. My only complaint is that the CD, which came out right after Phernology, is a bit heavy on tracks from that CD, and has fewer of the older classics.

If you like the roots, you will like this.

what!.......2005-04-15

how can the string quartet do a tribute to the roots! ive never heard this and im going no where near it, but my super mind reading powers say this record sucks, 1 star.

Average customer rating:

Break You Off
The Roots
Manufacturer: Universal/Mca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00008A7IB

Tracks:

Break You Off [Radio Edit] - Musiq (Soulchild), The Roots
Rock You [Album Version] - The Roots

Average customer rating:

the song
The Roots and Musiq....wonderful duet

Break You Off
The Roots
Manufacturer: Mca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Things Fall Apart

ASIN: B00009NHA1
Release Date: 2003-06-10

Tracks:

Break You Off (Radio Edit)
Rock You (Album Version)

Customer Reviews:

the song.......2003-12-30

"Break you off" is the JAM! smooth like butter baby.

The Roots and Musiq....wonderful duet.......2003-10-23

The Roots and Musiq team up for the track "Break You Off". Black Thought's rapping and Musiq's soulful singing is a perfect blend. The catchy melody keeps the audience listening closely while rocking their bodies left and right. "Break You Off" pays homage to those whose partners have or are cheating on them.

"Rock You" is a catchy, intense track. Black Thought raps this track with every drop of energy in him. This keeps the audience jamming to every beat.

Those who love these tracks should also purchase their album "Phrenology", which features them. This will give the audience the ultimate experience intended by The Roots.

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