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HANDEL: Messiah

by

Richard Hickox

 
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HANDEL: Messiah
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Avg: 4.5 (7 ratings)

Handel's towering achievement.

  • We Say...

    The "Hallelujah" Chorus that closes Part 2 of Handel's oratorio Messiah made the king at the time, George II, leap to his feet — thereby starting a tradition that endures to this day. It's not surprising: this is music of (literally) uplifting power, and that same spirit infuses the entire work. Its narrative is drawn from the Bible and encompasses the story of Christ from the prophecy of his birth through the nativity, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension and ends with the certainty of the victory over sin and death. In short, it's an affirmation of a deeply held belief, and Handel matches the text with music of enormous potency and, at times, disarming simplicity. Richard Hickox and his period instrument forces and splendid choir give a wonderfully vital and dramatic performance and the solo singing, particularly from Bryn Terfel is particularly fine, displaying real authority and a cast-iron technique.

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