Search - Jeffrey Thomas, Daniel Taylor, American Bach Soloists :: Handel's Messiah: American Bach Soloists

Handel's Messiah

M. Fields | Iowa City, Iowa | 01/15/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Outstanding performance by orchestra, soloist, and chorus. The early music instruments add a softness and beauty that makes listening a unique pleasure."

Good but there is smoething strange...

Patrick (Poland) | 06/22/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I decide to buy this CD because i read some reviews here and i'm fan of Daniel Taylor. Hmm this is very intresting recording because it is based on Handels autograph from 1741. It means that is erlier than first performance in Dublin (1742) where handel makes minor changes. And consider this fact it is must buy CD for every Messiah lover. But from side of interpretation this recording is very confusing. Choir is superb, alto also, bass is good but i heard better in the same repertuar (Messiah from Naxos, Dublin score 1742 - David van Ash), its a pity that tenor and soprano are not very good for Messiah. Both artist (soprano and tenor) are using to much vibrato and it is against baroque performance practice especialy in sacral music. This fact put sporano and tenor out of style of Baroque. Second thing is strange sound realization it sounds not like Live performance. There is no feel of place acoustic, sometimes it seems like orchesrta and voices were recorded separetly and after this some sound engineer put this together. I have very mixed feelings about this recording from one side is excelent playing orchestra and chorus beautiful alto from other side soprano and tenor that are a bit too romantic in style of singing, good and proper but nothing more bass and a bit artificial sound space."

Finest Messiah I've Ever Heard

Trevor Kelly | Waltham, MA USA | 08/09/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Somehow I've become a collector of Messiah recordings. My favorites to date (for different reasons) are Perlman/Telarc, Hogwood/Decca and Gardiner/Philips. The Thomas/Delos is a new favorite on this list and in some ways it surpasses the other three.



The pure musical quality of both choir and orchestra on this recording are -superb-. The choir's mass intonation is nearly perfect, with a broad range of tonality that always seems "just right." The orchestra is balanced, tight and abundantly musical. Orchestra, choir and soloists work together in generous cooperation very much like the exceptional Gardiner/Philips recording. Both Thomas and Gardiner have that amazing sense of "life" and perhaps even something I would call "spiritual presence."



Daniel Taylor is a standout. When I first heard him sing, I couldn't hold back some tears. He's really that good and Messiah gives him a platform to shine. The other soloists do a great job, though Taylor is a highlight on this CD. Bonus - I have a good stereo system and this is the best sounding Messiah I've heard. High fidelity, more like being up close at a concert. Some may prefer a more distant sound, but I don't, especially for Messiah.



Weaknesses? Not many. The choir sounds more "cohesive" than on other recordings, especially when compared with Hogwood's distant sounding boy-choir. Reminds me of a finely polished fusion of Gardiner and Perlman. If I had to chose a desert island Messiah, I think Thomas/Delos would be it, thought I would sneak in Gardiner in my back pocket."