Handel: Messiah - Vinyl 3LP

Christopher Hogwood's groundbreaking recording of Handel's Messiah with the Academy of Ancient Music is considered to be one of the finest of all time. This legendary recording project, regarded as one of the most important recording events of the late twentieth century, will now be released in the Decca Pure Analogue Series for the highest audiophile sound, introducing Decca's early music imprint, L'Oiseau-Lyre to the series for the first time.

Remastered & cut from the original stereo master tapes in 100% analogue quality (AAA) by the renowned Emil Berliner Studios, this landmark recording will be issued on 180g virgin vinyl and presented in a hand-numbered, deluxe 3-LP box, featuring the original artwork and booklet with in-depth musical analysis by Christopher Hogwood and Handel scholar Anthony Hicks, plus a new note by esteemed music critic Richard Bratby (author of Refiner's Fire: The Academy of Ancient Music & the Historical Performance Revolution) with interviews from Dame Emma Kirkby and recording engineer John Dunkerley amongst others. This limited edition will also include additional photos from the recording sessions and facsimiles of the tape boxes.

“Like no Messiah ever heard before in this century” — The New York TImes

“This recording is not only one of the shining lights of ‘historically informed performance’, forcing us to rethink what we thought we knew and strewing new ideas in our path; it also remains one of the most deeply convincing Messiahs we have.” — Gramophone

Tracklist:

George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Messiah · A Sacred Oratorio (Foundling Hospital Version 1754)

Part The First
Side A:
1. Sinfony
2. Recit (Tenor): Comfort Ye, Comfort Ye, My People
3. Song (Tenor): Every Valley Shall Be Exalted
4. Chorus: And The Glory Of The Lord Shall Be Revealed
5. Recit (Bass): Thus Saith The Lord Of Hosts
6. Song (Soprano II): But Who May Abide The Day Of His Coming?
7. Chorus: And He Shall Purify The Sons Of Levi

Side B:
1. Recit (Alto): Behold, A Virgin Shall Conceive And Bear A Son
2. Song (Alto) & Chorus: O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings To Zion
3. Recit (Bass): For Behold Darkness Shall Cover The Earth
4. Song (Bass): The People That Walked In Darkness Have Seen A Great Light
5. Chorus: For Unto Us A Child Is Born
6. Pifa
7a. Recit (Soprano I): There Were Shepherds, Abiding In The Field
7b. Recit (Soprano I): And Io, The Angel Of The Lord Came Upon Them
8. Recit (Soprano I): And The Angel Said Unto Them, Fear Not
9. Recit (Soprano I): And Suddenly There Was With The Angel A Multitude Of The Heavenly Host
10. Chorus: Glory To God In The Highest

Side C:
1. Song (Soprano I): Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter Of Zion
2. Recit (Soprano I): Then Shall The Eyes Of The Blind Be Opened
3. Song (Soprano I): He Shall Feed His Flock Like A Sheperd
4. Chorus: His Yoke Is Easy, And His Burden Is Light

Part The Second
5. Chorus: Behold The Lamb Of God
6. Song (Alto): He Was Despised And Rejected Of Men

Side D:
1a. Chorus: Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs
1b. Chorus: And With His Stripes We Are Healed
2. Chorus: All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray
3. Recit (Tenor): All They That See Him Laugh Him To Scorn
4. Chorus: He Trusted In God That He Would Deliver Him
5. Recit (Tenor): Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His Heart
6. Song (Tenor): Behold And See If There Be Any Sorrrow Like Unto His Sorrow
7. Recit (Soprano I): He Was Cut Off Out Of The Land Of The Living
8. Song (Soprano I): But Thou Didst Not Leave His Soul In Hell
9a. Semi-Chorus: Lift Up Your Heads
9b. Semi-Chorus: Who Is The King Of Glory?
9c. Semi-Chorus: The Lord, Strong And Mighty
9d. Semi-Chorus: Lift Up Your Heads
9e. Semi-Chorus: Who Is The King Of Glory?
9f. Semi-Chorus: The Lord Of Hosts
9g. Chorus: The Lord Of Hosts
10. Recit (Tenor): Unto Wich Of The Angels Said He At Any Time
11. Chorus: Let All The Angels Of God Worship Him
12. Song (Soprano II): Thou Art Gone Up On High

Side E:
1. Chorus: The Lord Gave The Word
2. Song (Soprano I): How Beautiful Are The Feet Of Them That Preach The Gospel Of Peace
3. Chorus: Their Sound Is Gone Out Into All Lands
4. Song (Bass): Why Do The Nations So Furiously Rage Together
5. Chorus: Let Us Brake Their Bonds Asunder
6. Recit (Tenor): He That Dwelleth In Heaven Shall Laugh Them To Scorn
7. Song (Tenor): Thou Shalt Breake Them With A Rod Of Iron
8. Chorus: Hallelujah, For The Lord God Omnipotent Reigneth (Hallelujah Chorus)

Part The Third
9. Song (Soprano I): I Know That My Redeemer Liveth
10. Chorus: Since By Man Came Death

Side F:
1. Recit (Bass): Behold I Tell You A Mystery
2. Song (Bass): The Trumpet Shall Sound
3. Recit (Alto): Then Shall Be Brought To Pass The Saying That Is Written
4. Duet (Alto, Tenor): Oh Death, Where Is Thy Sting?
5. Chorus: But Thanks Be To God Who Giveth Us The Victory
6. Song (Soprano II): If God Be For Us
7. Chorus: Worthy Is The Lamb That Was Slain

Judith Nelson (Soprano I) · Emma Kirkby (Soprano II)
Carolyn Watkinson (Alto) · Paul Elliott (Tenor) · David Thomas (Bass)

Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford (Simon Preston, director)
The Academy of Ancient Music
Christopher Hogwood