Album description

Winner MIDEM Classical Award 2009 for choral works

Special Edition Three-CD Set (Digital Two-Volume set)

Arguably the most famous oratorio ever written and certainly Handel’s best known work, Messiah needs little introduction. Composed in a staggering twenty-four days Messiah was first performed in Dublin in 1742 where it received a rapturous welcome. Not so the following year when it premiered in London to a distinctly hostile reception. It wasn’t until Messiah began to be presented in charity performances at the Foundling Hospital in London that the public started to embrace the work we now regard as Handel’s greatest composition.

On this disc The Sixteen and Harry Christophers are joined by four soloists all revered Handelians who have had a long association with The Sixteen.

Artists

Carolyn Sampson  soprano
Catherine Wyn-Rogers  alto
Mark Padmore  tenor
Christopher Purves  bass
The Sixteen
Harry Christophers

Track Listing

CDs 1 and 2

George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Messiah
TOTAL PLAYING TIME: 2hrs 24mins

CD3

Special Edition Bonus CD (not available in download format) 

Handel
1. Arrival of the Queen of Sheba - Taken from track 4 of Heroes & Heroines (COR16025) 
2. The Lord our enemy has slain (Chorus) - Taken from disc 2, track 20 of Esther (COR16019) 
3. Nell dolce dell’obblio - Taken from track 10 of Fedel e Costante (COR16045) 

Harp concerto Op.4, No,6 in B flat 
4. Allegro 
5. Larghetto 
6. Allegro moderato 
Taken from disc 1, tracks 5, 6 & 7 of Alexander’s Feast (COR16028) 

7. Sinfonia to Act 2 (from Ariodante) - Taken from track 6 of Heroes & Heroines (COR16025) 
8. Recit & Aria: Scherza infida (from Ariodante) - Taken from track 7 of Heroes & Heroines (COR16025) 
9. Let the Bright Seraphim (Air & Chorus) -  Taken from disc 3, track 22 of Samson (COR16008)

TOTAL PLAYING TIME: 55.30