Handel and Haydn Society of Boston Orchestra and Chorus: Handel's Messiah

by request... and so appropriate for today!

Handel and Haydn Society of Boston Orchestra and Chorus
with
Daniel Taylor, countertenor
Tom Randle, tenor
Matthew Brook, bass-baritone
Suzie LeBlanc, soprano
Harry Christophers conducting
live at Symphony Hall Boston Massachusetts, USA December 4, 5, or 6, 2009
recorded for broadcast December 20, 2009 on WCRB-FM/National Public Radio
Program:
"Messiah" - George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Complete oratorio; 156th consecutive annual performance.

"Handel is the greatest composer who ever lived. I would bare my head and kneel at his grave" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1824)

About the Music:
"In celebration of the Handel and Haydn Society’s 156th annual performance of Handel Messiah, Harry Christophers makes his first appearance this season as conductor, during his inaugural year as Artistic Director. Acclaimed countertenor Daniel Taylor and charismatic tenor Tom Randle return, joined by melodious soprano Suzie LeBlanc and celebrated bass-baritone Matthew Brook, both debut appearances. Christophers’ highly praised interpretation of the Society’s 2007 Messiah performance demonstrates his commitment to Handel’s vision.
“[Messiah] is much more than a collection of exquisite arias and brilliantly vivid choruses,” said Christophers. “It exemplifies Handel’s eternal love of opera, and his vision of continuity, from advent through the passion of our Lord bursting into a jubilant finale of resurrection, ascension and the promise of final redemption.” Christophers plans to conduct Messiah throughout his tenure as Artistic Director with the Handel and Haydn Society.
The Handel and Haydn Society, the oldest continuously performing arts organization in the United States, first performed Messiah selections on December 25, 1815. In 1818, the Society premiered its complete performance of Messiah, and since 1854 has performed the work in its entirety every year, creating an annual Boston tradition."
info: http://www.handelandhaydn.org/

A "chamber version," as the conductor describes it, with some soprano parts taken by the countertenor and some of the usual pauses between some parts eliminated. These and other revisions are discussed by the conductor during the radio intro tracks.

Tracklistings
Disc 1: 62:17
101 radio intro A 6:51
102 radio intro B 0:29
PART ONE: The prophesy and realization of God's plan to redeem mankind by the coming of the Messiah
103-01 Sinfony 3:00
104-02 Accompagnato: Comfort ye 2:52
105-03 Air: Ev'ry valley shall be exalted 3:13
106-04 Chorus: And the glory of the Lord 2:56
107-05 Accompagnato: Thus saith the Lord 1:23
108-06 Air: But who may abide the day 1:57
109-07 Chorus: And He shall purify 2:32
110-08 5:27
- Recitative: Behold, a virgin shall conceive
- Air: O thou that tellest good tidings
111-09 5:26
- Accompagnato: For behold, darkness
- Air: The people that walked in darkness
112-10 Chorus: For unto us a Child 3:57
113-11 6:11
- Pifa (Sinfonia pastorale)
- Recitative: There were shepherds
- Accompagnato: And lo, the angel of the Lord
- Recitative: And the angel said
- Accompagnato: And suddenly there was
- Chorus: Glory to God in the highest
114-12 Air: Rejoice greatly 4:21
115-13 5:44
- Recitative: Then shall the eyes of the blind
- Aria: He shall feed His flock
116-14 Chorus: His yoke is easy 2:16
117 radio outro A 0:32
118 radio outro B 3:02

Disc 2: 57:55
201 radio intro A 10:54
202 radio intro B 0:27
PART TWO: The accomplishment of redemption by the sacrifice of Jesus, mankind's rejection of God's offer, and mankind's utter defeat when trying to oppose the power of the Almighty
203-01 Chorus: Behold the Lamb of God 2:56
204-02 Air: He was despised 10:27
205-03 Chorus: Surely He hath borne 3:31
206-04 Chorus: All we, like sheep 3:45
207-05 2:58
- Accompagnato: All they that see Him
- Chorus: He trusted in God
208-06 5:40
- Accompagnato: Thy rebuke hath broken
- Arioso: Behold, and see
- Accompagnato: He was cut off
- Air: But Thou didst not leave
209-07 Chorus: Lift up your heads 2:54
210-08 Air: How beautiful are 2:11
211-09 Chorus: Their sound is gone out 1:19
212-10 6:26
- Air: Why do the nations
- Chorus: Let us break their bonds
- Recitative: He that dwelleth in heaven
- Air: Thou shalt break them
213-11 Chorus: Hallelujah! 3:41
214 radio outro 0:38

Disc 3: 35:14
301 radio intro A 4:52
302 radio intro A 0:33
PART THREE: A Hymn of Thanksgiving for the final overthrow of Death
303-01 Air: I know that my Redeemer liveth 5:55
304-02 Chorus: Since by man came death 2:04
305-03 4:39
- Accompagnato: Behold, I tell you a mystery
- Air: The trumpet shall sound
306-04 3:25
- Recitative: Then shall be brought to pass
- Duet: O death, where is thy sting?
307-05 Air: If God be for us 4:55
308-06 Chorus: Worthy is the Lamb 7:05
309 radio outro A 0:34
310 radio outro B 1:07

OU: The oratorio is in three parts; I tracked them as performed and according to the libretto included with the torrent as a text file.
The lyrics, compiled from the King James Bible by Charles Jennings (1700-73), are in English.

Source/lineage: FM stereo radio>PC>Soundforge>WAV>tracked, edited and EQ'd in Soundforge>WAVs>SBEs repaired, checksum and FLAC-8 files created in Trader's Little Helper

Standard disclaimer: This was recorded from an analog FM broadcast. There may be audible FM hiss and other flaws. - A Zootype project, December 2009

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Thanks for all that you do to make qualitybootz a fun place to share and Merry Christmas to you all and to your families.
Dave