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What is the best Handel's Messiah availble on SACD where...

107.194.22.251
Posted on April 23, 2016 at 10:51:39
Pete Watt
Audiophile

Posts: 527
Location: San Diego
Joined: August 18, 2001
 the sonics are absolutely first rate. Given the number of recordings of the Messiah available, there must be one or two where the performance is excellent and the reproduction to-die-for. Thanks.

Pete

 

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RE: What is the best Handel's Messiah availble on SACD where..., posted on April 23, 2016 at 17:44:08
PAR
 An obvious answer is the Dublin version recorded by John Butt and the Dunedin Consort on Linn. Loads of awards etc. However of a scale appropriate to that original performance in 1742 - yes it's a HIP. So if it fits with your taste...

 

Boston Baroque, on Telarc SACD? nt, posted on April 23, 2016 at 17:59:21
oldmkvi
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No recommendations from me - they're almost all HIP! [nt] ;-), posted on April 24, 2016 at 23:43:29
Chris from Lafayette
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  Since: February 6, 2012

 

I like the FIM 2-disc version, posted on April 25, 2016 at 02:43:42
jeromelang
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Posts: 2303
Joined: February 2, 2001
 But, it's the only recording I have on any format....

I think it is rather good.

 

Someone needs to release the Beecham as an SACD!! No HIPsters in sight. nt, posted on April 25, 2016 at 03:51:06
srl1
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Location: Florida Panhandle
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 nt

 

Telarc Robert Shaw Atlanta, Sylvia McNair & Kaaren Erickson NON-HIP, posted on April 25, 2016 at 08:26:25
John Marks
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Location: Peoples' Democratic Republic of R.I.
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Telarc Robert Shaw Atlanta, Sylvia McNair & Kaaren Erickson NON-HIP

This is in good 1983 digital sound; I believe it was recorded with the Soundstream system but whereas the Carmina Burana same forces same era came out later on SACD, I don't believe Messiah did.

Excellent solo singing, especially from Alfreda Hodgson.

FWIW & YMMV.

john

 

oops, sorry, that's CD only, I went looking for the SACD and in the process forgot your request, posted on April 25, 2016 at 08:27:30
John Marks
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Location: Peoples' Democratic Republic of R.I.
Joined: April 23, 2000
 nt

 

One of my favorites! [nt] ;-), posted on April 25, 2016 at 10:28:35
Chris from Lafayette
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  Since: February 6, 2012

 

That's the (HIP) Anders Ohrwall recording, originally on the Proprius label, posted on April 25, 2016 at 10:36:24
Chris from Lafayette
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 1982 recording, 2011 FIM remastering I believe. I haven't heard it myself, but it's said to be engineered VERY well indeed.

 

RE: What is the best Handel's Messiah availble on SACD where..., posted on April 25, 2016 at 14:34:53
Fitzcaraldo215
Audiophile

Posts: 1120
Location: Philadelphia
Joined: September 7, 2008
 http://www.amazon.com/Handel-Messiah-Dublin-Version-1742/dp/B000K2Q7PK

The Dunedin Consort conducted by John Butt. I am no fan of their scaled down Bach, but this similarly scaled album is excellent, IMO.

 

Between the Ohrwall disc on FIM and the Butt SACD on Linn..., posted on April 26, 2016 at 08:53:28
Pete Watt
Audiophile

Posts: 527
Location: San Diego
Joined: August 18, 2001
 which would have the better sonics?

Thanks, Pete

 

Anyone want comment on the McCreesh or the Harnoncourt? (NT), posted on April 26, 2016 at 10:49:10
Kal Rubinson
Reviewer

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Location: New York
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RE: Someone needs to release the Beecham as an SACD!! No HIPsters in sight. nt, posted on April 26, 2016 at 15:09:55
PAR
 I presume that you mean the 1959 NSO recording? (there is an earlier Beecham recording).

That is interesting as over here in the work's homeland the classic version of that style of performance from the 1950s is not that of Beecham but Sir Malcolm Sargent with the Huddersfield Choral Society and the RLPO. A recording I was brought up on as a child. Can you imagine coming from a time when the Hallelujah Chorus was a popular request on children's radio programmes ?

The recording also documents the tradition of English amateur choral singing which dates back almost to Handel's day. This chorus has the music in its bones.

Suitable for SACD release? We are now lucky to get wnatever scraps that are released in that format. Trouble is that although the recording is now in the public domain the original tapes sit in Warner's vaults. Would it be economic for anyone to secure a licence from them for SACD release?

 

Taking my original post to the extreme..., posted on April 28, 2016 at 09:17:20
Pete Watt
Audiophile

Posts: 527
Location: San Diego
Joined: August 18, 2001
 of all the versions of Handel's Messiah available on SACD, which has the best sonics, independent of the quality of the performance. In other words, which comes closest to reproducing the music with close to life-like sound and realism.

Thanks, Pete

 

RE: Taking my original post to the extreme..., posted on April 30, 2016 at 15:15:29
Fitzcaraldo215
Audiophile

Posts: 1120
Location: Philadelphia
Joined: September 7, 2008
 I do not really know. But, my bias would be toward a recent hi rez recording, like the Dunedin/Butt. I am very satisfied sonically, and also performance-wise. I, myself, am not that interested in an additional version, because it works for me.

To do further research, go here:

Www.HRAudio.net

 

McCreesh, if you can find it, posted on May 19, 2016 at 07:07:15
Kas
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Posts: 776
Location: Eastern Massachusetts
Joined: December 5, 2006
 Like a lot of Universal SACD's, it was issued briefly, and is hard to find on the used market.

 

Rene Jacobs on Harmonia Mundi, posted on August 3, 2016 at 07:52:42
JMCIII
Reviewer

Posts: 1519
Location: Vermont
Joined: April 3, 2000
 I have this version and like it a lot - but then, I have no other SACD versions to compare it with. But the sound is excellent and the performance wonderful.

Just my (adjusted for inflation) $2

John Crossett

___

It sounds like English, but I can't understand a word you're saying.

 

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