Handel's Messiah?

One of my favorites, if you like period instruments, is McGegan and the Philharmonia Baroque on Harmonia Mundi. It's a three-disc set, and the best thing about it is that it has all the variations of the piece as it evolved, so you can play it in whichever version you desire, just program your player accordingly. Even includes arias by Drew Minter, a true countertenor. Excellent booklet with it explaining the different versions. As always with McGegan's work for Harmonia Mundi and Robina Young's production, it is a demonstration quality recording, and an excellent performance, with very brisk tempi. In the more standard version, Shaw's Telarc recording with the Atlanta Symphony and chorus is very good, one that I keep returning to.

McGegan is very good, Also nice Hogwood with period instruments.

Pinnock/DG Originals
(Arleen Auger, Anne Sofie von Otter, Michael Chance, Howard Crook, and John Tomlinson)

Christie/Harmonia Mundi
(Les Arts Florissants Orchestra & Chorus, Barbara Schlick, Sandrine Piau, Andreas Scholl etc)

I own about 10 versions and have heard about 10 more in my system, these two are my top choices. These are newer historically informed versions with clarified textures and smaller orchestra forces, yet still deliver the goods in large choral tracks.

The Christie has oustanding soloists especially Piau and Scholl

Allow me to second the Shaw/Atlanta recording.

I think I have a tel-arc at home. Want to trades for something? I never listen to it?
Emery
emfoods@yahoo.com

I love the period instrument performances of this work and agree with the recommendations for McGegan, Pinnock and Christie, above.

If you're looking for a non-period instrument performance, with full orchestra and chorus, then I highly recommend the Colin Davis / London Symphony Orchestra performance on Philips.
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