Description
“Stephen Cleobury has opted for the ‘mature’score, embracing four soloists (soprano, contralto, tenor and bass) as Handel revived it in 1752 and he has a strong line-up of soloists. John Ma rk Ainsley sings with remarkable spiritedness throughout, exhibiting an accomplishment and beauty of articulation … Hilary Summers takes a little to settle but her soft-grained and controlled renderings of”O thou that tellest” and, in particular, ” He was despised” show a younger singer of considerable sensitivity. Of the other two soloists, Lynne Dawson is frequently a delight: “Rejoice greatly” is both agile and well-gauged whilst “He shall feed his flock” is even more imploring. Alastair Miles demonstrates his wonderfully resonant voice with a performance of some gravitas (Gramophone)”
CD1 (64:43)
PART ONE
1. Sinfonia 03:02:
2. Recitative-tenor: Comfort ye my people 2:50
3. Aria-tenor: Evr’y valley shall be exalted 3:20
4. Chorus: And the Glory, the Glory of the Lord 2:51
5. Recitative-bass: Thus saith the Lord 1:19
6. Aria-alto: But who may Abide 4:04
7. Chorus: And He shall Purify 2:29
8. Recitative-alto: Behold, a Virgin shall Conceive 0:23
9. Aria-alto & chorus: O Thou that Tellest 5:26
10. Recitative-bass: For behold, darkness shall come over the Earth 2:01
11. Aria-bass: The People that walked in darkness 3:17
12. Chorus: For unto us a Child is born 4:04
13. Pifa (Pastoral Symphony) 2:30
14. Recitative-soprano: There were shepherds 0:30
15. Recitative-soprano: And the Angel said unto them 0:31
16. Recitative-soprano: And suddenly, there was with the Angel 0:16
17. Chorus: Glory to God in the highest 1:52
18 Aria-soprano: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion 4:16
19. Recitative-soprano: Then shall the eyes of the Blind 0:24
20. Aria-soprano: And he shall feed his Flock 4:34
21. Chorus: His yoke is easy 2:20
PART TWO
22. Chorus: Behold the Lamb of God 2:21
23. Aria-alto: He was despisèd 9:51
CD2 (69:40)
1. Chorus: Surely He hath borne our Griefs 1:43
2. Chorus: And with His stripes we are healed 1:47
3. Chorus: All we like Sheep 3:43
4. Recitative-tenor: All they that see Him 0:40
5. Chorus: He trusted in God 2:18
6. Recitative-tenor: Thy rebuke hath broken His heart 1:48
7. Aria-tenor: Behold, and see if there be any Sorrow 1:21
8. Recitative-soprano: He was cut off out of the Land 0:17
9. Aria-soprano: But Thou didst not leave 2:20
10. Chorus: Lift up your Heads 2:58
11. Recitative-tenor: Unto which of the Angels 0:17
12. Chorus: Let all the Angels of God worship Him 1:27
13. Aria-alto: Thou art gone up on high 3:11
14. Chorus: The Lord gave the Word 1:03
15. Aria-soprano: How beautiful are the feet 2:03
16. Chorus: Their sound is gone out 1:29
17. Aria-bass: Why do the Nations? 1:25
18. Chorus: Let us break their Bonds asunder 1:43
19. Recitative-tenor: He that dwelleth in Heaven 0:11
20. Aria-tenor: Thou shalt break them 1:58
21. Chorus: Hallelujah! 3:35
PART THREE
22. Aria-soprano: I know that my Redeemer liveth 5:47
23. Chorus: Since by man came Death 2:02
24. Recitative-bass: Behold, I tell you a Mystery 0:34
25. Aria-bass: The Trumpet shall sound 8:30
26. Recitative-alto: Then shall be brought to pass 0:16
27. Duet alto & tenor: O Death, where is thy Sting? 1:02
28. Chorus: But Thanks be to God 2:02
29. Aria-soprano: If God be for us 5:06
30. Chorus: Worthy is the Lamb……Amen 6:50
Recorded live 1994, Pieterskerk, Leiden, Netherlands for Columns Classics
