Combine the premier choral conductor of our time; his select chamber choir, the Cambridge Singers; the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; and Handel's timeless Baroque masterpiece and you have the ultimate musical celebration for Christmas or Easter! Remarkably, this breathtaking performance is Rutter's first recording of Messiah. Two CDs.
Hendrickson Worship introduces a new recording of Handel's Messiah, from world-renowned conductor and composer John Rutter and the Cambridge Singers. Remarkably, this is the first time John Rutter has recorded the Messiah. Named on The Today Show as "the greatest living composer and conductor of choral music," Rutter is probably the most successful choral composer of his generation. Rutter's compositions are chiefly choral, and include Christmas carols, anthems, and extended works such as a Gloria and a Requiem.
Messiah is being performed by the Cambridge Singers, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted by John Rutter. The soloists are Joanne Lunn, Melanie Marshall, James Gilchrist, and Christopher Purves.
The 2-CD set includes a 24-page booklet with the text of Messiah and interspersed photos from the recording session at All Hallows Gospel Oak, London.
"If you sing in a choir-church or choral society-it is a mathematical certainty that you will have sung something by John Rutter. Be it anthem, carol, hymn or his much-loved Requiem, John Rutter's [the] choral man who has given choirs music [that] is ubiquitous."-CollegiumUSA.com
Messiah, (1741), is an oratorio by George Frideric Handel. It is his most famous creation and is among the most popular works in the Western choral literature. The name of the oratorio is taken from Judaism and Christianity's concept of the messiah ("the anointed one"). In Christianity, the Messiah is Jesus. Handel himself was a devout Christian, and the work is a presentation of Jesus's life and its significance according to Christian doctrine. Messiah is Handel's most famous work and remains immensely popular among concert-goers in the English-speaking world.
Although the work was conceived and first performed for Easter, it has become traditional since Handel's death to perform the Messiah oratorio during Advent, the preparatory period of the Christmas season. The work is also heard at Eastertide, and selections containing resurrection themes are often included in Easter services.
Average Rating: 5 out of 5 stars(5 out of 5 stars)
8 of 41 Reviews Showing:(View All Reviews)
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Joel Weber (Loveland, CO), November 19, 2009
An excellent 2CD.
The choir and orchestra create a beautiful blend of baroque and lush large sound. The balance and pace are both reverential and infused with proper energy.
Most of the soloists fit my taste well and bring an added dramatic dimension to this complete Messiah.
But more importantly, by offering this complete uncut version, you can follow the story of Christ's birth from prophecy to culmination. From carefully lifted portions of Scripture you can encounter God's very words concerning this unique historical event - all set to masterful music.
No sermon can evoke the images that this Scripture set to music can!
4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Brian De Fereire (Miami, FL), October 08, 2009
This is a great recording for the price. John Rutter , the Cambridge Singers and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra are a great sounding and high quality performance. I am enjoying this CD to the max for this Christmas.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Diane (Hibbing, MN), January 05, 2009
Excellent! What a wonderful way to enjoy through music- Jesus- from His birth to the twinkling of an eye and His triumphant return to take us up to heaven forever!
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Alex Burgess (Rochester, NH), December 31, 2008
This is an excellent and totally complete version. We are enjoying it very much. The soloists are top notch.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Rachel Garner (Wake Forest, NC), December 31, 2008
If you have never heard this you must! It is a fantastic presentation of the gospel. Of you cannot hear it live; this is the next best thing, particularly if you have a warm chair and z fireplace going. This is the highlight of every Christmas and Easter in my house...and hopefully yours too:)
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Patricia Smith (Saint Ignace, MI), December 30, 2008
I listened to the Messiah and I was very impressed with the quality and professionalism of the choir.
I would reccommend it to anyone
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by wg (LI, NY), December 29, 2008
Very enjoyable. It was something I really wanted knowing the story behind why it was written.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Phoebe (Las Cruces, NM), December 22, 2008
Ignore those who quibble about this recording! It the best I have heard (though I am sure Robert Shaw also does an excellent job.) The music is clearly interpreted, very dramatic and Baroque, but tastefully so. The words come through beautifully. I am not sure I like the performance of the alto soloist, but the others are great.
Here an excerpt from Rutter's liner notes. He obviously is a man of faith himself, as well as one of the greatest choral conductors and composers alive. He points out that many of Handel's compositions are musically excellent, but "what makes the Messiah unique is its libretto [or text]." The librettist was named Charles Jennens, and his "inspired idea was to not write the text himself but rather to compile it from the King James Bible, presenting Handel with the most extended scriptural text he ever set to music-- a text, moreover, containing the kernel of the Christian faith. For believers, this will always be more compelling than the sometimes obscure Old Testament narratives of most of Handel's other oratorios, recounted in poetic paraphrases which rarely match the glory of the 1611 Bible.... [The] subject-matter certainly inspired [Handel] to music of exceptional directness, conviction, and glory... Every note breathes the faith of its composer... "
And Rutter's interpretation makes that faith shine clear.
View all 41 Reviews
Write a review of Handel's Messiah: The Complete Work
Catalog Shopping
Membership
![more information about Images of Christ, Compact Disc [CD]](http://g.christianbook.com/g/display/c/cd99124.gif "more information about Images of Christ, Compact Disc [CD]")
![more information about Gloria: The Sacred Music Of John Rutter, Compact Disc [CD]](http://g.christianbook.com/g/display/c/cd99100.gif "more information about Gloria: The Sacred Music Of John Rutter, Compact Disc [CD]")
![more information about Feel The Spirit, Compact Disc [CD]](http://g.christianbook.com/g/display/c/cd01282.gif "more information about Feel The Spirit, Compact Disc [CD]")
![more information about Requiem & Magnificat, Compact Disc [CD]](http://g.christianbook.com/g/display/c/cd99504.gif "more information about Requiem & Magnificat, Compact Disc [CD]")
![more information about Refuge, Compact Disc [CD]](http://g.christianbook.com/g/display/1/181271.gif "more information about Refuge, Compact Disc [CD]")
![more information about The Cambridge Singers Christmas Album, Compact Disc [CD]](http://g.christianbook.com/g/display/c/cd00512.gif "more information about The Cambridge Singers Christmas Album, Compact Disc [CD]")
