This double-bill of oratorio brings Handel's seasonal favorite, Messiah, together with the less familiar but compelling Israel in Egypt, both performed by the Taverner Choir & Players and conductor Andrew Parrott. The pairing is interesting: while it might deter some of those looking for a stand-alone recording of Messiah, it might also encourage some listeners who come looking for Messiah to expand their Handel horizons. Parrott's fastidious conducting is to Handel what the Oxford shirt is to men's clothing: buttoned down, ...
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This double-bill of oratorio brings Handel's seasonal favorite, Messiah, together with the less familiar but compelling Israel in Egypt, both performed by the Taverner Choir & Players and conductor Andrew Parrott. The pairing is interesting: while it might deter some of those looking for a stand-alone recording of Messiah, it might also encourage some listeners who come looking for Messiah to expand their Handel horizons. Parrott's fastidious conducting is to Handel what the Oxford shirt is to men's clothing: buttoned down, crisp, and entirely passionless. Even the usually rousing Hallelujah chorus is on its best behavior -- rhythmically crisp, perfectly together, but dramatically moribund. Whether it appeals to individual listeners will depend entirely on their tastes. If one wants to be stirred at the core, then it's best to look elsewhere. But if one is excited by supreme tidiness, then this is the right choice. The Taverner Choir shines most brightly on both of these recordings. The impeccable...
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Add this copy of Handel: Messiah; Israel in Egypt to cart. $28.92, like new condition, Sold by Streetlight_Records rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Santa Cruz, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2007 by Virgin Classics.
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