Handel: Messiah

Disc 1
1	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
2	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
3	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
4	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
5	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
6	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
7	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
8	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
9	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
10	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
11	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
12	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
13	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
14	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
15	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
16	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
18	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
19	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
20	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
21	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
22	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
23	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
24	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
Disc 2
1	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
2	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
3	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
4	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
5	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
6	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
7	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
8	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
9	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
10	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
11	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
12	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
13	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
14	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
15	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
16	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
17	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
18	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
19	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
20	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
22	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
24	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
25	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
26	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
27	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
Disc 3
1	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
2	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
4	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
5	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
6	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
7	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
Handel: Messiah
1.	Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56 2:16:55
	Composed by George Frideric Handel
	Performed by Charles Brett, English Baroque Soloists, Robert Hale, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Margaret Marshall, Timothy Mason, Monteverdi Choir, Catherine Robbin, Alastair Ross, Alastair Ross, Crispian Steele-Perkins, Elizabeth Wilcock and Saul Quirke
	Conducted by John Eliot Gardiner

Barnes & Noble

Sir John Eliot Gardiner's triumphant period instrument version can be confidently mentioned in the same breath with any of the great "Messiah" recordings of the past. In fact, in many ways it is the most completely satisfying "Messiah" ever released. Using the reduced performing forces and older instruments that are common to almost every "Messiah" recording of the last couple of decades, Gardiner nevertheless projects almost all of the oratorio's size and significance in a performance that is still very intimate in its physical dimensions and sound. The soloists are all intelligent and musical; the chorus (for which Gardiner wisely opted for female sopranos instead of the more "authentic" boys' voices) sings with joy and devotion; and the English Baroque Soloists play with great precision and high-minded intensity, while giving the unmistakable impression that they're having an enormous amount of fun. While nothing could ever make me part with my well-worn recordings by Beecham and Mackerras, Gardiner's exultant performance now joins that select circle of "Messiahs" I cannot do without. Jim Svejda

Gramophone

A splendid record.... The subdued opening of the ''Hallelujah'' and ''Amen'' choruses are ideas that really do work, at any rate when there is such inspired direction as Gardiner gives. All his forces, vocal and orchestral, respond, as does the listener. Jonathan Swain