Messiah: The Dream Cast |  | Creators: Bryn Terfel, Robert Hale, George Frederick Handel, Charles Dutoit, Charles Mackerras, Colin Davis, Georg Solti, John Eliot Gardiner, Marc Minkowski, Neville Marriner, Paul McCreesh, Richard Bonynge, Trevor Pinnock, English Baroque Soloists, English Concert, Gabrieli Consort & Players, Anne Sofie von Otter, Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra
Label: Decca
Category: Music
List Price: $11.98
Buy Used: $2.73
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Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 301671
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 000204202
UPC: 028947616115
EAN: 0028947616115
ASIN: B0001GWB5K
Release Date: March 9, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Symphony | | • | Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Comfort ye, My people | | • | Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Ev'ry valley shall be exalted | | • | Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: And He shall purify the sons of Levi | | • | Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Behold, a virgin shall conceive | | • | Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion | | • | Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: For unto us a Child is born | | • | Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Pifa (Pastoral Symphony) | | • | Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: There were shepherds... Glory to God | | • | Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Rejoice greatly, o daughter of Zion | | • | Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: He shall feed his flock | | • | Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: All we like sheep have gone astray | | • | Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Thy rebuke hath broken His heart | | • | Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Behold and see | | • | Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: The Lord gave the word | | • | Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Why do the nations | | • | Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Hallelujah | | • | Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: I know that my Redeemer liveth | | • | Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: The trumpet shall sound | | • | Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Worthy is the Lamb... Amen |
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 6
 In Deed a "Dream" Messiah, Except... May 22, 2006
CalCruisin (California)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
With one glaring exception, this "Dream Cast" recording is an excellent collection of highlights from Handel's Messiah, containing both modern- and period-instrument recordings. The performances of the "dream team" soloists are excellent, and not just the women, but also the men. For the female voices, I particularly enjoyed: Arleen Auger (I know that my Redeemer liveth), Anne Sofie von Otter (O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion) and Leontyne Price (He shall feed his flock), with Joan Sutherland also good (Rejoice greatly o daughter of Zion), but Kiri Te Kanawa (There were sheperds abiding) perhaps seeming disaffected. For the male voices it was great from start to finish with Anthony Rolfe-Johnson (Comfort ye my people), Jerry Hadley (Every valley shall be exalted), Charles Daniels (Behold and see) and Robert Hale (The trumpet shall sound), but with Bryn Terfel (Why do the nations) perhaps seeming light.
The one exception? For Unto Us a Child is Born sung at high speed. Les Musiciens de Louvre (whoever they are) sound like chipmunks singing at the old LP 78 speed. They seem in a race to see who can finish singing first, without any meaning or phrasing, like juveniles in a race thru' their rosary beads. This is a shame, because next to the Hallelujah chorus, this is the most important part of the Messiah.
The orchestral playing by the English Baroque with Gardiner, the English Consort with Trevor Pinnock, and the Gabrieli Players with McCreesh was outstanding. I especially liked the clear trumpet playing of the Gabrieli with Hale singing "The trumpet shall sound." I also enjoyed the Hallelujah chorus by the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields with Neville Marriner. Altho' I usually like a modern, massed-strings sound, this smaller ensemble under Marriner was very pleasing to my ears. And given my bias I liked the performances of the large symphony orchestras under Solti and Davis too.
So this is in deed a "dream" collection, except for the French chipmnunks on the second most important part of the Messiah.
Good for the soloist singer set.... December 20, 2006
H. Johns (USA)
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
I've been living with this CD for a few days now and while I think it's a valuable addition, I wouldn't use it even as a primary 'highlights' cd. (For that you're better off with the highlights CD featuring John Shirley-Quirk, Felicity Palmer, Raymond Leppard, English Chamber Orchestra, and Felicity Palmer (Audio CD - 2003)- ASIN: B00006L9RR).
It's best to use this as a soloist review cd. If you're singing one of the solo parts, use it as a guide for phrasing/pacing except as noted below.
Other: The decca recording transfers are very good and help keep this at 3 stars.
"The trumpet shall sound" cut is quite good, nice tempo, one weak note on the entrance to the chorus repeat holds it back slightly.
* "For unto us a child is born" must have been sung while the Kentucky Derby was on...WAY too fast. This sounds more ridiculous on repeated hearings.
Major omission! May 20, 2008
K. Nickodemus (Ann Arbor, MI)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This recording is missing "And the Glory of the Lord" !! How can that be? I agree with the others that "For Unto Us a Child is Born" is fast, but it certainly doesn't sound like the Chipmunks. It's been performed fast by others in the past. Conductor's discretion.
Best part for me? Robert Hale on tracks #19 and #20. I knew him when I was a little girl -- my mother would accompany him.......long time ago but the strength in his voice still stirs something inside me. These tracks alone make the CD worth it for me.
 Despised and rejected? December 23, 2009
Anna Shlimovich (Boston, MA United States)
This collage is a curious pastiche which however contains incredible interpretations, like Leontyne Price's "He shall feed his flock" - she sings BOTH alto and soprano parts; and Bryn Terfel "Why do the nations" - the best bass interpretation of this air that I have ever heard.
But for this CD claim to be the "best" voices, it cannot do without "He was despised", and Kathleen Ferrier should have been presented. To me, this is the major omission of this collection, which cannot be really listened to as a true opus of Messiah for obvious barbarity of such arbitrary cuts, picks and choses.
 So far, my favorite Messiah version December 5, 2009
Jan Ledford (Franklin, NC USA)
Like many of you, I collect Handel's Messiah in various versions from classic to Young Messiah to Soulful Celebration. I've also sung the music, and I listen to it year 'round.
However, I'm not "into" other classical music, so I can't name-drop with you regarding the soloists.
That said, I simply love the voices in this album! The sopranos' trills have trills. And the bass voice on "Why Do the Nations Rage" send chills down my spine when he hits that low, low note.
Thorougly enjoyable.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 6
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