Messiah
Every year brings a slew of new and reissued versions of this most beloved of Handel's works. This one first saw daylight in 1966, but lest you think it's outdated, this refurbished classic remains a source of listening pleasure. Obviously, it cannot reflect the historically informed performance practices of today. But it is one of the pioneering precursors of contemporary style, with sustained forward momentum, dancing rhythms, and an orchestra slimmed down from the prevailing norms of the 1960s. The singing is fine, with special kudos to the high-flying soprano, Judith Raskin, along with Florence Kopleff, a true alto, and Richard Lewis, a premier Handelian of the period. It also has what all Robert Shaw choral recordings have: first-rate choral singing and an emotional immediacy that goes to the heart of the music's message. I had to tilt the balance control to the left to bring the stage picture into focus, but once that was done, pure bliss followed.--Dan Davis