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Notes
The RIAS Kammerchor Berlin and its chief conductor Justin Doyle present Handel’s Messiah, together with the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin and an all-British quartet of outstanding soloists, consisting of Julia Doyle (soprano), Tim Mead (countertenor), Thomas Hobbs (tenor) and Roderick Williams (bass). Messiah is not only Handel’s most famous work, but equally one of the cornerstones of British choral culture. Soon after the work’s premiere, a tradition of mass performances full of pomp and circumstance took root, with the Hallelujah as a showstopper. This new period-instruments recording, however, aims to bring the piece back to the size and intimacy of the 1742 premiere in Dublin. The Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin has a substantial PENTATONE discography, including Handel’s Concerti grossi Op. 6 and Op. 3, (released in 2019 and 2020), Telemann’s opera Miriways (2019) and CANTATA with Bejun Mehta (2018). The RIAS Kammerchor Berlin, Justin Doyle, Julia Doyle, Tim Mead, Thomas Hobbs and Roderick Williams all make their PENTATONE debut.
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Reviews
***** Coup de Cœur
Jeremie Bigorie - Classica (France) – March 2021
“… The Akademie are simply one of the world’s finest baroque orchestras, technically immaculate but also with a distinctive woody strength to their sound...The soloists, too, are great to listen to. Julia Doyle has a voice of bewitching clarity, with an uncomplicated grace and precision ... Tim Mead is a superb countertenor whose richly lyrical voice, almost like a contralto in places, has not a weak note in it, and is a constant pleasure to hear…”
Lindsay Kemp – Gramophone magazine – December 2020
Performance **** Recording ****
“… Doyle’s direction is assured. In the densest counterpoint, he makes voicing crystal clear; in choruses especially, he picks out and animates dance meters; his silky transitions between solo and choir movements give the performance an irresistible momentum. The vocal artists also show flair. Roderick Williams earns special mention for his thrilling additions to “The Trumpet shall sound”, and countertenor Tim Mead illuminates his part through intense declamation. Tenor Thomas Hobbs is warmly engaging… This Messiah is beautiful …”
Berta Joncus – BBC Music magazine – Christmas 2020
Recording of the Month
“… This is a very impressive all around recording of the Messiah which advances to the front rank of the authentic instrument versions that garnered notice over the years and indeed to my ears Pentatone’s Messiah rather exceeds many of the older ones by way of its beautiful performances and the exquisite quality of the sound.”
Mike Parr - MusicWeb-International.com - 27 November 2020
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