NZSO Messiah 2020 Photo: Screengrab Latitude Creative
Performed by Anna Leese (soprano), Sarah Court (mezzo), Frederick Jones (tenor), Robert Tucker (bass), The Tudor Consort, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra conducted by Gemma New.
Part One begins with the Old Testament prophecies of the coming of the Messiah and the Virgin Birth and is followed by the New Testament narration where the angels appear to the shepherds. It ends with a subdued meditation on the new-found peace which Christ has brought to the world in 'He shall feed his flock'.
There is no definitive version of 'Messiah'. Handel never performed his oratorio exactly as it had been written in 1741. Like other baroque composers, Handel saw any composition as being adaptable. In fact, he reworked the score of 'Messiah' at least 10 times, often tailoring arias to the limitations or talents of specific singers.
This performance uses similar forces to what would have been used in the première performance - with 21 strings, 2 oboes, 1 bassoon, 2 trumpets, timpani, harpsichord, chamber organ, and a choir of 36 voices.
Recorded 12 December 2020, Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington by RNZ Concert
Producer: David McCaw
Engineer: Darryl Stack
