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Jared wrote:^^ thanks for your thoughts Fergus, not sure I expressed myself very well...

some repertoire by composers becomes very well known and frequently recorded, like the Messiah, but I bet some of the Chandos Anthems have scarcely seen the light of day on CD... when they are so beautiful, which seems a great shame, and is why the CD above is such a gem.

My misinterpretation Jared, but I understand and agree with what you say. It has something to do with the Public and the Big Tune LOL!!!

bombasticDarren wrote:

I have all of the releases in that series Darren. What a pity that the plug was pulled on that particular cycle!

fergus wrote:

bombasticDarren wrote:

I have all of the releases in that series Darren. What a pity that the plug was pulled on that particular cycle!

Thank heaven for Dorati and the Hungarians.

Jared wrote:I have a simple question for all of our Handel enthusiasts....

now, I love the Messiah, but how many recordings are there out there???

Two in this humble household.

bombasticDarren wrote:

Jared wrote:^^ you must know every note of those Symphonies off by heart now, Darren... ;-)

I may very well do Jared; I rarely get bored of them

Me neither. Beethoven's Symphonies are majestic in scale and colour, his First is stupendous.

Jared wrote:^^ thanks for your thoughts Fergus, not sure I expressed myself very well...

some repertoire by composers becomes very well known and frequently recorded, like the Messiah, but I bet some of the Chandos Anthems have scarcely seen the light of day on CD... when they are so beautiful, which seems a great shame, and is why the CD above is such a gem.

The Chandos Anthems are indeed some of Handel´s less well known works. I got to know them complete thanks to the late 80´s recordings with The Sixteen in what other, but the Chandos label. These still sound good, and have in Jennifer Smith a fuller sounding soprano soloist than Mrs. Kirkby.
There are many reasons for the Messiah to be so popular, after all everybody knows the story, but musically it´s not Handel´s finest oratorio, that has to be Theodora, and though it has become much more popular in the past 2 decades, it´s still a long way from being a favourite like the unmissable Messiah.

fergus wrote:

bombasticDarren wrote:

I have all of the releases in that series Darren. What a pity that the plug was pulled on that particular cycle!

I think I've decided to collect the whole set now Fergus. I honestly don't think Haydn ever failed with a symphony - they are all tuneful and energetic. Goodman is quite possibly my favourite Haydn interpreter. The discs are available reasonably cheaply. I'll try and collect them gradually like I did with the Gardiner Bach pilgrimage cycle...

Seán wrote: Thank heaven for Dorati and the Hungarians.

Sean, that cycle is nigh on indispensable as far as my collection goes...

Seán wrote:

Jared wrote:I have a simple question for all of our Handel enthusiasts....

now, I love the Messiah, but how many recordings are there out there???

Two in this humble household.

There are too many of them at the expense of some neglected Handel works - the point Jared was making I think...
I am by no means a lover of Handel, but, even so, I have 3 Messiah's (C. Davis/Pinnock/McCreesh)

Church musician confession: I've never been to hear a performance of the Messiah and I don't own it on CD.