Marriner returns to the spiritual source of the work from the opening (track 1). God's word can be sung, but it must especially be proclaimed! There is a prophet of energy in this opening (Isaiah will follow). An orchestra of strings alone may seem a little dull musically. The chef uses a lively tempo and a very strong accent that gives all strings shimmer and color would have been able to bring winds here absent. Philip Langridge, tenor, is involved in the recitative and air "Every Valley" that begin the work (track 2). The voice is valiant but without affectation. There the power of prophecy and humanity befitting the announcement of the coming of the Savior. The choir "And the glory of the Lord" (track 3) has a minimalist nor massive nor effective, and each vocal line is perfectly audible, showing exemplary counterpoint working Handel too often considered a by Bach.
And Marriner broke new magician by the determination with which he conducted his instrumentalists. The symphonic fabric does not support a role or metronome, Marriner strongly emphasizes the Haggai text that evokes the divine armies that will shake the universe. The low Gwynne Howell seems frighteningly credible in this passage from the Old Testament, with his manly voice that impresses.
Part of Alto is entrusted to Anna Reynolds who abandons operatic accent. Her beautiful voice warm, no frills but well articulated is certainly far from that against tenors are heard today. The women see in the oratorio role is to express the joy of the prediction. This is the case here. You do not hear many beautiful tessituras like these. Handel inserts a strange and serene pastoral instrumental sinfonia (track 9) before the story of the Annunciation, when the shepherds are informed by the divine voice of the Messiah's birth. Handel has planned two sopranos in the score. Here, the great Elly Ameling holds both roles with his seraphic tone. Again, no unnecessary decoration to sing a religious text, but the tenderness or the fire or radiant as the reassuring nature of the message dedicated to each role (tracks 10 and 12). Finally, note that the positive organ sounds, it's so rare (range 16 among others).
From the article appeared in the Deblocnot '(see profile)