OT: 'tis the season for Handel's oratorio, "Messiah..."

[Kibitzer]

. . . performed often in churches and schools and at public gatherings. Many programs will be erroneously printed to read, "The Messiah." Use of the article "The" is a common mistake. "Messiah" is the correct title for this incomparable masterpiece.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Flash mob at Macy's in Philly, now occupying the great John Wanamaker building:

 

[Jim]

I know that on Monday night most here will be watching UCONN take on LSU, but also on Monday the Oratorio Society of New York will present Mozart's arrangement of Handel's Messiah at Carnegie Hall with my niece, Sara, as one of the lead soloists.
http://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2015/12/21/0800/PM/Oratorio-Society-of-New-York-HANDEL-Messiah/

 

[msf22b]

Apologies Kib for delivering a Musicology lecture, but you inspired me

When I was a student, the Mozart version (actually further modernized by a Brit, Ebenezer Prout and often substantially cut, was your typical way to hear the work....added flutes, clarinets, amended bassoon parts, horns and tombones added and a classical sheen put over the whole. Absolutely brilliant and wonderful but a far cry from the original (If you're interested in the biggest variant: Handel accompanies the
Bass aria "People that walk in darkness with strings in octaves, stark and magnificently empty.
Mozart, not trusting the master's approach garlands the whole in the most sensuous woodwind obligatti. I remember the clarinet past (which I played... slithering around the soloist like an Indian snake-charmer , really inspired, but nothing whatsoever to do with Handel.

The famous English conductors:Malcom Sargent and Thomas Beecham went even further with triangle, bass drum and cymbals, a huge choir, Wagnerian-style soloists, turning the piece into a Victorian epic.

Then along came the period movement and the whole was restored to its original more modest (yet just as commanding) self. with Hogwood championing a fleet, delicate, yet magnificent take on the work, that has become most popular.

I remember engaging the early-music specialist Trevor Pinnock to deliver such a performance with my Orchestra of St. Luke's at Carnegie Hall but was shocked when he lumbered along in Prout fashion with my quick-silver forces. When I mentioned to him that what he was delivering was not what I had anticipatied when I hired him, he suggested I go across the street (to Lincoln Center) and listen to Hogwood... I walked out of the performance and we never spoke again.

What is so extraordinary is that the work pleases no matter the approach. Indeed, I offered dreamed of a Messiah festival in which all three versions would be performed (not necessarily on successive nights).

But it's difficult to find a conductor to deliver Beecham with a straight face these days. (You can still get the recording...its wonderful).

 

[UcMiami]

There is a famous one in SF I went to once that is in fact a sing along. Very impressive, though I contributed not a peep.

 

[johnnyc]

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus/Robert Shaw

 

[rbny1]

I know that on Monday night most here will be watching UCONN take on LSU, but also on Monday the Oratorio Society of New York will present Mozart's arrangement of Handel's Messiah at Carnegie Hall with my niece, Sara, as one of the lead soloists.
http://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2015/12/21/0800/PM/Oratorio-Society-of-New-York-HANDEL-Messiah/

Wow. I've heard your niece perform in NYC -- in concerts at Ignatius Loyola and the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine. Congratulations on having a very talented niece.

 

[Gus Mahler]

Apologies Kib for delivering a Musicology lecture, but you inspired me

When I was a student, the Mozart version (actually further modernized by a Brit, Ebenezer Prout and often substantially cut, was your typical way to hear the work....added flutes, clarinets, amended bassoon parts, horns and tombones added and a classical sheen put over the whole. Absolutely brilliant and wonderful but a far cry from the original (If you're interested in the biggest variant: Handel accompanies the
Bass aria "People that walk in darkness with strings in octaves, stark and magnificently empty.
Mozart, not trusting the master's approach garlands the whole in the most sensuous woodwind obligatti. I remember the clarinet past (which I played... slithering around the soloist like an Indian snake-charmer , really inspired, but nothing whatsoever to do with Handel.

The famous English conductors:Malcom Sargent and Thomas Beecham went even further with triangle, bass drum and cymbals, a huge choir, Wagnerian-style soloists, turning the piece into a Victorian epic.

Then along came the period movement and the whole was restored to its original more modest (yet just as commanding) self. with Hogwood championing a fleet, delicate, yet magnificent take on the work, that has become most popular.

I remember engaging the early-music specialist Trevor Pinnock to deliver such a performance with my Orchestra of St. Luke's at Carnegie Hall but was shocked when he lumbered along in Prout fashion with my quick-silver forces. When I mentioned to him that what he was delivering was not what I had anticipatied when I hired him, he suggested I go across the street (to Lincoln Center) and listen to Hogwood... I walked out of the performance and we never spoke again.

What is so extraordinary is that the work pleases no matter the approach. Indeed, I offered dreamed of a Messiah festival in which all three versions would be performed (not necessarily on successive nights).

But it's difficult to find a conductor to deliver Beecham with a straight face these days. (You can still get the recording...its wonderful).

msf: Thanks for sharing this. I hope you will do it again, often.

 

[AndyCT]

Use of the article "The" is a common mistake. "Messiah" is the correct title for this incomparable masterpiece.

Kind of like The Ohio State University is really just Ohio State, as if adding "the" somehow makes them special or differentiates them from The Other Ohio State University or something. "You know a state and a university feel left behind by the rest of the country when the most common word in the English language in front of your school's name is a BIG DEAL -- it's THE Ohio State University, whose fans lead the nation in THE herpes and THE failed GED tests."

My personal favorite performance of "Messiah" was at the stunning Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal in mid-December 2010, which was broadcast on or around Christmas Eve of that year (I'd have to check my logbook to see exactly when.)

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