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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
It won the Gramophone choral award in 1987 but the star of this recording is the sublime and truly heavenly singing of Emma Kirby. The recording is a well balanced whole of exquiste moments. Sutherland's slightly deep toned color (a touch of mezzo-soprano color) and her slight vibrato technique make a wonderful counterpart of the evil queen contrasted to the group of the righteous. The choral singing is sublime, clear, direct and vibrant. This is a must have for everyone, not only for Handelians.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
The Acadamy of Ancient Music with Christopher Hogwood have created an outstanding recording here with this release of Athalia. They are joined by Dame Joan Sutherland. I have never enjoyed a performance by her as much as I do here. Even though she was out of her usual environment of repetoir. Here she works with a period authentic instrument type of recording. She gives a shining performance for this faboulous piece of composition. She usually has a high use of vibrato which I am not so keen on normally. However here it is not over laboured and in fact helps to elivate her role above the other Israelites. Something which is needed.
Also the Acadamy of Ancient Music are joined by the choir of New Collage Oxford. They also give an full bodied and excellent performance that really adds weight to the dynamic range.
Emma Kirkby is in her usual environment in this sort of music. She is consistantly good in her performance and this recording is no exception. In fact she makes an outstanding contribution.
Rolfe Johnson, David Thomas and James Bowman are equally at home in this composition style and once again they are all on top form.
Everyone seems to realy pull the stops out for this epic recording and the choices of performers has been spot on for every character. This is also true of the inclusion of Aled Jones who gives a beautiful vocal interpretation to his character as the boy Joas.
The sound engineering is superb and the whole release is outstanding. Everything about it is perfection. I love this whole package.
The composition is with out doubt one of the greatest oratorios by Handel. It is full of drama and musical texture. It is one of the best major classical works to come out of England over the centuries.
I was lucky to get this release at an incredible bargain price and in excellent condition. I can say that no matter what the cost you should not hesitate if you are tempted. If you have liked other oratorios by Handel then you will like this one, and this is a very strongly reccomended version.
Also the Acadamy of Ancient Music are joined by the choir of New Collage Oxford. They also give an full bodied and excellent performance that really adds weight to the dynamic range.
Emma Kirkby is in her usual environment in this sort of music. She is consistantly good in her performance and this recording is no exception. In fact she makes an outstanding contribution.
Rolfe Johnson, David Thomas and James Bowman are equally at home in this composition style and once again they are all on top form.
Everyone seems to realy pull the stops out for this epic recording and the choices of performers has been spot on for every character. This is also true of the inclusion of Aled Jones who gives a beautiful vocal interpretation to his character as the boy Joas.
The sound engineering is superb and the whole release is outstanding. Everything about it is perfection. I love this whole package.
The composition is with out doubt one of the greatest oratorios by Handel. It is full of drama and musical texture. It is one of the best major classical works to come out of England over the centuries.
I was lucky to get this release at an incredible bargain price and in excellent condition. I can say that no matter what the cost you should not hesitate if you are tempted. If you have liked other oratorios by Handel then you will like this one, and this is a very strongly reccomended version.
17 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This reissue of a classic Hogwood recording from 1985 brings to a new generation a rare rendition of one of Handel's earlier oratorios. It also introduces for a new generation the sound of Dame Joan Sutherland who, though at the end of her illustrious career, seems better cast as Athalia than in some of her other better known Handel parts.
Here we have the Baalite queen Athalia (Sutherland), together with the apostate priest Mathan (a sublime Anthony Rolfe-Johnston), opposed by the high priest Joad (James Bowman), his wife Josabeth (Emma Kirkby) and their 'son' Joas (Aled Jones). Into the mix throw the Jewish army captain Abner (David Thomas) and you can be certain of excellent singing and interpretation of the texts. All is backed up by the very good all-male choir of New College Oxford.
One of only two recordings currently in circulation (Martini's one on Naxos has many faults), Gramophone are to be congratulated for pressing this to be reissued. The highlights are all of Emma Kirkby's arias, not to mention the contribution of Aled Jones about whom the BBC made a film at the time of this recording, and who included some of the footage of the original concert performance before Hogwood took to the studio.
A Handel completist would not wish to be without this issue - the casual admirer of good singing will find themselves drawn in to another world.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
I Love it, but...
It's a great recording, but I don't like Joan Sutherland. Her voice don't fit this music. Kiby is great Orchestra is great, I love Handel's music. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Torbjørn Lygre
beautiful
This must be one of the greatest of all Handel oratorio sets. A glorious performance with really excellent singers - Kirkby and Sutherland both exceptional and wonderfully... Read more
Published on 26 May 2009 by enthusiast
An oratorio that never comes off the rails
The first bit of Scene 1 might sound like a comment on the British railway system, but in fact it's a very gentle start to an excellent English oratorio. Read more
Published on 29 Jun 2006 by Sebastian Seal
DAUGHTER OF JEZEBEL
This welcome reissue comes under the auspices of The Gramophone magazine,which had given it their choral award in 1987. Read more
Published on 24 April 2004 by DAVID BRYSON
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