Handel: Messiah, Ev'ry valley shall be exhalted (Sir Colin Davis, Mark Padmore, LSO)

[bigowl9408]

Truly exquisite! Is there any need to say more, other than to say if one heard angels joining in, then I would not be surprised. Such is the power of Handel's Messiah.

[jakeyell]

I like Mark better in Bach, and he's a pretty tasteful singer. I prefer a different quality to the voice, but that's just my taste. I like that he "back phrases" in places, maybe because I do the exact same thing when I sing this... :), I have a feeling that would drive some folks a little nutty (tho' no one has ever complained to me...)

[SAMblessed]

Beautiful Solo. Exemplary done

[constancelena]

I love this recitative--where the lyrics and melody match so well--and to hear it sung--wow--I just wish I had a tiny bit of his talent

[Prancer1231]

is that Tony Blair singing?

[jprichva]

gorgeously sung

[Cosifantuttee]

I'm glad Vincent Cassel sang this !

[jaketaz]

I find this boring and under-supported. He doesn't have a good handle on the coloratura, and doesn't appear to want to be singing at all. The way his neck veins bulge on lengthy phrases - that tells me he doesn't know what he's doing.

[negihyugamsp]

it is a wonderful musiccccccccccccc!!!!!!

[pircsaleah]

How can a soloist be too small? His breath control leaves something to be desired but he doesn't have "no breath control." That's the joy of live performance. Sometimes you run out of breath. That's also why we should continue to practice even if we've sung the piece many times before.

[jaketaz]

@pircsaleah

When the singing isn't heard over the orchestra, or is too quiet, that's "too small". If you think that everyone would have those problems, you might be surprised to know that some people do not have those problems. For me, "the joy of live performance" isn't about the mistakes or bad technique on display, it's about seeing a real artist who has honed their craft. I agree that practice is one solution, but I think the practice should occur before people buy a ticket to see you.

[KaleidoscopeAct]

Great orchestra and conductor. The soloist is too small and has no breath control.

[plentymoron]

He looks like the lead singer of RadioHead. btw they both ROCK !!

[WhiskeyForBreakfast]

That guy looks like the snake lady from Harry Potter

[sickofthestagnance]

I really didn't like this performance.. maybe I'm being over critical, but it didn't sit well in my ear.

[plentymoron]

@sickofthestagnance anyone with a moniker of "sick of the" beginning it couldn't stand much beauty.

[sickofthestagnance]

@plentymoron you sir or madam, are in fact, a moron. What I am "sick of" does not pertain to anything musical. My "moniker" is my motivational tool to get off my ass and stop being so stagnant. So thanks for being so ignorant. Thanks.

[plentymoron]

@sickofthestagnance do you realize how hard it is to do what that man is trying to do? In any case I'm deeply sorry I insulted you.

[BrennanVeldsMcGee]

At 01:40, it seems the conductor himself is quite impressed by Padmore's performance.

[BrennanVeldsMcGee]

He resembles Tony Blair somehow.

[lionking4277]

Beauty!!

[CutiyyLelaaa118]

hÎhi_ÄNYônë_waNÑA_chÃt_wÏth_mê­_î_feEl_so_lõnÈlý_tÔdäY

[johnwaynepresley]

what a set of lungs!

[octavianmihailescu]

Divine music, orchestra sounds divine, the tenor... sounds OK. For this to be perfect, he should sound no less than divine :P

[ericnj28]

Very nicely done but why wouldn't you commit the piece to memory for such an elaborate performance? Put away that book Colin!

[Zaniah87]

@ericnj28 It's traditional to perform masterworks such as "Messiah" to be sung w/ the book. Besides, he's probably sung that aria forever - it's committed to memory by now. =P

[jrdscrgn]

@ericnj28 It is tradition to perform oratorios and cantatas with the music, even if you do have it memorized. And I am positive that a tenor of Mr. Padmore's caliber has had this piece memorized for a number of years already.

[swedishfishfans]

this is so beautiful!

[MrDavidPun]

What a fabulous performance! I suppose we should expact that from the LSO.

[taylorlovesjustin1]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA THIS IS AMAZING :D !

[tenoruser]

Marc Padmore is a great person and a superbe singer! All of his performances are spot on, a great pleasure every time! thanx, Marc!

[pegasus1747]

Who is that tenor?

[raponte1955]

Mr. Padmore is doing a great job here! His voice is perfectly suited for Handel's oratorios, which requires a warm voice rather than a powerful one.

[mikeloredo12]

very nice! this is indeed a tenor solo! a baritone approach is not needed and is uncharachteristic!!! the ornamentation is suggested and was customary of the Baroque Era!!!! learn your music history!

[totalstorm]

the crooked straight! and the rough places plain!

[Prancer1231]

he looks like tony blair

[dimboukas]

@Prancer1231 He is!

[themastroiannis]

bravissimo il tenore!! i read some comments talking about lacking of power!! what ridiculous comments! this is Handel, not Verdi!! Padmore's voice is rich, warm, perfect for Handel! beautiful and expressive!! complimenti!

[TheBitsymae]

...my Grandfather, LeRoy Hamp, was an amazing Tenor...and my Grandmother, Elisabeth Hamp, played the organ so beautifully. They organized and did this performance in churches during the holidays...such a beautiful reminder of wonderful people, and a most excellent performance!!!!!!!!

[rustyg1801]

This is my Favorite Messiah solo!!!!! Plus Mark Padmore does a wonderful job signing it!!! My ears jump for joy! Handel got it right!!

[Darkboy2525]

Sad I can't lisitng this on surround :(

[francisville1]

This is indeed awesome. Very powerful tenor voice. Very well performed. Bravo.

[J0saih]

Great voice, where's the expression??????????????? bummer

[maraisa06]

@J0saih it is an oratorio, it is supposed to be a serious performance, expression is little to none on this type of performances

[MourningHazeBand]

@maraisa06 I somewhat agree with this, but it's not absolutely true. Expression in the voice is already there, but the face along with the voice tells the story. I don't agree with the statement "where's the expression", for this is a very humble and gallant piece. It's a prophecy of what is to come later in the story Messiah tells. I agree that he did very well in expressing the story without bias and with a beautiful sound. This is by far one of my favorite solos from this oratorio.

[ibk1980]

Padmore is a great artist!!!! I really appreciate his art. Would love to meet him in person.

[nyfrigger56]

It is most definitely a TENOR solo.

[flylooper]

I don't care if I never hear this for the rest of my life.

[evajom1]

@flylooper

Well, that makes one of us.

[flylooper]

@evajom1

LOL Indeed. I sang this thing so many times in college (and beyond) it just wore thin with me. No mas!!!

[eromusofwom]

Imagine the type of musical genius it took to compose this! To hear all of this in your head and put it to paper.

[collegeGIRLL2010]

Thank you for adding this on here..it helped me alot while studying for my music appreciation 101 class.

[Darkboy2525]

Really the best preformance of youtube here .. the tempo just PERFECT !

LOVE THIS ONE ALL TIMES OVER AND OVER AGAIN !

[aguacan]

IGNORANT !!!! IS NOT A TENOR IS A BARITONO

[Darkboy2525]

amazing preformane :) ! just amazing all the times again ;) !!!! love this preformance also nice to hear a harpishord at the background gives it a nice touch

[giorgiolemus]

No hay como Handel para alabar a Dios.

[metalheadlass]

he's a living cello! bravo 5/5

[beethomozart]

quality and beauty pours from every single note for all 4: the performer Mark Padmore, the orchestra LSO, the conductor non other than Sir Colin Davis and of course yhe greatest oratorio of all times The Massiah, here with this extraordinary aria, every valley shall be exalted, just the perfect combination

[PlainYork]

This is my favorite song. It takes a lot of control to sing this.

[cdswainey]

I own this recording (audio only) and is by far the best representation of Handel's Messiah, and baroque music overall, I've ever heard. Davis is a master.

[Darkboy2525]

amazing this is .. sadly I can't share it with much of my fellow ages vriend :( ... sadly .. they don't know what they miss this is really the music !! .. amazing it is .. you can cry of just out of joy !

[jisiri]

Bravo, just the right amount of ornamentation. I agree that some tenors over ornament this piece. Has anyone ever heard Kenneth Mckellar do this? Great.

[pagerbear]

My comment a few months ago about ornamentation seems to have inspired a little bit of disagreement. I, too, have sung this aria many times, and I've never, ever had a coach or conductor tell me to sing exactly what's on the page, or even to ornament less. The style with Baroque music is to add ornamentation. (How much depends on taste.) Padmore's performance here is not without ornamentation--I simply expected more of it.

[drtmuir]

It's a pretty florid aria, where would you put the ornamentation?

[Andrewstory79]

bravo!

[JPD060486]

He makes pretty heavy weather out of this aria in this performance, especially compared with his great recording of Messiah with William Christie. A great singer, but I think his voice sounds more tired these days. I guess singing with groups like the LSO and Colin Davis, when you usually work with period instrument ensembles, doesn't help.

[Amunhotep4th]

I find this and other videos and recordings by Mark Padmore to be very pleasing and the tenor arias of Messiah lend themselves very well to Mr. Padmore's lyric voice.

[powerpuffsouthpark]

BRAVO!!!

[nokia1242000]

like following what Handel wrote on the score, not adding ornament himself :)

[pagerbear]

I adore Mark Padmore's singing, but I have to wonder why he didn't use a little more ornamentation. Was it the conductor's choice or MP's?

[nokia1242000]

I think that's because this is a piece from an oratorio, of which the focus is possibly on pureness. Only what I think

[pagerbear]

Not to be a typical, argumentative YouTube commenter, but what do you mean by pureness?

[charles43110]

@pagerbear

I just saw this. I have sung this many times. Often singers over ornimate this. This simplistic solo is as written. Very nice. Not trying to be better than Handel.

[inqisit0r]

i know this sounds vague but im looking for a trumpet piece which sounds like messiahs return. it goes..

dadadaaaaaaa.......dadadaaaaaa­aa.....daaaaaaa.....daaaaaaaa.­....daaaaaaaaa......dadadaaaaa­aaaaa

[jimboljimbol]

"The Trumpet Shall Sound" is the one you are after I think. Fantastic peice.

[1212625bear]

Mark Padmore is fantastic ... but if you hear to john mark ainsley version you will change your mind immediately

[metalheadlass]

he's better than the other tenor

[Kerlerot]

Un réel plaisir d'écouter cet excellent ténor. J'écoutais ce 25 mai l'intégral avec Christie et Mark Padmore.

Delicious moment...

Thank for posting this video

Philippe

[Faircrowd1]

magnificent pure voice

[Christopher8000]

The tenor here, has performed very nicely indeed.  Well done young (er middle age)man.

[Ledfloyd15]

@Christopher8000 its a baritone solo. 

[kdawggization]

@Ledfloyd15 I'm pretty sure it's a tenor solo. At least that's what it says in my score. Baritone solos rarely go higher than an F. This song hit's G's several times, and it sits in the higher register for almost the entire song. Baritone solos don't typically do that. This singer is clearly a tenor by the color of his tone and great control in his higher register.

[jimraw1]

@Ledfloyd15 It's definitely a tenor solo - I have 3 different arrangements and it and "Comfort Ye" are both tenor solos. Now I have seen skilled baritones perform the solo if there are no strong tenors in a choir, or tenors that have trouble with the low end of the solo - remember that there is often little difference between second tenor and baritones.

[12tayres]

@jimraw1 that is comforting. im a baritone and i agreed to learn this to perform with the strings orchestra at my high school. its comforting to me that its not un heard of to be sung by a baritone. so thank you

[jimraw1]

@12tayres No prob. If you have to go to your head voice for some of the higher notes that's fine, just be sure to try to get enough breath support. Also try to emphasize some of the hard consonents (Ds - Ts - Ns). Also think of the solo in terms of phrases - make it more than just hitting the right notes and making it to the end without mistakes. Handel's music liked to paint a picture (notice how the notes in Crooked Straight go up and down while rough places plain is more level).

[12tayres]

@jimraw1 im looking at the music right now. and you are so right. the part about "and every hill made low" stays flat and low within the three bottom lines. my only worry about having to switch to head voice is maintaining volume. at this point im not sure if ill have to. the dynamics the director wants will play a factor. thank you for your tips. ill comment on this thread with any future questions

[jimraw1]

@12tayres If you want to hear more of a baritone approach, listen to Jon Vickers' performance of the two tenor solos. Vickers is a Heldentenor - a German tenor with baritone qualities. He definitely has a more fuller sound with more power in his approach - listen to when he sings "The Crooked straight" at the end - it's almost a proclamation.

[71259mark]

@Ledfloyd15 It's a tenor solo.

[rhuletheworld]

Awsome peice I heard sang by another group from florida...... I'm a tenor in training but I have a pretty good voice

[einmomolein]

Mark Padmore is my favourite coloratura tenor. I have his recording singing His Mighty Arm, amazing!!

[theelitemusician]

this piece was on my music history test haha

[OtakudiMD80]

Me too!

[jeffkerr222]

I enjoy this recording ALOT.