Sir Thomas Beecham conducts Handel Messiah(Orchestration:Sir Eugene Goosens) Part2~18,19

[blakley42]

Well, the magnificence of this Hallelujah chorus has inspired me to produce my own performance, employing the forces of the Mormon Tabernacle choir, individually equipped with bullhorns, and the Chicago Symphony orchestra, whose string sections will be electronically amplified. Of course, their inadequate cymbal section will be expanded to include the percussionist of the Universities of Texas, Ohio state , Purdue , and several high schools. The performance venue will be the grand canyon.

[mcvanadis]

Vickers has a soulful quality in his big, beautiful voice that immediately gathers you in. Perfect.

[blakley42]

ah, yes, the Hallelujah chorus, as arranged by John Phillip Sousa, and performed by the Red Army concert band, drum and bugle corps, Chorus and all their friends and relatives, who just happened to be in the neighborhood when this recording was being produced. Cymbal solo by Efram Cymbalist Jr.

[jgesselberty]

@blakley42 Yes, it's definitely over the top. But, Handel himself was over the top by even writing a piece about the Messiah. I like to think that Beecham was giving us a glimpse of what the peice may have sounded like in the Crystal Palace of Victorian times, when choruses of 5,000 were sometimes assembled to perform this work. I think of it as a period performance.

[Sheumais1]

I think it a great performance & the RCA recording great !

[yoshiofdeath]

IMO this is the best version of the Hallelujah Chorus I've ever heard... 2:12

[laertes160]

I like the bourdon-like bass. It gives the melody an extra bounce in certain places.

[hourlynewscaster]

I like to think that were Handel alive today, he would not only approve of this in-your-face recording, but would be cranking it out from the organ bench.

[nastyzx6r]

This interpretation of the Hallelujah Chorus gives me chills. I might respectfully add that saying no one sings "Thou Shalt break them" as well as Jon Vickers implies that one has heard everyone else sing it. He has a fine voice, no doubt about that....but no one else?

[rkc2380]

This is the first time i heard Handel's Messiah with Sir Thomas Beecham and I have always stayed away from this particular recording because all of my life I was told by my parents that this was the equivent of devil worship. But after hearing this is beg to differ. This is without doubt the greatest recording of Handel's Messiah and I will even tell that to my parents even if they cut me out of their will.

[hourlynewscaster]

Wow, I can't believe I missed the Beecham version over the years. Yes, unlike some others, but energetic, matching the libretto.

[jgesselberty]

This recording has received a lot of flak from critics, but as the size of choral forces grew, it seems only natural to increase the size and robustness of the orchestra. I, too, love a good, historically correct performance, but the power of this performance does not fail to move. No one, NO ONE, sings this piece like Vickers.

[Dunlands]

@jgesselberty If historically accurate means we must endure an effeminate tenor sing 18.Air: thou Shalt break them - then I say history be damned. The song does not move me when a weak male voice sings it. Vickers conveys the power and of he that dwells in heave and the amusement he takes when mortals stand against him.

[evansquilt]

@Dunlands - wow. I can understand preferring a robust sound, but was "effeminate" necessary? Really, was it?

[kdancat]

Historically informed performances are great but this works too. Pretty powerful..

[mjarail]

The musical style would do justice to the more pretentious moments of Sir Edward Elgar's music. Give me historically informed preformances any day!

[nsquidc]

Wow, a wonderful, hideously awesome recording of Messiah.