Handel: Messiah / Davis, Mingardo, Padmore

December 2007 **** “Sir Colin Davis's way with Messiah, as recorded live at the Barbican last December, is old-fashioned by present-day standards. His soloists are all good. The Tenebrae Choir, with its thirty-odd voices, proves near ideal for a performance on this sort of scale, and their sheer neatness is a delight. One or two tempos may be on the slow side, but generally Davis motivates Handel's music with dynamism.” 2010 *** “[the soloists] make an excellent team, with clean, clear voices, well focused. Mark Padmore is outstanding as the tenor soloist, and Sara Mingaro is a fine, firm mezzo, not at all fruity, singing He was despised movingly at a steady tempo. She contrasts well with the soprano, Susan Gritton, in He shall feed his flock”

Price: $27.98