2023-12-04 08:00:00
Famous for his Berliozian recordings, John Nelson conducts Handel’s most famous oratorio at Coventry Cathedral
Handel wrote the score for Messiah in just 24 days – extraordinary prolific speed which, however, was not unusual in his case. Please note, however, that some of the best-known culminating moments of the oratorio are modeled on some of his own previous compositions, which he recycles without fuss.
The text concocted by Charles Jennens, for his part, is less of sacred history than of praise, of meditation on the mystery of redemption and on the relationship that man maintains with God. Also the title of “Messiah” turns out to be misleading since, according to the amusing words of Jean-François Labie, Christ is as absent as is theArlesienne incidental music by Bizet!
A tight orchestration
The subtle balance between the few recitatives, the arias and the choruses contributes to supporting the dramatic action; the intensity is maintained, as is often the case, with great sobriety of means in the writing by virtue of a straight orchestration. An ethical orientation accompanies the composer’s aesthetic vision: “I’m sorry I only entertained the audience. What I wanted was to make it better”he was to declare later.
“A lifetime of performing the Messiah gave me enough courage to record this masterpiece. Surrounded by the best musicians and soloists on the planet, I am finally ready to deliver my personal interpretation to posterity”confides the American conductor John Nelson, best known for his interpretations of Berlioz.
An opulent and festive version of Messiah
This double album was recorded in concert at Coventry Cathedral, located in the heart of England, in November 2022 – a bonus DVD joins the image to the sounds. Acclimated to English baroque music by its regular conductor Trevor Pinnock, The English Concert & Choir was ideally suited to celebrate the most beloved oratorio of all time.
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The highly reverberated acoustics of Coventry Cathedral (count for at least five seconds of echo following a tutti…) exalts its nobility, even grandiloquence. The second disc also offers eight bonus tracks, with alternative versions of now well-known arias. A magnificent quartet of soloists, transcended by the magic of the place, brings its contribution to this opulent and festive version of Messiah.
Jérémie Bigorie
Georg Friedrich Handel: The Messiah. Lucy Crowe (soprano), Alex Potter (countertenor), Michael Spyres (tenor), Matthew Brook (bass), The English Concert & Choir, cond. John Nelson (Erato 2 CD + 1 DVD)
Awarded every week, the Radio Classique Trophies reward a new album, highlighted in particular in the show “Tous Classiques” by Christian Morin.
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