Handel's Messiah

We all know this perennial holiday favourite. Part One sets to music the wonderful prophecy of the Christ.

What is your favourite performance of this piece?

I am partial to the Hogwood original instrument performance with Emma Kirkby and David Thomas. Kirkby shines as a Baroque soprano, and my love of Baroque music was initially driven by the distinct sounds of original instruments. For those interested, there is a video performance with the same players at Westminster Abbey.

My favorite recording (so far) is this one:
Handel: Messiah Complete Oratorio
Andrew Davis (Conductor), Toronto Symphony Orchestra & Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Kathleen Battle (Performer), Florence Quivar (Performer), John Aler (Performer), Samuel Ramey (Performer)

Most other recordings I've heard are too "gooey" like they're all stuck in treacle. But I'm keen to check out the Hogwood one!

>2 reconditereader: Let us know what you think - and I will explore the Andrew Davis performance.

Neville Marriner and the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields recorded Messiah in 1976 using the score from the first London performance. The soloists are Elly Ameling, Anna Reynolds, Philip Langridge, and Gwynne Howell. It's still available from Decca.

I like that Marriner used modest forces that don't muddy the effects that Handel created. Any performance by Ameling is one I'll listen to.

Messiah is one of those large works that I listen to rarely because it's so brilliant that I want it to sound fresh each time.

The Sixteen, conducted by Harry Christophers, with Carolyn Sampson, Catherine Wyn-Rogers, Mark Padmore and Christopher Purves (I am a huge fanboi for Mark Padmore).

>5 haydninvienna: I am a huge fanboi for Mark Padmore

Yes, that is a fine voice indeed!

For regular (annual) listening - Charles Mackerras

For sheer self indulgence (on behalf of the performer and the listener) - Sir Thomas Beecham

Also have Marriner (DVD), and Hogwood

>5 haydninvienna: I just listened to this performance - magnificent

>8 Blythewood: It is pretty good, isn't it? However much I think of Padmore, Christopher Purves really makes it.

I also have a "highlights" disc from Marriner's recording in Dublin in 1992 on the 250th anniversary of the first performance (with Sylvia McNair and Jerry Hadley) and the full performance by the Dunedin Consort.

Most memorable in another way (not recorded): a live performance in Halle in 2017, given by a British group called Solomon's Knot (who are still around).

Hmm. Who has actually seen a,Live performance of HANDEL's MESSIAH??? APOLLOS FIRE 1998 in an historic Catholic Church in Rocky River Ohio

Couple of memorable live ones. The one mentioned in #9 in a church in Halle (where Handel was born) by a small English group called Solomon's Knot. One in London, in St John's, Smith Square. I could definitely stand Apollo's Fire although I'm never likely to see them.