Hi Cato,

My only and current recording of Brahms *Requiem* is conducted by Phillippe Herreweghe. He does some wonderful interpretations of Bach but I'm a little disappointed in his Brahms. I used to have a von Karajan conducting the Berlin Phil version of the Requiem but it has gone missing.

To be honest, I don't know that much about *Period* versions of Brahms. For Brahms, I'm more into a LARGE orchestra. Hopefully I can find another pressing of von Karajan and the Berlin Phil. I sincerely hope that you can find a version that will speak to your heart.


Regards!

Giovanni

Favorite oratorios:

1. Messiah (Handel)
2. Israel in Egypt (Handel)
3. Solomon (Handel)
4. Die Schöpfung (Haydn)

Has anyone heard "Elijah" by Mendelssohn? I've never heard it, but it's going to be performed in my town next season, and I'm wondering if i should go see it.

Anyway, I have to say my favourites are Messiah and Die Schöpfung, because I have barely ever heard other oratorios.

For me it is very simple:

Messiah
St Mathews Passion
Joshua
Followed by almost any other Oratorio, especially if Emma Kirkby is singing.

Yes, Morigan, I have heard Mendelssohn's "Elijah", and it is wonderful!

I'm going to by it and add it to my collection.

Oh, and Giovannimusica...... about Brahms "Requiem" that we had talked about......

I bought it a few days ago, and I love it!

I got the DG version with Claudio Abbado and the Berliner Philharmoniker. I listened to a lot of different versions, before deciding on this one. It's a LIVE version, which I happen to love live preforamce CD's, and the sound is crisp and clear.

Brahms Requiem is one of the most moving pieces of music I have ever heard or owned. And what's funny, is that there are parts of it that I have heard in films over the years, so I already had heard it before without realizing it.

Awsome work! Brahms rules! Thanks Giovannimusica!

__________________
Severance Hall, Cleveland, Ohio.
Home of The Cleveland Orchestra

Though I would not argue with these sentiments I think Handel even bettered this with Theodora, his second-but-last. He was especially proud of this work, calling it his favourite. Also Saul, Isreal in Egypt, Solomon, Jephtha, Judas Maccabaeus are all superb, I could go on...

Acis and Galatea is also one of his greatest "oratorios". True, it is not a pure oratorio. It's not an opera nor a cantata neither. But presence of choruses could tie it with oratorios.

I just recieved my full score copy of Handel's Messiah!=)...my music teacher said there was a special effect in the "Hallelujah" chorus? He said atthe last few measures, the bass line would be singing "Amen" in music notes, while the Chorus was singing "Hallelujah", so both "amen" and "Hallelujah" would be going in th same time, Is this likely to be true?

__________________
" 'Penitence!'
'No!'
'Penitence!'
'No!'
'Penitence!'
'No!'
'Yes!'
'Nooooooooooo!' [Dragged down into Hell]
- Act two: Finale of Mozart's "Don Giovanni"

Well this was referred to as a 'masque' at the time amongst other things. Closer to his cantatas in feel I think, but sublime in any case. Nevertheless if one extends the scope of 'oratorio' that brings into mind such supremely elevated works of art as 'Alexander's Feast' and 'l'Allegro, il Penserose ed il Moderato'. Where does it end with Handel?

All vocal works in english from 1738 to his death (with exception The Choice of Hercules) were called oratorio.

However, works like Semele and Hercules do not have the structure of an oratorio.

Traditionally Oratorio is reserved for works of a religious or at least highly moral subject. Semele and Hercules are operas in all but name, but then you could say that about Susanna and Theodora for example.

I love Handel's last oratorio 'Jeptha' (1751) though I do not own a recording of it. Also 'Israel in Egypt'. These two works alone are phenomenal.

Well the best recording of Jephtha currently available is on Brilliant Classics label as as such is very cheap indeed, I bought mine for £9.99 in HMV for 3 cds. Better than Gardiner's recording. Isreal is a choral tour de force the likes of which I have not heard elsewhere, especially when performed as Handel originally intended with the Funeral Anthem as the First Part. You have the best Israel recording Rob (Parrott, Taverner Choir and Players, Virgin). Also look for Solomon by McCreesh, Gabrielli Consort, another mammoth piece which contains probably Handel's most epic choruses. Another great bargain is Saul on Naxos, which I prefer to McCreesh's.

Solomon by Gardiner is great too (alas, there are few cuts).

Peter Newmann and his Collegium Cartusianum recorded (MDG label) Handel oratorios with success (Saul, Belshazzar, Theodora, Susanna, Athalia).

Also Hercules by Minkowski (Archiv) is great.