Thread: Handel's Messiah--Dublin Version

I am a big fan of Handel's Messiah and have several different copies including an earlier recording by The Sixteen, the Oxford all male recording, the Westenburg recording, along with some highlights sets. But I recently came across this recording of the Dublin Messiah. Now I don't know if it is the Dunedin Consort and it's small size (I think 13 total singers) or if it is the Dublin version of 1742 itself, but I find this a very beautiful Messiah and different in a way that I can't quite find words to describe, but it seems simpler in some ways, yet more beautiful, not quite as elaborate perhaps.

Originally Posted by ComposerOfAvantGarde

I purchased a cheap Naxos Dublin version years ago. I also prefer the smaller Messiahs to the larger ones that Handel revised for later performances.

I read (somewhere) that Handel wanted to establish The Messiah as a non-church work, for monetary reasons. Be this true or be this false?

Originally Posted by Hilltroll72

I read (somewhere) that Handel wanted to establish The Messiah as a non-church work, for monetary reasons. Be this true or be this false?

If I recall it was premiered in a church, but only with because of special circumstances due to extreme reluctance on the part of the vicar of the church. Of course I could be talking out of my digital hat...

What I read was that in London it was not well received because the people felt that a sacred subject should not be presented as entertainment, but in Dublin it was well received, presumably the people there being more open to the entertainment aspect of sacred music.

Interesting there is a Naxos Dublin Messiah. I'll have to look it up. One reason I was onto The Sixteen was their small size but the Dunedin Consort is even smaller. Still a full and rich sound.

Originally Posted by TallPaul

I am a big fan of Handel's Messiah and have several different copies including an earlier recording by The Sixteen, the Oxford all male recording, the Westenburg recording, along with some highlights sets. But I recently came across this recording of the Dublin Messiah. Now I don't know if it is the Dunedin Consort and it's small size (I think 13 total singers) or if it is the Dublin version of 1742 itself, but I find this a very beautiful Messiah and different in a way that I can't quite find words to describe, but it seems simpler in some ways, yet more beautiful, not quite as elaborate perhaps.

I like the look of this. It's even cheaper from amazon.uk but I'm rather ignorant about SACD. Can I play this on my PC/little CD player?

Originally Posted by sospiro

I like the look of this. It's even cheaper from amazon.uk but I'm rather ignorant about SACD. Can I play this on my PC/little CD player?

It's listed as a hybrid SACD. That means it has a Redbook CD layer. You can play it.

Originally Posted by sospiro

I like the look of this. It's even cheaper from amazon.uk but I'm rather ignorant about SACD. Can I play this on my PC/little CD player?

It is beautifully packaged in the cardboard case that opens threefold, with a nice booklet. Plays on my Windows Media Player, which is a pretty shabby utility. I just ripped it and burned to spare disks so i would not wear out the original. Have it in the car and on my MP3 player.

Originally Posted by TallPaul

Interesting there is a Naxos Dublin Messiah. I'll have to look it up. One reason I was onto The Sixteen was their small size but the Dunedin Consort is even smaller. Still a full and rich sound.

Only Naxos complete Messiah I am finding is the Oxford all male Messiah. I have it, it is Higginbottom and the Choir of New College Oxford. A beautiful Messiah but not the Dublin one. After Dublin it was performed in London and even Jenkens disapproved, then it was very sporadically performeed until about 10 years later when he started performing it at the Foundling Hospital. This Naxos Messiah is " the only modern re-construction of Handel's unique London performances in 1751, when he used boy treble voices not only for the choruses but for the arias as well." But he used a tenor for Rejoice Greatly! A nice variation at that!

I am not keen on male altos though, but then I am not all that keen on the alto voice at all. Very few female altos really work for me.

Originally Posted by Hilltroll72

It's listed as a hybrid SACD. That means it has a Redbook CD layer. You can play it.

Thanks for the info.

Originally Posted by TallPaul

It is beautifully packaged in the cardboard case that opens threefold, with a nice booklet. Plays on my Windows Media Player, which is a pretty shabby utility. I just ripped it and burned to spare disks so i would not wear out the original. Have it in the car and on my MP3 player.

Thanks.

I do very much the same. Rip to PC, back up on external hard drive, copy to mp3 player then copy to spare mp3 player. Original CD will only occasionally get played again.

Here is the Dublin Messiah I linked in first post. Booklet is tucked in middle between the two disks:


And here are my complete Messiah sets. The Westenburg is special because it was my first Messiah in the late 1980s and we spent a lot of time finding the right one. I still have it on vinyl in excellent condition:

That's a great collection TallPaul