Handel, G F - Messiah - Jacobs, René

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Kerstin Avemo, Patricia Bardon, Lawrence Zazzo

Clare College Cambridge Choir
Freiburger Barockorchester
René Jacobs, conductor

'The performance has the familiar Jacobs qualities: an imaginative lightness of touch, fleetness and transparency with a cultivated quintet of soloists and neatly responsive contributions from the mixed choir of Clare College.' Andrew Clements, The Guardian, 29 September 2006.

'One of the most rousing Messiahs of recent years.' Hugh Canning, Classical CD of the Week, The Sunday Times.

'It is years since Handel's old chestnut sounded so fresh, so lacking in Victorian pomp.' Geoff Brown, The Times.

'Any performance that makes us listen afresh to this familiar music wins my vote...a model of period-instrument style, with ravishing ornaments, intelligent accents and crystal-clear diction from the mixed-voice Choir of Clare College, Cambridge...An ideal Christmas stocking-filler.' Andrew Clark, The Financial Times.

'Jacobs's conducting is more strongly characterised and makes you listen to the work as though for the first time.' Richard Lawrence, Classic FM Magazine.

'The outstanding feature of this recording is the wonderfully expressive playing and singing of the Freiburg orchestra and the Clare College Choir. 'Hallelujah' is thrillingly ecstatic and the grief-laden harmonies of 'Behold the Lamb of God', memorably well sung, are followed by Patricia Bardon's harrowing 'He was despised'.' Michael Kennedy, The Sunday Telegraph.