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Hello everyone! I am planning to buy some CD's but I am having trouble. I want to buy recordings of Verdi's Requiem and Handel's Messiah but I don't know which ones are great and which ones are not so good. So any recommendations? Thanks a bunch!!

Ralph

Verdi's Requiem: Atlanta Symphony with Robert Shaw conducting.

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http://www.classicstoday.com/

For my money, the John Eliot Gardiner recording with the English Baroque Soloists is hard to beat (this is Messiah we're talking about). This is not a big, showy version that is dragged out for eternity. Don't think that I'm knocking recordings that ARE big and showy, they work very hard to capture a lot of the majesty and aura that accompany a work like this. The Ormandy/Philadelphia/Mormon Tabernacle recording is a prime example of this type of Messiah.

The Gardiner Messiah, for me at least, worries less about the expectations people have about the work and instead gives a clear, historically-informed take. Tempi are quick, articulations are neat, phrasing is crystal clear. Beware, however, that this is a period instrument recording and may take some "getting used to," especially if you have not had many dealings in this genre before.

As far as the Requiem goes, the Shaw is awesome as is the Solti/Vienna recording.

I really like Gardiner's recording of the Messiah, but my favourite is Andrew Parrott conducting the Taverner Choir and Players. It is also very crisp, although not quite as fast as Gardiner (which I find hectic at times, especially in the choral movements) and the soloists are really the flowers of the flock. Christopher Hogwood's recording with the Academy of Ancient Music is also very good and boasts some of the same soloists as Parrott, though sadly skipping the countertenor, James Bowman.

For Verdi's Requiem, my favourite is the Solti/VPO recording. The soloists are again first class (although Joan Sutherland's diction leaves much to be desired), and the playing is simply brilliant.

Messiah:
I vote for Chris Hogwood and the Academy of Ancient Music. Simply because IMHO David Thomas has got to be the best bass out there on "The Trumpet Shall Sound."
I think David Thomas has recorded Messiah several times with different groups.

MartyNeilan wrote:Messiah:
I vote for Chris Hogwood and the Academy of Ancient Music. Simply because IMHO David Thomas has got to be the best bass out there on "The Trumpet Shall Sound."
I think David Thomas has recorded Messiah several times with different groups.

Yes, David Thomas sings on the Parrott recording and I think he also did a recording with Stephen Cleobury. He is definitely my favourite bass for Messiah, and baroque music in general (he's excellent in the non-Jesus bass roles of Matthäuspassion under Cleobury).

Chicago with Barenboim

Black Case with a picture of Barenboim