A profound and unwavering German Messiah. A magnificent performance of "Hallelujah" conducted by Karl Richter, in magnificent stereo.
Richter, who led the Munich Bach Orchestra and Chorus, delivers a rigorous interpretation in German, recorded in 1964 with soloists Gundula Janowitz and others.
From the moment the sound is played, a sense of grounded weight and unwavering sustained tension are felt. Karl Richter's baton, relying on momentum to avoid swelling the sound, pushes the chorus and orchestra together as one. The Munich Bach Choir's "Hallelujah" is magnificent yet maintains its contours, with the overlapping voices building up three-dimensionally to create an overwhelming depth. Among the soloists, Janowitz's soprano stands out, her clear voice blending with the orchestra's resonance while maintaining quiet concentration. While different from the light-hearted interpretations that are mainstream today, this is a low-key Messiah that offers a direct experience of the solemnity and structure of religious music, and its presence remains unshakable even today.
A:
1)
Grave
2)
Allegro
3)
Moderato
4)
Denn Die Herrlichkeit Gottes Des Herrn (Chor Nr. 3)
5)
Doch Wer Wird Ertragen Den Tag Seiner Ankunft (Alt-Arie Nr. 5)
6)
Und Er Wird Reinigen Und Läutern Das Volk Des Bundes (Chor Nr. 6)
7)
Das Volk, Das Da Wandelt Im Dunkel (Bass-Arie Nr. 11)
8)
Denn Es Ist Uns Ein Kind Geboren (Chor Nr. 12)
9)
Ehre Sei Gott In Der Höhe (Chor Nr. 15)
B:
1)
Doch Du Liessest Ihn Im Grabe Nicht (Tenor-Arie Nr. 30)
2)
Du Fuhrest In Die Höh' (Bass-Arie Nr. 34)
3)
Du Zerschlägst Sie Mit Dem Eisernen Zepter (Tenor-Arie Nr. 41)
4)
Halleluja (Chor Nr. 42)
5)
Ich Weiss, Dass Mein Erlöser Lebet (Sopran-Arie Nr. 43)
6)
Würdig Ist Das Lamm, Das Da Starb / Amen (Chöre Nr. 51 Und Nr. 52)
Alto Vocals [Alt] - Marga Hoeffgen
Bass Vocals - Franz Crass
Chorus - Münchener Bach-Chor
Composed By - Händel
Conductor [Dirigent] - Karl Richter
Engineer [Toningenieur] - Harald Baudis
Harpsichord [Cembalo] - Hedwig Bilgram
Orchestra - Münchener Bach-Orchester
Organ [Orgel] - Elmar Schloter
Photography By [Foto] - Reinhart Wolf
Recording Supervisor [Aufnahmeleiter] - Karl Faust
