Sold Date: May 24, 2019
Start Date: January 5, 2017
Final Price: $26.00 (USD)
Seller Feedback: 4487
Buyer Feedback: 47

   Handel: Messiah

Joan Sutherland, Kenneth McKellar, Grace Bumbry, David Ward
London Symphony Orchestra & London Symphony Chorus, Sir Adrian Boult

Label:
London Records ‎– OSA-1329, London Records ‎– OSA.1329
Format:
3 × Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, 12", 33rpm
Box Set
Country:
England
Released:
1964
Genre:
Classical, Religious/ Devaotional
Style:
Baroque, Oratorio, Opera, Orchestra, Chorus

Tracklist

A1     –London Symphony Orchestra     Overture     
A2     –Kenneth McKellar, David Ward     Part 1. Nos. 1 To 7     
B1     –Grace Bumbry, Joan Sutherland     Part 1. (Cont.) Nos. 8 To18     
C1     –Grace Bumbry, Joan Sutherland     Part 1. (Conclusion) Nos. 19 To 21     
C2     –Grace Bumbry, Joan Sutherland     Part 2. Nos. 22 And 23     
D1     –Kenneth McKellar, Joan Sutherland, David Ward     Part 2. (Cont.) Nos. 24 To 36     
E1     –Joan Sutherland, David Ward, Kenneth McKellar     Part 2. (Conclusion) Nos. 37 To 44     
E2     –Joan Sutherland, David Ward, Kenneth McKellar     Part 3. Nos. 45 And 46     
F1     –Grace Bumbry, Kenneth McKellar, Joan Sutherland     Part 3. (Conclusion) Nos. 47 To 53     

Credits

    Alto Vocals – Grace Bumbry
    Bass Vocals – David Ward
    Chorus – L. S. O. Chorus
    Composed By – Georg Friedrich Händel
    Conductor – Sir Adrian Boult
    Harpsichord – George Malcolm
    Orchestra – London Symphony Orchestra
    Organ – Ralph Downers
    Soloist, Trumpet – Alan Stringer (tracks: F1)
    Soprano Vocals – Joan Sutherland
    Tenor Vocals – Kenneth McKellar

Notes

London Records (FFSS)

Full Frequency Stereophonic Sound.

12x12 booklet with notes & lyrics included.

- Messiah is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible, and from the version of the Psalms included with the Book of Common Prayer. It was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742 and received its London premiere nearly a year later. After an initially modest public reception, the oratorio gained in popularity, eventually becoming one of the best-known and most frequently performed choral works in Western music.

Handel's reputation in England, where he had lived since 1712, had been established through his compositions of Italian opera. He turned to English oratorio in the 1730s in response to changes in public taste; Messiah was his sixth work in this genre. Although its structure resembles that of opera, it is not in dramatic form; there are no impersonations of characters and no direct speech. Instead, Jennens's text is an extended reflection on Jesus as the Messiah called Christ. The text begins in Part I with prophecies by Isaiah and others, and moves to the annunciation to the shepherds, the only "scene" taken from the Gospels. In Part II, Handel concentrates on the Passion and ends with the "Hallelujah" chorus. In Part III he covers the resurrection of the dead and Christ's glorification in heaven.

Handel wrote Messiah for modest vocal and instrumental forces, with optional settings for many of the individual numbers. In the years after his death, the work was adapted for performance on a much larger scale, with giant orchestras and choirs. In other efforts to update it, its orchestration was revised and amplified by (among others) Mozart. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries the trend has been towards reproducing a greater fidelity to Handel's original intentions, although "big Messiah" productions continue to be mounted. A near-complete version was issued on 78 rpm discs in 1928; since then the work has been recorded many times.

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(M) Mint Record still shrink wrapped, new copy of a record.

(NM) Near Mint Almost perfect record that has usually only been played 1-3 times, in "like new" condition, no visual defects.

(NM-/ EX+) Almost near mint, maybe a few very light marks, nearly perfect.

(VG+/ EX) Very Good Plus / Excellent Record - will show minor signs that it was played but otherwise handled by a previous owner who took good care of it. Record surface may show light scuffs or very light scratches that don't affect one's listening experiences. Slight warps that do not affect the sound are "OK".

The label may have some ring wear or discoloration, but it should be barely noticeable. The center hole will not have been misshapen by repeated play. Picture sleeves will have some slight wear, lightly turned up corners, or a slight seam split.

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All but the most mint-crazy collectors will find a Very Good Plus (VG+) record highly acceptable.

(VG) Very Good Record has more wear than VG+ with some more surface noise, light pops, scuffs or light scratches. Generally still a great playing copy, no skips. Jacket may have more shelf wear, a little writing, sticker residue, punch out/cut out holes or corners.

(VG-) Very Good Minus Record has noticeable groove wear, discoloration, surface noise, louder pops, marks & scratches/ scuffs but still a decent playing copy, no skips. Cover may has heavier shelf wear, more discoloration and split seams.

(G/ G+) Good/ Good Plus Record still plays without skipping but has considerable amounts of groove wear, discoloration, surface noise, scuffs, and/or scratches.  Sleeve has a lot of wear and some defects such as split seams, heavy creasing, writing, marks, sticker residue, etc...