Handel: Messiah 1754
Sheet Music

SKU: NX.ALPHA362

By Herve Niquet and Le Concert spirituel. By George Frideric Handel. Classical. CD. Alpha #Alpha362. Published by Alpha (NX.ALPHA362).

Why yet another Messiah? 'I went through the different scores that exist and decided on the very interesting 1754 version, which features five soloists. You must remember that, when Handel arrived somewhere to perform his oratorio, he had soloists of varying standards available to him. So he quickly revised his score accordingly... All this is directly related to the reality of Handel's situation as a concert promoter. In those days, to earn a living from his music, a composer absolutely had to get his works performed and make a profit on the evening. The idea of not retouching a work to avoid "spoiling" or "distorting" it is a much more modern one. There must be around a dozen versions of Messiah (I won't list them all). The 1754 version is rarely played because it calls for five soloists: two sopranos, alto, tenor and bass... I've opted here for an operatic interpretation, taking its cue from the drama inherent in this account of the life of Christ.' (Herve Niquet) This deluxe edition also includes a fascinating portrait of Herve Niquet, an interview organised around thirty keywords (from 'Dance' to 'Nerves') that sheds new light on one of the most atypical conductors on today's musical scene.