George Frideric Handel's "Messiah," released in 2011 by Signum Records, is a timeless masterpiece that transcends the boundaries of classical, choral, and opera genres. Composed in 1741, this English-language oratorio is a profound musical setting of the life of Christ, compiled from the King James Bible. Spanning a grand duration of 2 hours and 18 minutes, the album features an impressive array of 49 to 53 tracks, depending on the source, showcasing Handel's unparalleled musical genius.
The orchestration is rich and diverse, with 2 oboes, 2 bassoons, 2 trumpets, timpani, continuo, organ, strings, chorus, and soloists, creating a symphony of sound that is both powerful and delicate. The album is divided into three parts, each offering a unique exploration of the narrative. Notable performances include the iconic "Hallelujah Chorus," the soaring "I Know That My Redeemer Liveth," and the stirring "For Unto Us a Child Is Born."
Handel's "Messiah" is not just an album; it is an experience. The composition's depth and complexity make it a staple in the repertoire of choirs and orchestras worldwide, often performed as a sing-along event, bringing communities together in celebration of music and faith. Whether you are a seasoned classical music enthusiast or a newcomer to the genre, "Messiah" offers a rich and rewarding listening experience that highlights the enduring power of Handel's music.
Tracks
Christians AwakeJohn Wainwright, Catherine Wyn-Rogers, Elizabeth Watts, Mark Le Brocq, James Oldfield, Huddersfield Choral Society, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Overture: SinfonyGeorge Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 1: Comfort Ye (tenor)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 1: Every Valley (tenor)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 1: And the Glory of the Lord (chorus)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 1: Thus saith the Lord (bass)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 1: But who may abide (alto)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 1: And He shall purify (chorus)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 1: Behold, a virgin (alto)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 1: O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion (alto)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 1: For behold, darkness shall cover the earth (bass)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 1: The people that walked in darkness (bass)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 1: For unto us a Child is born (chorus)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 1: Pifa (Pastoral Symphony)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 1: There were shepherds (soprano) – And lo, the Angel (soprano)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 1: And suddenly there was with the Angel (soprano)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 1: Glory to God in the highest (chorus)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 1: Rejoice greatly (soprano)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 1: Then shall the eyes of the blind (alto) – He shall feed His flock (alto)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 1: His yoke is easy (chorus)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 2: Behold the Lamb of God (chorus)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 2: He was despised (alto)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 2: Surely, He hath borne our grief’s (chorus)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 2: And with His stripes (chorus)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 2: All we like sheep have gone astray (chorus)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 2: All they that see Him (tenor)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 2: He trusted in God (chorus)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 2: Thy rebuke hath broken His heart (tenor)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 2: Behold and see (tenor)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 2: He was cut off (tenor)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 2: But Thou didst not leave (tenor)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 2: Lift up your heads (chorus)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 2: Though art gone up on high (alto)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 2: The Lord gave the word (chorus)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 2: How beautiful are the feet (soprano)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 2: Their sound is gone out into all lands (chorus)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 2: Why do the nations so furiously rage (bass)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 2: Let us break their bonds asunder (chorus)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 2: He that dwelleth in Heaven (tenor)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 2: Thou shalt break them (tenor)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 2: Hallelujah! (chorus)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 3: I know that my Redeemer liveth (soprano)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 3: Since by man came death (chorus)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 3: Behold, I tell you a mystery (bass)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 3: The trumpet shall sound (bass)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 3: Then shall be brought to pass (alto) – O death, where is thy sting? (alto & tenor)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 3: But thanks be to God (chorus)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 3: If God be for us (soprano)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 3: Worthy is the Lamb (chorus)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Messiah, Part 3: Amen (chorus)George Frideric Handel, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Choral Society, Northern Sinfonia, Jane Glover, Jane Glover, Royal Northern Sinfonia
Whether you're just starting your vinyl collection or have been spinning for years, the right turntable makes all the difference. We've selected the best options for every budget.
Whether a review is positive, negative, or neutral, we always publish it. However, we screen every review to ensure it is authentic and free of profanity. These checks happen automatically, though a human occasionally steps in. We never pay for reviews.
Looking for "Messiah" on vinyl?
We don't have a live price right now, but stock fluctuates daily. You can check for hidden stock on Amazon directly, or let us alert you as soon as it is available.