Handel: "Messiah An Oratorio" Joseph Messner Remington R-199-69, Box Set of 3LPs

$

25

Handel: "Messiah An Oratorio" Joseph Messner - Remington R-199-69, Box Set of 3 vinyl LPs
The records are in good shape. The box has some aging/discoloration, and a seam-split on right side.
This is a long out-of-print, and very hard-to-find box set/
See all 5 photos, and more details below...

LABEL: REMINGTON CATALOG NUMBER: R-199-69/3 UPC NUMBER: N/A NUMBER OF DISCS: 3 RUNNING TIME: UNKNOWN YEAR RECORDED: AUGUST 28, 1949 RELEASE DATE: MAY, 1952 CONDUCTOR: JOSEPH MESSNER ORCHESTRA: THE SALZBURG MOZARTEUM ORCHESTRA CHOIR: THE SALZBURG DOME CHOIR SOPRANO: ANNELIESE KUPPER CONTRALTO: ROSETTE ANDAY TENOR: LORENZ FEHENBURGER BASS: JOSEF GREINDL

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AUDIO SAMPLES HIGHLIGHTS OTHER RELEASES SIDE ONE

1. Sinfonia - 3:57
2. Glory of the Lord... O Thou That Tellest - 5:29
3. Pastoral Symphony... Glory To  God - 5:38
4. Behold The Lamb of God... Surely He Hath Borne - 6:27

Dr. Sigmund Spaeth Comments
5. on band 1 - 2:43
6. on Band 2 - 1:12
7. on Band 3 - 1:55
8. on Band 4 - 0:44
SIDE TWO

1. And with His stripes/Lift Up Your Heads - 4:56
2. Hallelujah Chorus - 4:14
3. Since by man... Worthy is the Lamb - 9:13

Dr. Sigmund Spaeth Comments
4. on Band 1 - 1:08
5. on Band 2 - 0:31
6. on Band 3 - 1:48
SITE RATING:  6/10
SITE REVIEW:  Dr. Sigmund Spaeth, "America's Most Popular Speaker and Writer on Music" receives rapturous praise from none other than Eugeune Ormandy on the back liner notes on the Music Plus reissue of this recording, the only sample which I have been able to track down of this rare recording.  Half musical performance, half scholarly discourse, the seven tracks, which hold twelve excerpts of Handel's oratorio, are from Mozart's German arrangement, and fit firmly into the mould of the times, with slow, stately tempos, and Romantic-era sensibilities shown by conductor Joseph Messner and the Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra and Dome Choir.  Originally released on 78-rpm discs, this excerpted release has none of the solo performances, containing only selected choruses and the two orchestra showpieces.  What is here is fine for the era, with good balance between the orchestra and choir, and good blend and playing from both.  It doesn't hold a candle to, say, Scherchen's 1954 recording, or contain the fervent passion of Henry Veld's Bibletone Messiah, recorded the same year, but regardless, this has a richness to the sound and a gravitas that's still affecting, at least to my ears.

Dr. Spaeth's comments, on the other hand, add little to the program.  Their inclusion here is most similar to ABC Classics Introduction to Handel's Messiah, but that triple-disc set is far superior in both musical diversity, and informed, entertaining commentary.  Dr. Spaeth's comments are brief, throw a wide net, and are dry to the point of dehydration.  An interesting listen overall, and worth seeking out for collectors.