Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, National Youth Choir of Great Britain & Jonathan Griffith - Messiah ... Refreshed! (2020) [CD-Rip]

One might guess from the title that Messiah... Refreshed! is among the large group of pop adaptations of Handel's holiday oratorio that have appeared, but in fact, it dates back to 1959, and in style, it is older than that, a full-blown throwback to the late Romantic era. It is a reorchestration of Messiah by conductor Eugene Goossens, written for the group that performs it on the present recording, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. It's not the subtle amplification that Mozart achieved in his orchestration, but a high-powered tour through the full symphony orchestra, including tuba, bass drum, and cymbals. Listeners' reactions to this will necessarily be individual, but if you're curious to check this out, you will do well with this version, even as the original, with Sir Thomas Beecham conducting, is still available. Conductor Jonathan Griffith has lived with this work for a while, and here everything comes into balance, with a fine performance by his mixed Jonathan Griffith Singers and National Youth Choir of Great Britain, large enough all together to stand up to the orchestration. Mezzo-soprano Claudia Chapa is the richest-voiced of the crew of soloists. Sample the "Hallelujah Chorus," which will have real splendor for all but the strictest of historical performance devotees. CD buyers get a detailed booklet containing some interesting context for the work, including tales of Goossens' divagation into the world of porn and the occult. With the various phases of Baroque music's reception history getting new attention, this release is worthwhile; it is also likely to be fun for most. ~ James Manheim