---
product_id: 18231591
title: "Handel: Messiah"
brand: "cd"
price: "$35.24"
currency: USD
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 10
category: "Music"
url: https://www.desertcart.us/products/18231591-handel-messiah
store_origin: US
region: United States of America
---

# Handel: Messiah

**Brand:** cd
**Price:** $35.24
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Handel: Messiah by cd
- **How much does it cost?** $35.24 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.us](https://www.desertcart.us/products/18231591-handel-messiah)

## Best For

- cd enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted cd brand quality
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## Description

Handel: Messiah

## Images

![Handel: Messiah - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51-bHYWA4XL.jpg)
![Handel: Messiah - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51V76+kUYsL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Wonderful performance, but this remastering is a disaster, distortion all through
  

*by D***E on Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2015*

Pity about this remastering. As a few others have mentioned, there is a static distortion throughout this set, making it quite unenjoyable. This type of distortion is most curious as it doesn't sound like good old-fashioned overload distortion (as well it shouldn't, given this is a digital recording). Instead, it sounds like an electronic static, randomly occurring all through the recording, perhaps caused by a lose microphone connection during the recording session.But that proves NOT to be the case. I listened to the highlights disc on a 1990 Silver Seal issue and there is none of this distortion. Incidentally, I was amazed to hear that earlier remastering is warmer and more laid back than this High performance issue as well. The HP is cleaner and more dynamic, however, which many may prefer. But somehow in the remastering process, an electronic distortion has crept in, quite ruining a most wonderful recorded performance. On a high-quality sound system, it is even more revealing (and distracting) than one might hear on crappy speakers found in most boom-boxes, computer systems and MP3 players.This is the only complete Musica Sacra performance on CD, and is therefore all the more regrettable that it has been ruined. Alas, we will have settle for the highlights disc. I wish SONY would go back and give it a fresh remastering and release it in their remarkably wonderful Masters Series. We really deserve another chance to enjoy the complete performance in good sound.

### ⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    highs and lows
  

*by R***I on Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2010*

This is a Messiah of distinct high peaks and low valleys.  First, the weaknesses:  In general, the soloist work here is decidedly mediocre.  Judith Blegen has a a beautiful voice but lacks baroque expressive qualities.  The alto, Ciesinski, seems to have been selected for her resemblance to the original alto, Mrs. Cibber, who was supposedly a weak singer.  The pair can't hold a candle to the female singers in my favorite Messiah, Lynne Dawson and Catherine Denley on Harry Christophers' Hyperion version.  The tenor here, John Aler, tries mightily but has been bested by more recent tenors such as Phillip Langridge or John Mark Ainsley.  Tempi in the arias are often slow compared to more recent "authentic" performances--sometimes annoyingly so.Now for the highs:  Since this was recorded in 1981, Handel studies have advanced, but even so, Westenberg's scholarship still impresses.  He uses that knowledge to produce what may be the best ever booklet accompanying Messiah recordings, where he explains compositional details of each piece, and his interpretive approach to each one.  Some of these ideas don't hold up--I'm not convinced by Westenberg's argument for assigning "But who may abide.." to the bass; and he decides that there should be no pause between the end of many pieces and the beginning of others.  But many interpretive choices are excellent:  Westenburg picks what might be termed a "medium-small" choir (29), not as small as many recent period recordings, but much smaller than old-style Huddersfield masses.  And this Musica Sacra choir is skilled!  The choruses, and the precision with which they're handled, is the main reason to own this Messiah.  With this sized choir the choruses have a good deal of "weight" without losing to much clarity.  And, as opposed to the arias, Westenberg takes the choruses rather briskly.Caution:  The BMG 24/96-bit "High Performance" remastering process used here will expose stereo systems of less than high-quality (like mine).  If you lack good speakers, you may want to think twice about this recording.  If you've got a good system, on the other hand, the remastering here may be a definite plus.(If I could I'd give this 3.5 stars, but the soloist quality just prevents me from giving 4.)

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Five Stars
  

*by M***Y on Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2016*

The best Messiah I've ever heard. Lost my original CD and am delighted to find a copy.

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*Product available on Desertcart United States of America*
*Store origin: US*
*Last updated: 2026-02-23*