Georg Friedrich Händel studierte zunächst Jura in seiner Geburtstadt Halle. Von 1703-1706 war er Cembalist an der Hamburger Oper und 1709 Hofkapellmeister in Hannover. Ab 1710 lebte Händel als Opernkomponist in London, nach 1728 hat er sich stark dem Oratorium zugewendet.

[1] Symphony (3:12) [2] 1. Accompagnato: Comfort ye, My people (3:02) [3] 2. Air: Ev'ry Valley shall be exalted (3:01) [4] 3. Chorus: And the glory of the Lord (2:04) [5] 4. Accompagnato: Thus saith the Lord (1:16) [6] 5. Air: "But who may abide the day of his coming" (4:10) [7] 6. Chorus: And He shall purify the sons of Levi (2:13) [8] 7. Recitative: Behold, a virgin shall conceive (0:21) [9] 8. O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion (2:59) [10] 9. Chorus: O thou that tellest good tidings (1:17) [11] 10. Accompagnato: For behold, darkness shall cover (1:37) [12] 11. Air: The people that walked in darkness (2:54) [13] 12. Chorus: "For unto us a Child is born" (3:28) [14] 13. Pifa (Pastoral Symphony) (2:34) [15] 14. Recitative: There were shepherds - Accompagnato: And lo, the angel of the Lord - Recitative: And the angel said unto them - Accompagnato: And suddenly (1:10) [16] 15. Chorus: Glory to God in the highest (1:37) [17] 16. Air: Rejoice greatly, o daughter of Zion (3:43) [18] 17a. Recitative: Then shall the eyes of the blind (0:22) [19] 18a. Duet: He shall feed his flock (5:22) [20] 19. His yoke is easy (2:00) [1] 20. Behold the Lamb of God (3:40) [2] 21. Air: He was despised (12:13) [3] 22-24. Chorus: Surely He hath borne - And with His stripes - All we like sheep (7:12) [4] 25. Accompagnato: All they that see Him (0:39) [5] 26. Chorus: He trusted in God (1:48) [6] 27. Accompagnato: Thy rebuke hath broken His heart (2:08) [7] 28. Arioso: Behold and see (1:59) [8] 29. Accompagnato: He was cut off (0:16) [9] 30. Aria: But thou didst not leave (1:46) [10] 31. Chorus: Lift up your heads (2:27) [11] 36. Air: How beautiful are the feet (3:49) [12] 38. Air: Why do the nations (2:26) [13] 39. Chorus: Let us break their bonds asunder (1:27) [14] 40. Recitativo: He that dwelleth - 41. Air: Thou shalt break them (1:53) [15] 42. Chorus: "Hallelujah" (3:01) [16] 43. Air: I know that my Redeemer liveth (6:10) [17] 44. Chorus: Since by man came death (1:50) [18] 45. Accompagnato: Behold, I tell you a mystery (0:26) [19] 46. Air: The trumpet shall sound (6:03) [20] 47. Recitative: Then shall be brought to pass / 48. Duet: O death where is thy sting? (1:05) [21] 49. Chorus: But thanks be to God (1:53) [22] 50. Air: If God be for us (4:00) [23] 51. Chorus: Worthy is the Lamb... Amen (6:36)

Der Messias Georg Friedrich Händels gehört bis heute zu den populärsten Beispielen geistlicher Musik des christlichen Abendlandes. In dieser Aufnahme wird er dargeboten von einem Ensemble der Spitzenklasse, Les Musiciens du Louvre unter Marc Minkowski. Als Solisten singen Lynne Dawson, Nicole Heaston, Magdalena Kozená und John M. Ainsley. Ein neuer Titel aus der erfolgreichen Budget-Serie VIRTUOSO. Virtuoso bietet: Exzellente Aufnahmen weltbekannter Interpreten Starkes Artwork und innovative Booklet-Informationen Erfolgreiche Komponisten und ihre größten Werke VIRTUOSO verbindet Zugänglichkeit und Integrität und präsentiert absolute Meisterwerke aus den Katalogen der Deutschen Grammophon und Decca in Referenz-Aufnahmen