I LOVE the Mormon Tabernacle Choir! I love listening to them and the Spirit that their beautiful songs bring to all of those who listen to them. I was very excited when I was able to get both of these CD's of the Messiah to listen to and my family was too! I will just admit that I had never actually listened to the whole Messiah. I had heard the most popular three or four songs, but that was it. I'm not actually sure I even realized there was more than that! So to get the full oratorio CD was a bit of a surprise for me. There's two and a half hours of beautiful music on this one CD! I can't even imagine singing that for two and a half hours and the time that it would have taken Handel to compose all of that music blows my mind! I completely enjoyed both the deluxe set and the highlights CD.The bonus material on the DVD included in the deluxe set is amazing! I love the insights from Conductor Mack Wilberg and I loved learning a little bit about each of the guest soloists as well. It's well worth the time to watch each of the segments. I have included product descriptions and links so that you can decide which of the CD's is the one for you and purchase it if you want as well! And make sure to scroll down to watch the World's Largest Virtual #Hallelujah Chorus it's really awesome! I was sent a copy of these CD's in exchange for an honest review.
About the CD: The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square present the triumphant and angelic sound of George Frideric Handel’s masterpiece, Messiah. Taking over two years to record, the choir conductor, Mack Wilberg, has painstakingly captured an awe-inspiring version of arguably the best choral work ever written. The attention to every detail is impeccable, the vocal performances are unforgettable, and the “Hallelujah” chorus performed by the 360-member Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the 85-member Orchestra at Temple Square will long be considered one of the best versions ever recorded. This deluxe version features the complete Messiah on two discs as well as a bonus DVD with behind-the-scenes footage of the making of this landmark recording, interviews with Mack Wilberg, and insight into the fascinating history of Handel’s Messiah. DVD bonus footage not included with MP3 Download version Handel’s Messiah Edition: Wilberg The Complete Oratorio 54 Tracks Total Time: 2 hours 23 minutes Bonus DVD: Guest Soloists: Thoughts and Reflections Why Another Recording of Messiah: An Interview with Mack Wilberg, conductor Historical Setting of Messiah: Thoughts from Musicologist Luke Howard A New Painting for Messiah: J. Kirk Richards Talks about Painting the CD Cover Art Hallelujah from Messiah: Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square Purchase link: Deseret Book
About the CD: The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square present the triumphant and angelic sound of George Frideric Handel’s masterpiece, Messiah. Taking over two years to record, the choir conductor, Mack Wilberg, has painstakingly captured an awe-inspiring version of arguably the best choral work ever written. The attention to every detail is impeccable, the vocal performances are unforgettable, and the “Hallelujah” chorus performed by the 360-member Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the 85-member Orchestra at Temple Square will long be considered one of the best versions ever recorded. This single-disc version features 15 popular selections from Handel’s Messiah. Run time about 60 minutes. Highlights CD link: Deseret Book About the Mormon Tabernacle Choir: The 360 members of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir represent men and women from many different backgrounds and professions and range in age from 25 to 60. They reflect a medley of unique lives and experiences and are brought together by their love for singing and their faith. Their incomparable voices are the common chord that unites to form the choral group known all over the world as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir originated in the mid-19th century in Salt Lake City. As the Latter-day Saints moved west, Church President Brigham Young included musicians among members of the advance parties. Consequently, a small choir first sang for a conference of the Church in the Salt Lake Valley on August 22, 1847, just 29 days after the first group arrived. The origins of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir may be found in the desire and commitment of early converts to include appropriate music in both sacred and secular events. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir has appeared at 13 world's fairs and expositions, performed at the inaugurations of five U.S. presidents, and sung for numerous worldwide telecasts and special events. Five of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's recordings have achieved "gold record" and two have achieved "platinum record" status. The most popular was the Grammy-Award-winning 1959 release of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" with the Philadelphia Orchestra.
About the CD: The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square present the triumphant and angelic sound of George Frideric Handel’s masterpiece, Messiah. Taking over two years to record, the choir conductor, Mack Wilberg, has painstakingly captured an awe-inspiring version of arguably the best choral work ever written. The attention to every detail is impeccable, the vocal performances are unforgettable, and the “Hallelujah” chorus performed by the 360-member Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the 85-member Orchestra at Temple Square will long be considered one of the best versions ever recorded.