I’ve now acquired a better source for Susskind’s Pye recording of Handel’s Messiah, which I present here in rather better sound than its previous appearance. I repeat below the full details of this recording:

This Pye recording from 1958 is announced on the blue folder it was issued in as “Handel’s Messiah – the original manuscript.” This is perhaps misleading – while the performance observes the traditional cuts for the period (with Part III particularly abbreviated), Susskind has removed the two centuries of orchestral accretions to the score, giving us an early attempt at Handel’s original scoring. It’s still very much a mid 20th century account of the work though, with nothing in the way of double-dotting, ornamentation or the fast tempos to which we are now more accustomed.

Mediafire link for Messiah Part 1 – Susskind

Mediafire link for Messiah Part 2 – Susskind

Mediafire link for Messiah Part 3 – Susskind

(These are zip files – left click the link, download the files, then unzip when downloaded)

Handel – Messiah
Pye Golden Guinea GSGL 10062
Matrices GSGL 10062 A-1L, B-2L, C-2L, D-2L, E-1L, F-1L
Recorded 1958
The London Orchestra, Walter Susskind
London Philharmonic Choir (Choirmaster Frederick Jackson)
April Cantelo, soprano
Helen Watts, contralto
Wilfred Brown, tenor
Roger Stalman, bass
George Malcolm, harpsichord
Harold Darke, organ

This set of three stereo LPs (auto coupling) was in rather variable condition, with side 4 being particularly noisy. There are one or two places where the stereo focus drifts. I have corrected occasional pitch variations (in particular at an edit in “But who may abide.”) “The London Orchestra” is so named on the records, and is likely to be the London Philharmonic.

This recording was reviewed in Gramophone in November 1960, and its reissues on Pye’s budget Marble Arch label (both in full and as a single disc of highlights) were reviewed more briefly in February 1966.

More details

There’s more from Daisy Kennedy this month. Several of the raw transfers here were provided by Cheniston Roland of Violinland , and one disc comes from my collection.

All Daisy Kennedy recordings now available on the Daisy Kennedy page

(These are zip files – left click the link, download the file, then unzip when downloaded)

Drdla – Dance Op.96
Ethel Barnes – Swing Song (L’Escarpolette)
Columbia 2697
Matrices 35882, 35885
Recorded 1916
Available from September 1916
Daisy Kennedy, violin
with piano

Kosloff – Idylle Finnoise
Zimbalist – Slavonic Dance No. 2 (Hebrew song and dance)
Columbia 2698
Matrices 65490, 65492
Recorded 1916
Available from October 1916
Daisy Kennedy, violin
with piano
(from the collection of Cheniston Roland)

d’Ambrosio – Canzonetta
Kosloff – Melodie tartare
Columbia D1371
Matrices ??
Recorded c1917
Daisy Kennedy, violin
with piano
(from the collection of Cheniston Roland)

Kreisler – Liebesfreud
Zimbalist – Russian Dance
Columbia D1373
Matrices ??
Recorded c1917
Daisy Kennedy, violin
with piano
(from the collection of Cheniston Roland)