The Definitive Messiah!
I have this Messiah in several mediums, most recently on MP3. This is the best interpretation of Handel's most famous work. Ely Ameling is superb! The tempos are perfect - brisk and lively, and the chorus is on pitch, not dragging, and, thank goodness, not shouting and screaming, but singing beautifully. If you can afford only one recording of the Messiah, this is the recording to purchase.

stellar performance - except for alto
Sir Marriner delivers once again in this authentic version of Messiah. Recording sounds great, except I find myself skipping to the next chapter whenever the alto is singing.. where did they find this tone-deaf alto? (Primary reason for 4 stars) Otherwise, no complaints.

Totally Inspired
Listening to this rendition of the Messiah will cause you to believe in God even if you didn't before -- what else but divine inspiration could create this sound?

A "New" Messiah
This is a great recording if you're looking for something different than the old standby version we all grew up with. Especially interesting are the solos, which are different versions Handel actually wrote. Great job by all the musicians.

The scholar's "Messiah"
I am so pleased I purchased this recording. There is a plethora of choices when it comes to "Messiah" recordings, and this one is especially interesting to scholars of music history, professional or otherwise. Some of the arias are obviously not the ones you normally hear in concert today, and the liner notes offer a well-written explanation for the changes. The quality of the recording is excellent. The Academy of St. Martin-in-the-fields is always a spot-on ensemble and the singers are excellently trained. My only complaint (and it is particularly nit-picky at that) is the occasional intonation problem in the soprano section of the chorus. But really, it doesn't detract.