Mormon Tabernacle Choir to Release Landmark Recording of New Wilberg Edition of Handels Messiah
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square are releasing a new recording of George Frideric Handel’s Messiah, one of the most beloved of all works. Featuring a new edition by conductor Mack Wilberg, the recording will be released Friday, March 4.
“We recognized that we needed to create something special and unique to this new recording,” Wilberg said. “It required examining every note of the vocal and instrumental parts and making decisions as to what would accommodate a 360-voice choir and large orchestra and still reflect our present-day knowledge of Baroque performance practices.”
Featured on the recording are four renowned soloists from around the word: in: Sonya Yoncheva from Bulgaria, Tamara Mumford from the United States, Rolando Villazón from Mexico, and Bryn Terfel from Wales.
“We were very fortunate in engaging some of the great singers of our time,” Wilberg stated. “In fact, it’s very much an international cast of singers, not unlike Handel’s day when his own various performances of Messiah featured some of the greatest singers of his day from continental Europe.”
The world-renown Choir with its companion ensemble Orchestra at Temple Square will provide its historic recording in two offerings, one as the Complete Oratorio on two discs with an accompanying DVD with behind-the-scenes footage and interviews. The other is a one-disc Highlights edition including the best-known pieces from the beloved oratorio.
In conjunction with this release, the Choir is inviting singers to join in a virtual choir singing Handel’s “Hallelujah” chorus and is soliciting participation from fans across the globe. More information can be found at virtualchoir.mormon.org. The Choir and Orchestra will stream a live performance of Messiah online Good Friday, March 25. More information about that event can be found at mormontabernaclechoir.org/messiah.
The Complete Oratorio and Highlights versions of Messiah by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square are available right now for pre-order on iTunes, Amazon.com, and DeseretBook.com.
Media inquiries can be directed to Dave Kimball at dkimball@deseretbook.com
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Mormon Tabernacle Choir is a 360-member choir which has traveled around the world performing at the inaugurations of U.S. presidents, at World’s Fairs and expositions, in acclaimed concert halls, on television and radio broadcasts, and numerous other events. Orchestra at Temple Square is a 150-member, all-volunteer symphony orchestra organized in 1999 to perform and accompany the musical ensembles of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir organization. With their incomparable medley of voices and instruments and their shared faith in God they are a significant, recognizable presence in the world of music, giving service through song.
Dave Kimball / 801-517-3295 / dkimball@deseretbook.com
Deseret Book Company
