Marie's Christmas Jukebox

1. Messiah (HWV 56), George Frideric Handel - London Symphony Orchestra & the Tenebrae Choir, conducted by Sir Colin Davis. (Recorded 2002, re-released 2007.)

What surprised me about my liking this recording of Handel's most famous oratorio was that the conductor is Sir Colin Davis. I have spent a lot of my listening years railing at this man who, to my mind, takes performances too slowly and is almost inarticulate when it comes to talking about music. However his interpretation here is spot on, relaxed yet controlled. I'm impressed. I suppose you could put an outfit as good as the LSO on autopilot, but still...