I've been listening to this recording for years and each and every time it's like a revelation from heaven. No words to describe the emotions it stirs up. The pinnacle of human artistic creativity.
When I hear music from this time period I sometimes think about how different the world was when it was written: no electricity, no Internet, no smart phones. But no matter what advances may be made in technology, beautiful music such as this will endure, long after the latest gadget has become obsolete. 02/05/2013
@@Paul.Morgan Today's so-called "art" is absolutely pathetic. Nothing beats classical music. That is why I have only been listening to classical music for my whole life (I'm 18 at the time of writing). While I do like Baroque tremendously, my favourite composers of all time are Scriabin, Szymanowski, Brahms, and Corelli.
This beautiful piece of heaven we played as the recessional music for my sons funeral in May. It worked as a salve to our shattered hearts as he was cruelly murdered.
Well said- I totally agree! It actually is painful- on a deep emotional level. It stirs something up that can't even be put into words and transports you into a whole other world!
I can't choose THE most beautiful piece of music. At least there are several. How about Bach's "Agnus Dei" in Iestyn Davies's rendition? Also Handel's "O lord whose mercies numberless"? But definitely one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written!
😍😍😍🤩🤩🤩🥰😃😃😃😃 I've listened to this tune more than a thousand times, i'm totally addicted and each time the same immense dazzling émotion. The fusional encounter between this sublime voice of countertenor and your fabulous trumpet is magical. Merci infiniment pour ce merveilleux cadeau ! ( marvelous gift )
I totally agree! Also I'm addicted to the sound of old instruments. In fact, my husband and I now to refuse to even listen to modern orchestras. Istead we rather listen to the academy of ancient music from Berlin, the Netherlands or elsewhere. And this we owe to the softer and more natural tone of the instruments!
The timbre of his voice at the word "light", no crescendo, just wonderful, the tumpet doesn't overpower, a perfect blend, as close to perfection as I've ever heard.
Handel's immense musical genius is evident in this work. The two young artists touching performance has infused my soul with joy. Several times a day, I hear the video and I am deeply touched by Iestyn's voice.
Indeed, I agree. As a trumpeter myself who regularly plays this piece, I know you can't get any closer to perfection than this superb performance by two quite outstanding musicians, both technically and musically.
An exquisitely sublime performance by all concerned - the empathy between Alison & Iestyn shines through in a performance surpassing anything that I have had the privilege of hearing in a long, long time. As a professional musician I am not easily reduced to tears, but am not apologetic to say that this performance stirs my soul in a way that I had thought I was way too old and cynical to react to. To say thank you is totally inadequate. I'm now going to listen again and, perhaps, realise that there is a gift of perfection in an all too imperfect world.
Wow this caught me off guard. Tears started flowing out of nowhere. So beautiful! Awe inspiring and powerful how it resonates spiritually. Thank you for sharing your amazing gift!!
I found this video in 2014 during a very bad year in Syria with all the war that was going on and the depression I had. But this took me to another place, and always reminded me that this world is not all horrible and ugly and full of war and hate. This video was a glimpse of hope for mankind to me during the worst times of Syrian war. Bless you Alison. And thank you.
Oh, my! Iestyn. What a gift you have. Your voice is celestial and with Alison's trumpet it is heaven on earth. I agree with Martin, this performance is a masterpiece. I hug you both and know you have filled our hearts with awe and praise.
This piece by Handel has to be close to being the greatest piece of vocal music of all time -it's that unnerving sense of the infinite and the everlasting that the piece evokes -that sense of deep time, of endless galaxies.
Two young world class artists with the wonderful Trevor Pinnock and The English Concert. Contrary to some comments I though the two principals were singing to each other. It doesn't get much better than this.
Without a doubt he best version if this beautiful Handel piece...Balsom is excellent on baroque trumpet. There's not many trumpet superstars that can handle baroque trumpet the way she does. Wonderful!!
Quite simply the best recording I have ever heard of this jewel by Handel. Alison's playing is pitch perfect and Lestyn Davies' voice is truly divine. Perfection itself and conducted by a master, Trevor Pinnock.
This is by far the best performance of this ode I've heard on RU-vid ! Both Alison & Lestyn Davies are exceptionally complementary to each other ..& this ode!👏👏👏
I agree with you, I think without a doubt that this ode by Handel is the best that You Tube has released so far, of the ones I have listened to and there are some very good ones. Regards.
I don't make comments about who is the best on an instrument or in a vocal range. So often it is a matter of taste. Also when it is not live it is often the recording. BUT this is as good as it gets for these 2 pieces of music.
When Mrs Alison Balsom & Mr Iestyn Davies like earthly angels, under the rule of Sir Trevor Pinnock, as ascended master Enoch, show us the path to the Divinity, which lies dormant in each of us! It's just a divine moment, which even a Frenchman knows how to appreciate to its fullest extent!
This is truly one of the most beautiful pieces of music I have ever heard. I have heard many versions, but this is truly remarkable. The blend of Iestyn's countertenor voice and Alison's baroque trumpet is sublime. The synergy between them is mesmerising and just so beautiful - a true joy to listen to, full of real feeling and emotion. I am surprised that I have not heard this version more often. My congratulations to both Alison and Iestyn, and to Trevor Pinnock. A remarkable production.
Truly beautiful, but many other versions are equally as good, please listen to countertenor Robert Kuizenga with the trumpet of Bruno Fernandes, also very very good
I have listened to this piece over and over again, and said to myself, I want this played at my funeral, as a final farewell into the next life- entering the light of Heaven. Beautiful piece.
Countertenor Lestyn Davies sings this almost flawless; dare I say better than Andreas Scholl? It is void of the high D octave "tinny" sound that too often occurs when modern male singers try to replicate "castrate primo" (thank GOD). This countertenor sounds rich, bravossimo, yet delicate enough to illicit just enough austerity needed to compliment the score.
+Iestyn Davies-Countertenor I apologize, all to often people misspell names of composers, musical arrangements, I assumed (my fault) that someone misspelled your name. Love the piece! I'm going to buy this CD and look for more of your work!
Bravo! You found the typo (to instead of too) and you understood the sarcasm in my passage. I think that we are losing our language to the developing "social media" phenomena. Instead of words that have a distinct and explicit meaning with clarity and brevity; Ebonics and Emoji's(which aren't even real words they have no true literal interpretation) replace "LITERAL WORDS " thus letting the audience decide how to interpret it in their own way? When people use things like Emoji's it fosters the breakdown of our culture and understanding is replaced with chaos.
This is utterly beautiful music. I listen to it many, many times. However when it was written there, of course , was no recorded music. So very few people would have heard it. It would have been played in a church a couple of times - but what then...maybe played in Court ... the general population would not have heard it . We are very lucky !
I just Love it! If it´s possible I would like to have this music on my funeral one day. I think I will wake upp and rise from my coffin just to enjoy this lovely music.
For you fans of this piece-Wynton Marsalis and Kathleen Battle recorded this several years ago. Nicely done by them. Something about the contra-tenor voice makes it warmer though.
Alison looks absolutely out of this world. I don't know how to put it - it feels she is somewhere out there, listening to something and experiencing something we the mortals are never able to. Thank you for this opportunity to have a glimpse of Heaven.
the first time I heard this song I had some warm tears and I could't stop by hearing this beautiful sound again and again., Singing it along with Lestyn behind my laptop made me realise how difficult this beauty is, but after a long or bad day this is an eternal source of light divine
Congratulations. This is by far the best recording on RU-vid and on iTunes. Iesten Davies used to go to SJCC / St John's College Choir, Cambridge. That is how he got so good.
Te ihi, te wehi, te wana, te mana (Māori for the essential force, excitement, thrill, power, charm, magnetism, prestige, control, influence, status, spiritual power, charisma, supernatural force) Ātaahua XO
