Combine the premier choral conductor of our time; his select chamber choir, the Cambridge Singers; the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; and Handel's timeless Baroque masterpiece, and you have the ultimate mu--sical celebration for Christmas or Easter! Phenomenal vocalists Joanne Lunn, Melanie Marshall, James Gilchrist, and Christopher Purves were specially selected as soloists by Mr. Rutter for this recording.George Frideric Handel's Messiah is his most famous creation and is among the most popular works in Western choral literature. Although the work was conceived and first performed for Easter, it has become traditional since Handel's death to present the prophetic portions of the oratorio during Advent and resurrection-themed segments during Easter. Whether you were raised with the breathtaking, straight-from- Scripture movements "For unto Us a Child Is Born," "He Shall Feed His Flock," and "The Hallelujah Chorus"--or you're appreciating them for the first time--you'll be powerfully moved by this momentous production.