Don't let the impressive sounding names fool you! Yes, I know it's the Oratorio Society of New York and the Sinfonia Rubenstein but this performance is substandard. The orchestra sounds alright, but the chorus and solos leave much to be desired. This recording sounds more than anything like a "Romantic Period" Messiah...big chorus, big orchestra...about as Baroque as a Chopin Etude. The tenor sings pretty much the notes on the page...little or no ornamentation and his melissmi sound like portamenti...just a bland and uninteresting performance! The chorus, while they obviously know the notes, has no refinement. It basically just sounds like a big crowd of Americans slogging through yet another Messiah gig! Do yourself a favor, find another recording of Messiah...ANY other recording of Handel's Magnum Opus would have to better than this!