"For Behold...The people that walked in darkness", Philippe Sly, Julian Wachner

Philippe Sly: Bass-baritone
Julian Wachner: Conductor
Trinity Wall Street Baroque Orchestra
Handel's "Messiah"
Performed December 26 2016

[@oyvindm1954]

A very healthy voice technique and splendid performance and musicality and excellent interpretation and text presentation. BRAVO! And observe the conductor how he looks at the singer and follows him closely. Regards from a tenor in Norway.

[@Fixingtodraw]

Oh i like this guy

[@justinanderson997]

I was reading this verse in the scriptures this morning and thought of this piece. I’m so happy I did a KZbin search and found this. Such a wonderful performance! The verse took on much deeper feeling and meaning.

[@musickwan]

For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people; but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; and they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

[@mary_puffin]

There were months where I listened to this rendition daily. Thanks for blessing us with this beautiful piece, Phillipe et al. I do hope the soloist, musicians, and all listening will reflect on the timeless scriptural message in this movement, and receive the eternal light that removes all darkness.

[@quaver1239]

Philippe Sly - his voice, his musicality and musicianship are phenomenal.

[@asanisilasabudu6298]

A wonderful performance that creates a mental impression of shining light from darkness. Perfect.

[@gerryj1946]

I would agree with others about Mr. Sly's placement and production: consistent, rich tone, proper vowels, plus rich vocal shading and coloration.

[@alexah5635]

I love the colour Mr.Sly uses in this piece. From the darkness to arise....he paints such a beautiful picture in the recit. I think this interpretation is pretty close to perfection. It is just such a rich performance with incredible storytelling. This is artistry in my books. I am just a little bit of a fan.

[@atto-kwamenanhyirapaintsil5923]

Phillipe Sly is an ACCOMPLISHED musical INTERPRETER, to say the least...

[@mjk5807]

I almost cry: why no one has sung it so wonderfully before. Mr. Philippe Sly: my admiration.

[@barbarajackhobart3531]

This performance is exceptional. Such a magnificent rendition. The low notes are unbelievable.

[@rutha1464]

Beautiful man, even more beautiful voice.

[@19gregske55]

Methinks Dame Joan Sutherland would have wanted Philippe Sly to sing a duet with her. I have watched this so many times that I have lost count.⚜🇨🇦⚜

[@barbarajackhobart3531]

This performance was just what I needed in this pandemic time. His interpretation is exceptional. His low notes made me shiver

[@JBNemeth]

How magnificent... such velvet and depth of resonance....

[@ruthchipperfield3061]

At 4:50, Mr Sly smiled! Irresistibly - how could he refuse to smile?

[@EC2019]

Ive watched this countless times now. But it's only recently I noticed David Baddiel's twin brother jamming in the background 😅 Philippe, you are a legend. Never stop.

[@Istvanoiv]

Great! Every time great! His voice and colors of emotions ans sensibility!

[@waldtraudblume3890]

Ich habe noch nie so eine herrliche Bassbariton-Stimme gehört ! 👍👏❤️🌻

[@phillipsugwas]

Stimmt

[@ayeshamorgan1030]

thats what u call QUALITY music

[@TheAscoltati]

So glad I discovered Christophe Sly...such a rich voice 💖

[@TheAscoltati]

Oops. Philippe!

[@dannysilveira6252]

Such sensitivity ! I love Sly!

[@mwesigwajonathan7575]

Simply magnificent

[@farhanislam7377]

I've always found this scene to be one the most boring in Messiah, but Sly's performance has such incredible tone and drama that I could listen to it for hours

[@fabaest]

Great!!! Bravissimo!!!

[@Bryndezy]

Those low notes on ‘darkness’ at the beginning! 👏

[@ruthchipperfield3061]

Yes!!!

[@Melodyloveshorses1]

Bravo! 👏

[@figaro410]

They are weak as hell. What are you talking about? He has a wonderful middle and high range, but zero low.

[@micharomanowski3824]

@@figaro410 exactly, he's baritone, and this bass aria

[@Shosty]

@@figaro410 what are you talking about? He's a baritone so obviously he isn't going to pump out low notes with the full power of a bass, but they are accurately and confidently placed, certainly not weak as hell. Maybe upload some videos of yourself singing before you call someone's voice weak as hell 🤣

[@andrewyoung4473]

I hope I can sound like this dude some day.

[@andreasamuel2631]

Got to see the equivalent of this performance at the Boston Symphony Hall and it was amazing!!!!

[@alanc3134]

I'm sure the Boston audience was more energized than this lot here!

[@Lora0993]

SUCH a gorgeous rendition of this piece! Made me tear up (in a good way!!) :)

[@gerlindehalsmayr6434]

light against the darkness of ignortance--hatred--greed---violence---we have to be changed by the love and compassion of God Almighty to get ready for peace

[@Benn61]

2 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

[@pbnate]

I've watched this multiple times this Christmas season. It really touched and inspired me. Great performance!

[@atto-kwamenanhyirapaintsil5923]

I am knowing P. Sly for the first time every in music and I just DON'T KNOW why I haven't known him till now! He's just stupendous... I need to track every G. F. Handel music he has performed.

[@Rosangela161]

Lovely performance. Always exquisite interpreter. Thank you.

[@LorenzKerscher]

Outstanding and charismatic vocal art :)

[@jordanbauman8692]

Brilliant performance!

[@Jacob.Soulliere]

Wonderful breath control and wonderful placement with the low notes.

[@atto-kwamenanhyirapaintsil5923]

I agree with you THOROUGHLY!

[@catwoman-vr8yb]

I have already done a comment on another Handel aria you did but I cannot pass this one up. You have such great command of both your low notes and your high notes and you actually emote what The King James Bible and Handel were going for. You are very young in this concert but, my goodness man, you have a God given talent that is so rare in a bass, a "true" bass I believe. I have heard more recent opera arias, which are just as equally great. But Handel is a very special and great love of mine as someone who has sung the alto arias and in many choirs and choruses. This is God's glory.

[@jo-anneclarke7801]

Whoooh! I really listened to this wonderful voice! Oh my gosh... I was captivated right from the start. I have never heard such a wonderful voice as his. Thank you so much.

[@martinsummer6746]

Wonderful Philippe, kind regards from Munich

[@redbrian3655]

It is Sly's arias that make keep me returning to this Trinity Wall Street performance. In fact, when compiling my favorite "Messiah", it is Sly who is my choice for bass. (Amanda Forsythe is my fave soprano!)

[@dsteely2588]

Where is the complete performance?

[@redbrian3655]

@@dsteely2588 It is not on KZbin; but there are 8 excerpts on KZbin that are available at present.

[@dsteely2588]

@@redbrian3655 thanks!

[@justus4753]

same here....i love searching for him when it comes to solo aspect

[@midweekmouse5055]

@@redbrian3655the full performance is on the churches website!

[@markherron1407]

Happy Birthday to the Late George Handel Blessings and Hugs 💖💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕!

[@henrytheodorejelsma2943]

This is Sooooo good !!!

[@franklesser5655]

Beautiful! And so is his voice!

[@sacudidoajaca]

hermoso interpretacion magnifica

[@godisgood3512]

GOD bless Phillipe Sly

[@clarktrent8952]

Love his sense of Legato, and the variety of timbres he uses at different junctures, from dark to light, literally, as the text echoes these. Well done sir. Well done!

[@giordisauro1]

Bellissimo

[@brandonluft8950]

I really enjoyed this interpretation. The speed was good for my pleasure. Not sure if is in the correct written speed. He took a few liberties with choices of notes that were fun (but probably not enjoyable for the purist). He also added a few shrills which were fun as well (but probably not for the purest). Overall he has a fantastic voice with a nice vibrato. I enjoy the liberties he took as an artist and I also enjoy the pure sticking to how it’s written performances, which I am sure he can do if needed. Well done! Most of all I love the message and the beautiful music of the whole work of Handel’s Messiah. He put the WORD of God to some most amazing music. He was most certainly a musical gift to mankind in the way he spread the Gospel through Music! Wow! Thank you LORD!

[@RootsandTendrils]

Indeed, it was however Charles Jennens who selected the verses for Messiah from the King James Bible, though Handel surely did a beautiful job with it, some considerable credit is due to Jennens for his knowledge, imagination, and discernment. I am very impressed with the orchestra here and the conductor, very deft and very moving, so many handle these melodies with a degree of awkwardness. On the whole the best recorded performance of Messiah that I know was done in 1959 by the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, sadly the recording does not include the full program including these two pieces here sung by the Baritone. Here it is: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5bRdJd3iJmMmpI What do you think?

[@mscott3918]

The so called purists tend to be those who take a score to the opera with them and tut over a supposedly wrong note. They want to look clever, forgetting that every performance is unique. If you like it, that is what matters and what these great artists want.

[@andrewdavidson8854]

Taking some liberties with the written score is rather what Baroque music was all about.

[@jameswedgwood8176]

Absolute 🔥

[@user-yh7jg3ri7j]

Isaiah 60:2 - 3 2. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 2. כִּֽי־ הִנֵּ֤ה הַחֹ֙שֶׁךְ֙ יְכַסֶּה־ אֶ֔רֶץ וַעֲרָפֶ֖ל לְאֻמִּ֑ים וְעָלַ֙יִךְ֙ יִזְרַ֣ח יְהוָ֔ה וּכְבוֹד֖וֹ עָלַ֥יִךְ יֵרָאֶֽה׃ 2. 보라 어두움이 땅을 덮을 것이며 캄캄함이 만민을 가리우려니와 오직 여호와께서 네 위에 임하실 것이며 그 영광이 네 위에 나타나리니 3. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. 3. וְהָלְכ֥וּ גוֹיִ֖ם לְאוֹרֵ֑ךְ וּמְלָכִ֖ים לְנֹ֥גַהּ זַרְחֵֽךְ׃ 3. 열방은 네 빛으로, 열왕은 비취는 네 광명으로 나아오리라 To God Alone Be All The Glory. Hallelujah. Amen.

[@talvela100]

bravo bravo

[@wrathofthenorseman7938]

Outstanding

[@lancemcclung3991]

Still wish the full 2016 performance was available

[@midweekmouse5055]

It’s on their website thankfully

[@Cablecol]

Mr. Paul Robeson (1898-1976) would have sounded lovely singing this.🎶💞💯 RIP Dear Sir.

[@jesuisravi]

very nice indeed.

[@mariavanhoof7961]

Fantastica voz

[@esthergenao7361]

The guy indeed has talent. But, the protagonist remains the same ENMANUEL =GOD WITH US. And he deserves the praise. My best regards y'all.

[@robertmarcum9699]

2:06 "Those Who Walked in Darkness"

[@pierreargoul4518]

Belle voix!

[@denis-mauricekermen7817]

Une voix du même métal sur toute la tessiture... Admirable ! Que devient Philippe Sly ?

[@user-dk9hl5ez9k]

This performance comes close, in my search the rival the Messiah by Camerata Vocale Freiburg. Yea, this is its equal. Bravo!

[@atto-kwamenanhyirapaintsil5923]

Phillipe Sly is an ACCOMPLISHED musical INTERPRETER, to say the least...

[@Symphonyfor2]

Sheesh Philippe, you sound fantastic and amazing! (I'm using my wife's youtube acct.). Have to sing this afternoon and I've been listening for inspiration...

[@richardkell4888]

He 'nails it' as its said....

[@zene1750]

Amazing.

[@paololucca1495]

Great!

[@effemusik]

The greatist gift of christianity to mankind ; the music it inspired.

[@ingwerschorle_]

Not many gifts to choose, but it definitely is

[@annasalholdthansen6101]

You are the best Singer i know

[@imankhodaei7062]

Superb

[@malrosee9450]

Amen

[@deniscunningham3059]

Sly's says so long to that top button and white tie!

[@lj291261]

👏👏👏👏👏

[@bahrss]

www.trinitywallstreet.org/video/george-friderich-handel---messiah Full performance (December 26 2015)

[@petertyrrell3391]

"The people that trotted in darkness!"

[@genburke2656]

This is world-class symphony chorus artistry....who the hell are they?

[@leemartinez3851]

Truly wish you a great career! Such a beautiful voice! I was working and your voice just called me and made me stop to listen.

[@josephzepeda7608]

He's got lovely tone but this really is a bass aria and he's not a bass. Listen to 2:30 a few times - he can't project in that range. And that's fine - he's a baritone!

[@Looser_23]

You need to be a really good Bass to sing this piece well. Everything happens in the upper 3rd octave and it even goes up to an E4. It's stupendously high for a proper Bass. But your range is only really utilized in that one dip down to F#2 which you pointed out. That one seems really optional, you can just sing an octave higher and no one would know. Otherwise the lowest note is just a G#2, which isn't that low. It's definitely a piece for Bass-Baritones.

[@jakob4381]

🇬🇧🤝🇩🇪

[@vvvarte7382]

Bonjour, y a t'il un enregistrement complet disponible quelque part, même payant ?

[@dianabanana08]

simon clark brought me here!

[@RajikaImalNg]

+1

[@Voiceactorking]

2:06 aria

[@vvvarte7382]

2:06

[@stephenroughley717]

Who was the trumpeter?

[@taewonsohn7818]

0:20

[@mikemcclary3531]

Who is the trumpeter?

[@antoniofernandez3857]

No low notes, nice middle and high register. A bariton singing bass.

[@yuehchopin]

hat Charakter

[@LockportDan]

More baritone than bass it seems to me.

[@HuubClaessens]

I miss non vibrato singing, and a bit more real empathy, some of it too artificial. Other than that great singing!!! Nice ornaments!

[@LockportDan]

Not much heft to the voice. No Jerome Hines or Kurt Moll here.

[@jy221series4]

Brilliant! But too fast

[@OrlandoMusic333]

trainspotter 221 Not at all!

[@MommaRed1862]

trainspotter 221 modern orchestras have been playing Handel’s Messiah at a romanticized and slower pace, during Handel’s time orchestra’s were smaller, the instruments were played very differently, and with shorter bows too! Starting in the 1960’s there has been increased professional research into “period correct playing” or “early music orchestras”, whatever you call it, existing manuscripts, and news-reels (yes news papers were printed in Handel’s time), first hand documents like letters between composers also gives light on the subject :D very interesting stuff, I encourage all my friends to listen to a modern symphony do Handel’s messiah and then listen to a period orchestra with correct instruments of the time, you find the period comes alive! Since it’s how they heard it at its premiere, remarkable

[@EllaGradin]

That's just what we call a "Julian tempo"

[@Ashleyy666]

5:29 that face you make when it wasnt a fart

[@sophiathore3538]

this is how I feel about the vaccine

[@HolgerMussi]

sHEEESH

[@sachseco]

weak low notes!

[@rosemma34]

stop

[@mikael553]

But he is brilliant