CLASSIC FM MAGAZINE EDITOR'S CHOICE
CLASSIC FM MAGAZINE 50 BEST RECORDINGS OF THE YEAR

Layton’s direction is vivid and masterly (The Sunday Times)

'If you only listen to one Messiah this Christmas, Stephen Layton and Polyphony's live recording should be it … Layton's interpretation has matured into something of infinite variety, clear insight and spiritual substance' (Classic FM Magazine)

'The new release has both a fine sense of style and is full of refreshing insights … The choir … sings with an effortless control and well-modulated fluency that takes wing … The acapella introduction of the final Amen is a masterstroke … Polyphony's new Messiah gives the daughters of Zion cause to 'Rejoice Greatly' (BBC Music Magazine)

"Layton understands the dramatic character of Handel's realization of the Christian story, but it's really the musical realizations here that are so compelling--and refreshingly unidiosyncratic--that you easily can hold this Messiah as
your standard reference... This is the most satisfying quartet of Messiah soloists to appear in a very long time... it will instead encourage repeated listening by virtue of its trueness to Handel's music and its uncompromisingly fine performances."  (Classics Today.com)