Currently I’m considering McNair, von Otter, Chance, Hadley, Lloyd, Marriner
There are a million recordings of this work. Some very traditional, some modern, some with alternate treatments of some of the solos. I’m not that versed on what makes one better than the other.
I guess my simple tastes just prefer a very passionate recording with excellent chorus and solos (well, doesn’t everyone? )
I just love this one : (Ameling · A. Reynolds · Langridge · Howell · Marriner). It’s the 1743 (early version) so some of the content & arrangements are a bit different, but I’ve grown to the prefer this version (especially the expanded “And there were shepherds…”).
I heartily recommend Neville Marriner’s 1976 recording of The Messiah, with the Academy and Chorus of St. Martin-in-the-Field. And some wonderful soloists.
This version is less pompous & plodding than the “standard,” with chorus & instrumentation more like what Handel knew. And it’s very beautiful. (I learned to love this from an LP of “the best bits”–but the CD of the full piece is only $12.97.)
And when Emily Ameling sings “I Know My Redeemer Liveth”–I know, too. (Until she stops singing.)
My favorite is the McCreesh, but I don’t really count as an expert around here. It’s a gorgeous recording, though, with great performers, and well chosen tempi (at least to my taste).
Your link took me to the same recording that jsc1953 recommended. I notice that Amazon says this was a 1995 release- but maybe that was the CD release date of the 1976 recording?