Christopher Hogwood's groundbreaking recording of Handel's Messiah with the Academy of Ancient Music is considered to be one of the finest of all time. This legendary recording project, regarded as one of the most important recording events of the late twentieth century, will now be released in the Decca Pure Analogue Series for the highest audiophile sound, introducing Decca's early music imprint, L'Oiseau-Lyre to the series for the first time.

Remastered & cut from the original stereo master tapes in 100% analogue quality (AAA) by the renowned Emil Berliner Studios, this landmark recording will be issued on 180g virgin vinyl and presented in a hand-numbered, deluxe 3-LP box, featuring the original artwork and booklet with in-depth musical analysis by Christopher Hogwood and Handel scholar Anthony Hicks, plus a new note by esteemed music critic Richard Bratby (author of Refiner's Fire: The Academy of Ancient Music & the Historical Performance Revolution) with interviews from Dame Emma Kirkby and recording engineer John Dunkerley amongst others. This limited edition will also include additional photos from the recording sessions and facsimiles of the tape boxes.

“Like no Messiah ever heard before in this century” — The New York TImes

“This recording is not only one of the shining lights of ‘historically informed performance’, forcing us to rethink what we thought we knew and strewing new ideas in our path; it also remains one of the most deeply convincing Messiahs we have.” — Gramophone