Like you I will ask that Dame Isobel's rendition of this breath taking uplifting piece be sung at my funeral. Born in 1936 I have distinct memories of it being played on an old fashioned gramophone during the War -veery scratchy sound but Dame Isobel's crystalline voice overcame the poor technical qualities! The sound of this piece has remained with me and I am so very happy that I re-discovered it again You Tube. By the way the Dame Elsie Morrison (Australian singer of almost the same era as Dame Isobel) runs this one very close! Both sang with a purity of vocal line - no embellishments favoured y some later singers who think or thought they could improve on the Handelian original. No they can't!!

So so so true. Dame Isobel is 'sans pareil' I think nobody before or after this recording has captured the 'divine' rendering of this inspirational work.

TheDeepCSailor -Right on

Her singing is so perfect and pure, the diction so sincere that it caused me to catch my breath. Your description precisely captures my thoughts, too.

I absolutely agree with you, just wonderful! She was indeed a believer in Jesus Christ, hallelujah!

*_And the exquisite Kathleen Ferrier too ..._*

Yes! And notice also how clear, strong, and lovely her low tones are. So few young sopranos today have either, in this manner. . .the manner of the Old School.

best comment on here

Amen.

Wonderful

I find Emma Kirkby has a similar appeal because if the simple elegance of her voice. Just lets the sound flow out from her.

Aye!

Possible. And I only found this singer today (having known the song for so long)! Always new - old- gems to be found on the internet.

and nice loud volume - thank you.

Such a beautiful and expressive voice.

Si est bella

Johnnie M -for az long az we can tell :)

Not rushed. A lot of classical music played too quickly now imo mirroring the pace of life today.

I entirely agree. Performers these days turn everything into a jolly jig. Life is such fun!@@ianclarke1852

Nice comment. But Lulu wasn't bad either! lol.

Anthony Carraway -with such eaze

Me too

I agree, from the depth of my heart

Only mankind was given the opportunity to be redeemed !

Yes, Job 19/25. I consider Charles Jennens to be a master theologian. The verse seems rather obscure in the passage, & thanks to him (& Handel!) it is now set up on a pedestal where it belongs. Then of course Paul is not to be overlooked. I Cor 15/20. Job's Redeemer did indeed stand upon the earth.

Indeed!@@missasinenomine

These you have loved.

Your 100 best tunes.

So beautiful

Your heard that too. So did I. Magnificent.

Oh, glory! One day HE said stand!

So today lots of people have plenty of material possessions but not so many have true faith in God. One will take us safely through death, the other wont.

@@ianclarke1852 No words have been spoken so truthfully Mr. Clarke.

@@renerotermundt3212 Oh yes I did, Hallelujah!!!!

True. But I think, if they open their heart to it truly, they may find that faith.

@@MidnightIsolde let us hope and pray so

That's nonsense! A singer's religious beliefs have nothing to do with the timbre of their voices or their technical ability. Do you think that Catholics sing it better than Protestants or vice versa?

hereandnow like u said "let's not forget"

My mother, married just weeks before the war, saw my father volunteer for the airforce and for most of the next five years she did not know if he was still alive. My mother, and tens of thousands of other brave young women.

Shes singing about life after death in the middle of World War 2 shortly after the Blitz. The Nazis brought death. Jesus brings LIFE

Catherine Coates -yah mon

Exactly. It does not have the trills and turns which modern sopranos put in because they cannot maintain a simple line with superb legato. Handel does not require any additions!

I have just heard this and I can find no comparison she is beyond belief her voice I can hear in my soul xx

I remember listening on the wireless during the war years, I was born in 1935 and I have only just rediscovered this wonderful Lady. Thank you for this rendition.

just discovered this wonderful recording.. my Easter Sunday is now complete.

...o, yes, it`s - wonder....!) +2021+

She is as Scottish as could be, by birth, by looks, by mannerism but, writing as an Englishman, the UK was blessed to have her. She was a good friend of Ferrier by all accounts, although she seemed to have quite a different personality.

me too

Jim Reilly Uniquely beautiful voices will never fade into oblivion. Such a poignant wartime recording as this, when Britain was facing destruction, encouraged us to keep the faith.

frisco21 "Superb"

My father was taught by her. She sang at my parents' wedding. Every wedding of my parents include her. She bought them a bath mat and toilet mat as wedding presents.