Mike Logsdon:

>Greetings. Some time back, I obtained a 50s-era Columbia "Messiah"
>conducted by Sargent, with the standard Huddersfield/Liverpool scenario,
>and specifically with vocalists Morison, Thomas, Lewis, and Walker. Not
>long after I obtained a similar iteration, with identical details, except
>that Walker was replaced with Milligan.
>
>Both appear to be 50s-era, and both are Columbia. Why did Sargent do
>TWO "Messiah"s, with almost identical personnel, in such a close time
>period?

The later one was reviewed in Gramophone in December, 1959, but I can't
find mention of the earlier one.  The most likely explanation is that
the later version was a stereo remake.

Richard Pennycuick