By Steve Smith [NY Times, 18 December 2008]

Historically informed performance practice in Baroque music is not the first thing that comes to mind when you think about the New York Philharmonic. But with each presentation of Handel’s “Messiah” since the orchestra began to plant the work among its December activities a few years ago has come a greater ease and authority in the lean, lithe style familiar from performances and recordings by period-instrument ensembles and groups influenced by them.