The Old Testament: Selections from the Bible

Rating:
Summary: Excellent bible readings
Review: Given its origins in oral tradition, and the uniquely poetic cadences of the King James Translation, the Hebrew Old Testament is ideal for the spoken word recording format. This Naxos Audiobook does not disappoint. The commanding bass of Welsh actor Philip Madoc is nicely balanced by the Anton Lesser's sensitive tenor, while Michael Sheen and Josette Simon round out the cast with assured and resonant performances. There is no way to avoid the main criticism -- not nearly enough of the Old Testament is included, even at 6 tapes/CDs, and sometimes the readers don't put enough energy into the more familiar stories. But Sheen and Simon deliver a marvellously sensual reading of Song of Songs, and the full cast wrings every gorgeous drop of poetry out of the selected Psalms. One of the better Naxos audiobooks.