a comparably expansive musical canvas. Conceived as a complete work sub-divided into six separate cantatas, each intended for use on a different one of the 12 days of Christmas in the churches of Leipzig, the complete performance is available as a three-disc set, while this collection contains 71 minutes of highlights. Further complicating matters, Bach reused material from existing secular works, nevertheless creating a new and seamless whole. Happily the release comes with useful notes outlining the origin of the work, together with full texts in German and English. Choosing these selections must have been an unenviable task; all six cantatas are represented, with chorales and arias evenly balanced throughout the programme. Soprano Ingrid Kertesi's aria from Part 4, which utilises a natural echo, is particularly beautiful, while throughout the performances and recorded sound are excellent. Substantially the same forces have also recorded Bach'sSt. Mathew Passion, given the highest rating by the Penguin Guide, as well as several programmes of Bach's cantatas. Not just for Christmas, whatever the season, this is wonderfully uplifting music.--Gary S. Dalkin
on a comparably expansive musical canvas. Conceived as a complete work sub-divided into six separate cantatas, each intended for use on a different one of the 12 days of Christmas in the churches of Leipzig, the complete performance is available as a three-disc set, while this collection contains 71 minutes of highlights. Further complicating matters, Bach reused material from existing secular works, nevertheless creating a new and seamless whole. Happily the release comes with useful notes outlining the origin of the work, together with full texts in German and English. Choosing these selections must have been an unenviable task; all six cantatas are represented, with chorales and arias evenly balanced throughout the programme. Soprano Ingrid Kertesi's aria from Part 4, which utilises a natural echo, is particularly beautiful, while throughout the performances and recorded sound are excellent. Substantially the same forces have also recorded Bach's St. Mathew Passion, given the highest rating by the Penguin Guide, as well as several programmes of Bach's cantatas. Not just for Christmas, whatever the season, this is wonderfully uplifting music. --Gary S. Dalkin
Label / Distributor: Double Decca / Universal Manufacturing and Logistics
Pieces in Set: 2
Running Time: 3 hours 39 minutes
Genre(s): Vocal and choral
Producer: Ray Minshull
SPAR Code: ADD
EAN: 28945541020
Catalogue Number: 455
Work 1
Work Title: Christmas Oratorio, BWV248
Excerpt(s): 1. CANTATA 1 - Jauchzet, frohlocket! 2. Es begab sich aber zu der Zeit 3. Nun wird mein liebster Bräutigam 4. Bereite dich, Zion 5. Wie soll ich dich empfangen 6. Und sie gebar ihren ersten Sohn 7. Er ist auf Erden kommen arm 8. Grosser Herr und starker König 9. Ach mein herzliebes Jesulein! 10. CANTATA 2 - Sinfonia 11. Und es waren Hirten 12. Brich an, o schönes Morgenlicht 13. Und der Engel sprach 14. Was Gott dem Abraham verheissen 15. Frohe Hirten, eilt 16. Und das habt zum Zeichen 17. Schaut hin! 18. Sp geht denn hin! 19. Schlafe, mein Liebster 20. Und alsobald war da bei dem Engel 21. Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe 22. So recht, ihr Engel 23. Wir singen dir in deinem Heer 24. CANTATA 3 - Herrscher des Himmels 25. Und da die Engel von ihnen gen Himmel 26. Lasset uns nun gehen gen Bethlehem 27. Er hat sein Volk getröst't 28. Dies hat er alles uns getan 29. Herr, dein Mitleid, dein Erbarmen 30. Und sie kamen eilend 31. Schliesse, mein Herze 32. Ja, ja, mein Herz soll es bewahren 33. Ich will dich mit Fleiss bewahren 34. Und die Hirten 35. Seid froh dieweil 36. CANTATA 4 - Fallt mit Danken 37. Und da acht Tage 38. Immanuel, o süsses Wort! 39. Flösst, mein Heiland 40. Wohlan! Dein Name soll allein 41. Ich will nur dir zu Ehren leben 42. Jesus richte mein Beginnen 43. CANTATA 5 - Ehre sei dir, Gott, gesungen 44. Da Jesus geboren 45. Wo ist der neugeborene König der Jüden? 46. Dein Glanz all' Finsternis verzehrt 47. Erleucht' auch meine finstre Sinnen 48. Da das der König Herodes 49. Warum wollt ihr erschrecken? 50. Und liess versammeln alle Hohenpriester 51. Ach! Wann wird die Zeit erscheinen? 52. Mein Liebster herrschet schon 53. Zwar ist solche Herzensstube 54. CANTATA 6 - Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde 55. Da berief Herodes 56. Du Falsche, suche nur den Herrn zu fällen 57. Nur ein Wink 58. Als sie nun den König 59. Ich steh an deiner Krippen hier 60. Und Gott befahl ihnen im Traum 61. So geht! genug, mein Schatz 62. Nun mögt ihr stolzen Feinde 63. Was will der Höllen Schrecken nun 64. Nun seid ihr wohl gerochen.
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750)
Genre: Vocal & Choral
Date Written: 1734
Date Recorded: 1966
Conductor: Karl Münchinger
Orchestra / Ensemble: Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra
Orchestra / Ensemble: Lübeck Kantorei Choir
Main Performer: Elly Ameling (Soprano), Helen Watts (Contralto (Female alto)), Sir Peter Pears (Tenor), Tom Krause (Baritone)
Opera Part(s): Elly Ameling, Helen Watts, Sir Peter Pears, Tom Krause
Advantages: Awe inspiring memorable music. Disadvantages: Long - 2 hrs 20 mins
.... He triumphed, not only over the Jews and Gentiles who cruelly crucified Him but over the power of death itself.
The most famous piece in the Oratorio is the Hallelujah Chorus. The chorus is triumphal repeating the single word Hallelujah four times before the words"for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth" are added in a counterpoint against the continued Hallelujahs.
There are 53 tracks in all, too many to list individually. The Oratario opens with a Sinfony and consists of a mix of airs, accompagnatos, choruses, recitatives singing lines from Issiah, Haggai, Malachi, Matthew, Luke, Zachariah, John, Psalms, Lamentations, Hebrews, Romans, Corinthiansand Revelations.
The cover contains a painting of the Birth of the Messiah (I do not know the artist, sorry).
It is popular to perform the work both at Christmas and Easter. Handel's original...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Rich, creamy vocal; enveloping warmth; text, character alive; facile Baroque ornamentation; impeccable diction; fine Symphony. Disadvantages: Only over an hour of music here; wanted more!
...at the Glyndebourne Festival Opera.
WHENCE CAME THE ARIAS, SINFONIAS, AND THE DIVINE MS SARAH ?
The airs and sinfonias are drawn from the epic operas, ‘Alcina’ and ‘Ariodante’, the sacred oratorio, ‘Solomon’ and the secular oratorio, ‘Hercules’. Eight of the thirteen tracks comprise arias that showcase the singer’s skill and art; the rest are Sinfonias that kind of introduce the respective arias, and are performed by the Symphony of Harmony and Invention under the direction of Harry Christophers. It’s of interest to note that Ms Connolly was originally in Mr Christophers’s well-known vocal group, The Sixteen, and left it sometime in the mid-Nineties to start a solo singing career. Well, we’re all the richer for it, and I’m sure the decision got enthusiastic support from Mr Christophers himself. (Were they known as ‘The Fifteen’ then, after her...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Great piano playing of a great Bach composition. Disadvantages: None
...One of Gould's final recordings, this is probably the definitive piano version of Bach's keyboard masterpiece. Gould runs the theme & thirty variations as a unified whole. His playing is characterised by clear fast passages, crisp ornaments and controlled, intense playing of the slow variations (nos.15 & 26). Even his humming along to the music does not detract from a joyous performance. The final section from variation 27 to the slow return to the theme is pianism at its most uplifting.
The piano sound is clear without being dry & compares favourably with most up to date piano recordings. This is a disc to convert anyone to Bach & indeed to Gould's pianistic genius....
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helpful 25.09.2000
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