Bach - Christmas Oratorio / Bott, Chance, Agnew, King, George, New London Consort, Pickett

Johann Sebastian Bach (Artist), Catherine Bott (Artist), Michael Chance (Artist), Philip Pickett (Artist), New London Consort (Artist), Paul Agnew (Artist), Andrew King (Artist), Michael George (Artist), Helen Parker (Artist), Richard Ireland (Artist), Simon Grant (Artist), William Purefoy (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 10, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B00002R2T1
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #295,467 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio), in six parts, BWV 248 (BC D7): Part 1: 'Jauchzet, frohlocket, auf, preiset die Tage'

2. Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio), in six parts, BWV 248 (BC D7): Part 1: 'Es begab sich aber zu der Zeit'

3. Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio), in six parts, BWV 248 (BC D7): Part 1: 'Nun wird mein liebster Bräutigam'

4. Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio), in six parts, BWV 248 (BC D7): Part 1: 'Bereite dich, Zion'

5. Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio), in six parts, BWV 248 (BC D7): Part 1: 'Wie soll ich dich empfangen'

6. Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio), in six parts, BWV 248 (BC D7): Part 1: 'Und sie gebar ihren ersten Sohn'

7. Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio), in six parts, BWV 248 (BC D7): Part 1: 'Er ist auf Erden kommen arm'

8. Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio), in six parts, BWV 248 (BC D7): Part 1: 'Großer Herr, o starker König'

9. Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio), in six parts, BWV 248 (BC D7): Part 1: 'Ach mein herzliebes Jesulein'

10. Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio), in six parts, BWV 248 (BC D7): Part 2: Sinfonia

See all 36 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio), in six parts, BWV 248 (BC D7): Part 4: 'Fallt mit Danken, fallt mit Loben'

2. Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio), in six parts, BWV 248 (BC D7): Part 4: 'Und da acht Tage um waren'

3. Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio), in six parts, BWV 248 (BC D7): Part 4: 'Immanuel, o süßes Wort!'

4. Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio), in six parts, BWV 248 (BC D7): Part 4: 'Flößt, mein Heiland, flößt dein Namen'

5. Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio), in six parts, BWV 248 (BC D7): Part 4: 'Wohlan, dein Name soll allein'

6. Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio), in six parts, BWV 248 (BC D7): Part 4: 'Ich will nur dir zu Ehren leben'

7. Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio), in six parts, BWV 248 (BC D7): Part 4: 'Jesus richte mein Beginnen'

8. Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio), in six parts, BWV 248 (BC D7): Part 5: 'Ehre sei dir, Gott, gesungen'

9. Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio), in six parts, BWV 248 (BC D7): Part 5: 'Da Jesus geboren war zu Bethlehem'

10. Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio), in six parts, BWV 248 (BC D7): Part 5: 'Wo ist der neugeborne König der Jüden?'

See all 27 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a voice teacher and early music fan, February 24, 2007

By 

George Peabody "Ariel" (U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Bach - Christmas Oratorio / Bott, Chance, Agnew, King, George, New London Consort, Pickett (Audio CD)

PICKETT'S PREFERENCE; SOLOISTS SING AND SING AND SING! I LOVE IT!!!!!

Johann Sebastion Bach (1685-1750)wrote very little church music after 1730, so it is not surprising that when he produced for Christmas, 1734, an 'Oratorio' in six parts he adapted much of it from earlier compositions, mostly secular odes. Recitatives and chorale settings were of course new, but otherwise all but one of the arias and nearly all the choruses were 'parodies.'

The six cantatas of the 'Christmas Oratorio' are designed to be performed on separate days from Christmas Day to Epiphany, but it does not necessarily follow that they are unconnected. Bach must have composed the work continuously, and there are many, sometimes obvious, sometimes subtle, connections between the separate parts.

The 'Christmas' Oratorio was virtually the last of Bach's major contributions to the music of the church, later works being almost exclusively either parodies or revisions of cantatas written in former times.

Philip Pickett is convinced that small is beautiful where Bach's choral music is concerned. To quote him:"I'm prepared to accept that most of what Bach composed was written for very small forces....I decided to tread a middle ground and use two or three singers per part, with the soloists coming out of the 'choir'. And, to my mind, that's what makes this recording different, and in this way better than others of this work.

However,having said this, I must comment on the soloists , who for the most part do a fine job of performing, but I really thought that Andrew King did not project very well his solos. In fact, they seemed rather bland compared to those of the other soloists. Just my opinion, of course. With singers like: Catherine Bott(sop)-Michael Chance (countertenor) Paul Agnew (tenor) and Michael George(bass), one has to be in top form to be on their level. I don't know quite what the reasoning of Pickett was for doing this, but the recording is still very well executed, and I do like his somewhat slower tempi in certain portions of the work. Needless to say, the small chorus is nigh unto perfect, and I enjoyed hearing them very much.

I guess I still prefer the 1989 recording by Collegium Vocale under
the direction of Philippe Herreweghe, who also makes use of Chance with the additon of Barbara Schlick-Howard Crook and Peter Kooy. Gardiner & the Monteverdi Singers have also recorded this, so take your pick. It's nice to have so many good performances from which to choose. (The package includes a 54 page booklet with pertinent information and the complete German-English text.)

11 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Impressive, entertaining Masterpiece--Not just for Xmas., February 2, 2005

By 

Robert Allard (Quiogue, Long Island, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bach - Christmas Oratorio / Bott, Chance, Agnew, King, George, New London Consort, Pickett (Audio CD)

From beginning to end, this Oratorio is extremely well-played & consistently entertaining. It nevers flags or fails to impress.

If the guy did nothing else, this would be his masterpiece.

Often the excellence of the performers is awe-inspiring.
A bit expensive, but at over 70 minutes a disc, this is really a piece of work. It runs 2 hours, 27 minutes and I get caught up in listening each time I put it on. A+