Bach: Weihnachts-Oratorium (Christmas Oratorio) [Import]

René Jacobs (Artist), Dorothea Röschmann (Artist), Andreas Scholl (Artist), Werner Güra (Artist), Klaus Häger (Artist), RIAS-Kammerchor (Artist), Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin (Artist), Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
• Audio CD (November 11, 1997)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
• ASIN: B0000007BM
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #347,006 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. First Part-For The First Day Of Christmas: Jauchzet, frohlocket, auf, preiset die Tage - RIAS Kammerchor/Rene Jacobs

2. First Part-For The First Day Of Christmas: Es begab sich aber zu der Zeit - Werner Gura

3. First Part-For The First Day Of Christmas: Nun mird mein liebster Brautigam - Andreas Scholl

4. First Part-For The First Day Of Christmas: Bereite dich, Zion, mit zartlichen Trieben - Andreas Scholl

5. First Part-For The First Day Of Christmas: Wie soll ich dich empfangen - RIAS Kammerchor/Rene Jacobs

6. First Part-For The First Day Of Christmas: Und sie gebar ihren ersten Sohn - Werner Gura

7. First Part-For The First Day Of Christmas: Er ist auf Erden kommen arm/Wer will die Liebe recht... - Klaus Hager

8. First Part-For The First Day Of Christmas: Großer Herr und starker Konig - Klaus Hager

9. First Part-For The First Day Of Christmas: Ach mein Herzliebes Jesulein - RIAS Kammerchor/Rene Jacobs

10. Second Part-For The Second Day Of Christmas: Sinfonia - Dorothea Roschmann/Andreas Scholl/Werner Gura/Klaus Hager

See all 33 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Third Part-For The Third Day Of Christmas: Und die Hirten kehrten wieder um Seid froh - Werner Gura

2. Third Part-For The Third Day Of Christmas: Seid froh - RIAS Kammerchor/Rene Jacobs

3. Third Part-For The Third Day Of Christmas: Herrscher des Himmels, erhore das Lallen - RIAS Kammerchor/Rene Jacobs

4. Fourth Part-For The Feast Of The Circumcision Of Christ: Fallt mit Danken, fallt mit Loben - RIAS Kammerchor/Rene Jacobs

5. Fourth Part-For The Feast Of The Circumcision Of Christ: Und da acht Tage um waren - Werner Gura

6. Fourth Part-For The Feast Of The Circumcision Of Christ: Immanuel, o sußes Wort!/Jesu, du mein... - RIAS Kammerchor/Rene Jacobs/Dorothea Roschmann

7. Fourth Part-For The Feast Of The Circumcision Of Christ: Floßt, mein Heiland, floßt dein Namen - Dorothea Roschmann

8. Fourth Part-For The Feast Of The Circumcision Of Christ: Wohlan, dein Name soll allein/Jesu, meine.. - Klaus Hager/Dorothea Roschmann

9. Fourth Part-For The Feast Of The Circumcision Of Christ: Ich will nur dir zu Ehren leben - Dorothea Roschmann/Andreas Scholl/Werner Gura/Klaus Hager

10. Fourth Part-For The Feast Of The Circumcision Of Christ: Jesus richte mein Beginnen - RIAS Kammerchor/Rene Jacobs

See all 32 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fine performance, January 5, 2000

By 

"hcf" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bach: Weihnachts-Oratorium (Christmas Oratorio) (Audio CD)

Even though Christmas Oratorio is about 70% recycled, I really like it. In the process of creating this work, Bach freely borrowed from three previously written cantatas (BWV 213-215), but his genius succeeded in transforming these discrete secular works into an interlinked whole, quite suitable for religious content. Despite the adaptation, the music fits so well that those who didn't know of its genesis would have never guessed. For example, under Bach's magic wand, the same music that had served the allegorical figure Sensuality in BWV 213 became the newborn Christ's lullaby "Schlafe, mein Liebster!" Even though Bach reused many of the arias, he newly composed most of the chorales and recitatives, as well as the Pastoral Symphony which opens Part II. Christmas Oratorio has little in common with other oratorios of the time: it is actually a series of self-contained cantatas, linked together mainly by the Evangelist. The narrative feature makes Christmas Oratorio similar to a "historia" or a "passion." The role of the narrator is very important (although small). I'm not sure Gura is entirely at home in this role, but Jacobs likes him, and I don't much mind. If I could put together my own Christmas Oratorio, I would pick the tenor from the Christophers (Padmore), the alto from here (well, Scholl, obviously), the bass from the Herreweghe (Kooy), and the soprano... hmm... turns out I don't really have a soprano preference. Dorothea Roschmann will do. All in all, this is a very strong release.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Bach Christmas Music, December 26, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Bach: Weihnachts-Oratorium (Christmas Oratorio) (Audio CD)

This is my favorite of the baroque-instruments versions. The vocal soloists are excellent, especially the tenor with the evangelist parts. The baroque instruments are good to hear; the oboes in particular sound more wonderful than their modern counterparts. The choral singing is superb. Jacobs favors some pretty fast tempos, and the whole work is very lively and Christmassy. Excellent recorded sound.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A marvelous Christmas present, October 27, 1999

By 

J. Luis Juarez Echenique "pepechenique" (Mexico City) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bach: Weihnachts-Oratorium (Christmas Oratorio) (Audio CD)

Rene Jacobs and the excellent Akademie fur Alte Musik, Berlin give us a joyful, very musical Christmas Oratorio. The soloists are remarkable, with the ravishing soprano Dorothea Roschmann, singing the most exquisite "echo" aria in the Fourth Cantata. Countertenor Andreas Scholl is equally good. The sound and presentation are in Harmonia Mundi's usual high standards. This is a much better recording than the also recent Philipp Pickett in DECCA.