Beethoven: Christus am Ölberge, Op. 85

Ludwig van Beethoven (Composer), Christoph Spering (Conductor), New Berlin Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra), Simone Kermes (Performer), Steve Davislim (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Simone Kermes, Steve Davislim
• Orchestra: New Berlin Chamber Orchestra
• Conductor: Christoph Spering
• Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
• Audio CD (May 9, 2000)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Opus 111
• ASIN: B00004T6Y1
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #631,922 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. No. 1. Intro - Chor Musicus Das Neue Orch/Christoph Spering

2. No. 1. Recitativo: Jehova, Du Mein Vater - Steve Davislim

3. No. 1. Aria Allegro: Meine Seele Ist Erschuttert - Steve Davislim

4. No. 2. Recitativo Allegro: Erzittre Erde! - Simone Kermes

5. No. 2. Aria Larghetto: Preiset Des Erlosers Gute - Simone Kermes

6. No. 2. Aria Allegro: O Heil Euch, Ihr Erlosten - Simone Kermes

7. No. 2. Allegro: Heil Euch, Ihr Erlosten - Chor Musicus Das Neue Orch/Christoph Spering

8. No. 3. Recitativo: Verkundet, Seraph, Mir Dien Mund - Steve Davislim

9. No. 3. Adagio Molto: Ruhe Denn Mit Ganzer Schwere - Steve Davislim/Simone Kermes

10. No. 4. Recitativo Andante Con Molto - Steve Davislim

11. No. 4. Alla Marcia: Wir Haben Ihn Gesehen - Chor Musicus Das Neue Orch/Christoph Spering

12. No. 5. Recitativo L'istesso Tempo Della Marcia: Die Mich Zu Fangen Ausgezogen Sind - Steve Davislim

13. No. 5. Tempo Della Marcia, Allegro Molto: Hier Ist Er - Chor Musicus Das Neue Orch/Christoph Spering

14. No. 6. Recitativo Molto Allegro: Nicht Ungestraft - Eike Wilm Schulte/Steve Davislim

15. No. 6. Allegro Ma Non Troppo: In Meinen Adern Wuhlen - Eike Wilm Schulte/Steve Davislim/Simone Kermes

16. No. 6. Molto Allegro: Auf!, Auf! Ergreifet Den Verrater - Chor Musicus Das Neue Orch/Christoph Spering

17. No. 6. Maestoso: Welten Singen - Chor Musicus Das Neue Orch/Christoph Spering

18. No. 6. Allegro: Preiset Ihn, Ihr Engelschore - Chor Musicus Das Neue Orch/Christoph Spering

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Beethoven composed his one and only oratorio Christus am Ölberge (Christ on the Mount of Olives) at the age of 33. A year earlier, in despair at his growing deafness, he had written the morbid Heiligenstadt Testament, in which he announces himself ready for death whenever it should come. This is largely the story of the oratorio: Jesus, agonizing over his prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane (on the Mount of Olives), submits himself to God's will. Soldiers arrive. Christ goes quietly. The oratorio features three soloists (Christ, an Angel, and Peter) and choruses of angels, soldiers, and disciples. The unbiblical German text is by Franz Xaver Huber. Tenor Steve Davislim's Christ is rather colorless--he does not appear to have been sweating all night. Soprano Simone Kermes's Angel sounds fragile but soars effortlessly to a top E in the tuneful aria "Preist des Erloesers Guete." Bass Eike Wilm Schulte's Peter is rudely gruff in his readiness to take on the soldiers on Jesus' behalf. Christoph Spering Christoph Spering conducts Das Neue Orchester with some snap, and the Chorus Musicus drives through its two fugues with evident enthusiasm. In the alla marcia, the soldiers' chorus has faintly comic charm, not unlike Gilbert and Sullivan's police in the Pirates of Penzance. --Rick Jones

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent period recording, July 7, 2003

By 

Matthew (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beethoven: Christus am Ölberge, Op. 85 (Audio CD)

Up until I purchased this CD I had never heard of Christoph Spering. He is now on my list of favored conductors, especially because of the fact that he controls an excellent period orchestra. Christ on the Mount of Olives is a rare work to come buy and I was excited when I found one. I jumped for joy after seeing that the oratorio was performed on period instruments. The singers are excellent and express the music the way I love it and Spering has excellent interpretation of Beethoven. This is an excellent recording to buy if you really want to appreciate the genius of Beethoven's oratorio.