Our Review
Christmas Oratorio, Bach's cycle of seasonal cantatas, will be (by far) the most complex and formal work I comment on this season. In spite of its formality, the Boston Bach Ensemble lends the work a welcome and enjoyable accessibility. Performed before a live audience during November 1998, the Oratorio is an extremely ambitious choral and orchestral arrangement, based on length alone (it runs just under two-and-a-half hours). The Ensemble's ability to sustain the appropriate measure of intensity and energy over the entire cycle makes this a noteworthy recording.
I was impressed with the balance between the vocal and orchestral parts; human voices blended seamlessly with an assortment of strings and winds. The interplay between the soprano and oboe parts was particularly appealing. The (extraordinarily difficult) German passages were flawlessly performed and the diction was clear and on point.
The acoustics (the CD was recorded in the Marsh Chapel at Boston University) were up to the task of hosting this recording. In fact, it was only the applause at the end of the performance that gave away the non-studio location. Admittedly an unschooled listener, I was assisted in my appreciation of the piece by the comprehensive liner notes.
This is a strong performance by an accomplished team of musicians, suitable for play throughout the year.
--Richard Banks
(Reviewed in 2000)
No More
Boston Bach Ensemble
Weihnachts-Oratorium (Christmas Oratorio)
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Label: Titanic
Length: 148 minutes
Genre: Classical
Release: 2000
Track List
| Song Title |
|---|
| Chorus: Jauchzet, frohlocket |
| Recitative: Es begab sich aber (Evangelist) |
| Recitative: Num wird mein liebster Bräutigam (alto) |
| Aria: Bereite dich, Zion (alto) |
| Chorale: Wie soll ich dich empfangen |
| Recitative: Und sie gebar ihren ersten (Evangelist) |
| Chorale: Er ist auf erden kommen (sopranos)|Recitative: Wer will die Liebe recht erhöhn (bass) |
| Aria: Großer Herr, O starker König (bass) |
| Chorale: Ach, mein herzliebes Jesulein! |
| Sinfonia: (Hertenmusik) |
| Recitative: Unde es waren Hirten (Evangelist) |
| Chorale: Brich an, o schönes Morgenlicht |
| Recitative: Und der Engel sprach (Evangelist)|Recitative: Fürchtet euch nicht (Angel:soprano) |
| Recitative: Was Gott dem Abraham (bass) |
| Aria: Frohe Hirten, eilt, ach eilet (tenor) |
| Recitative: Und das habt zum Zeichen (Angel:soprano) |
| Chorale: Schaut hin! dort liegt in finsern Stall |
| Recitative: So geht denn hin (bass) |
| Aria: Schlafe, mein Leibster (alto) |
| Recitative: Und alsobald war (Evangelist) |
| Chorus: Ehre sei Gott in her Höhe |
| Recitative: So recht, ihr Engel (bass) |
| Chorale: Wir singen dir in deinem Heer |
| Chorus: Herrscher des Himmels |
| Recitative Und da die Engel (Evangelist) |
| Chorus: Lasset uns nun gehen |
| Recitative: Er hat sein Volk (bass) |
| Chorus: Dies hat er alles uns getan |
| Duet: Herr, dein Mitleid (soprano, bass) |