Bach: Christmas Oratorio
Published:
COMPOSERS: Bach
LABELS: Teldec
WORKS: Christmas Oratorio
PERFORMER: Soloists; Windsbach Boys Choir, Munich Bach Soloists/Karl-Friedrich Beringer
CATALOGUE NO: 4509-91604-2 DDD
Bach’s cycle of six Christmastide Cantatas is here performed by an all-male choir and modern instruments: these days, an unusual combination. Many of the choruses are outstandingly successful: Beringer encourages lively articulation and good projection of the words. Chorales are generally rather slow, with an honest congregational feel. The solo singing is rather mixed: most ingratiating are soprano Juliane Banse and Markus Schäfer’s Evangelist. Spectacular trumpet playing throughout. Stephen Maddock