Bach, J S: Christmas Oratorio, BWV248

Listen on Presto Music. Free thirty day trial. Find out more.

Energetic director Helmut Rilling is more fired up than ever here. The choruses crackle with thrilling fervour and a blistering attack and shine to notes which, alongside a forthright Gächinger... — Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 More…

Catalogue No: 92076
Label: Hänssler
Series: Edition Bachakademie
Length: 2 hours 24 minutes

This item is currently out of stock at the UK distributor. You may order it now but please be aware that it may be six weeks or more before it can be despatched.

Early Music - up to 35% off selected titles

Special offer ends: 04/06/2024

Bach, J S: Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248, Pt. 1

Work length2:24:21

$69.00

$89.65

Marcus Ullmann (tenor), Ingeborg Danz (alto), Sibylla Rubens (soprano), Hanno Müller-Brachmann (bass-baritone), James Taylor (tenor)
Gächinger Kantorei, Bach-Collegium Stuttgart
Helmuth Rilling

Jauchzet, frohlocket, auf preiset die Tage (Chorus)

Track length7:24

$2.00

$2.60

Es begab sich aber zu der Zeit (Tenor)

Track length1:23

$1.00

$1.30

Recitative: Nun wird mein liebster Brautigam (Alto)

Track length1:02

$1.00

$1.30

Aria: Bereite dich, Zion, mit herrlichen Trieben (Alto)

Track length5:14

$1.00

$1.30

Chorale: Wie soll ich dich empfangen (Chorus)

Track length1:17

$1.00

$1.30

Und sie gebar ihren ersten Sohn (Tenor)

Track length0:29

$1.00

$1.30

Chorale and Recitative: Er ist auf Erden kommen arm (Soprano, Bass)

Track length2:57

$1.00

$1.30

Aria: Grosser Herr, o starker Konig (Bass)

Track length4:27

$1.00

$1.30

Chorale: Ach, mein herzliebes Jesulein (Chorus)

Track length1:19

$1.00

$1.30

Sinfonia

Track length5:17

$1.00

$1.30

Und es waren Hirten in derselben Gegend (Tenor)

Track length0:38

$1.00

$1.30

Chorale: Brich an, o schones Morgenlicht (Chorus)

Track length1:04

$1.00

$1.30

Recitative: Und der Engel sprach zu ihnen (Tenor, Soprano)

Track length0:45

$1.00

$1.30

Recitative: Was Gott dem Abraham verheissen (Bass)

Track length0:47

$1.00

$1.30

Aria: Frohe Hirten, eilt, ach eilet (Tenor)

Track length3:21

$1.00

$1.30

Und das habt zum Zeichen (Tenor)

Track length0:24

$1.00

$1.30

Chorale: Schaut hin, dort liegt im finstern Stall (Chorus)

Track length0:40

$1.00

$1.30

Recitative: So geht denn hin, ihr Hirten, geht (Bass)

Track length1:02

$1.00

$1.30

Aria: Schalfe, mein Liebster, geniesser der Ruh (Alto)

Track length10:01

$3.00

$3.85

Und alsobald war da (Tenor)

Track length0:11

$1.00

$1.30

Ehre sei Gott in der Hohe (Chorus)

Track length2:35

$1.00

$1.30

Recitative: So recht, ihr Engel, jauchzt und singet (Bass)

Track length0:22

$1.00

$1.30

Chorale: Wir singen dir in deinem Heer (Chorus)

Track length1:11

$1.00

$1.30

Herrscher des Himmels, erhore das Lallen (Chorus)

Track length1:49

$1.00

$1.30

Und da die Engel von ihnen gen Himmel fuhren (Tenor)

Track length0:08

$1.00

$1.30

Lasset uns nun gehen gen Bethlehem (Chorus)

Track length0:41

$1.00

$1.30

Recitative: Er hat sein Volk getrost' (Bass)

Track length0:45

$1.00

$1.30

Chorale: Dies hat er alles uns getan (Chorus)

Track length0:46

$1.00

$1.30

Aria Duet: Herr, dein Mitleid, dein Erbarmen (Soprano, Bass)

Track length7:02

$2.00

$2.60

Und sie kamen eilend (Tenor)

Track length1:24

$1.00

$1.30

Aria: Schliesse, mein Herze, dies selige Wunder (Alto)

Track length5:51

$1.00

$1.30

Recitative: Ja, ja, mein Herz soll es bewahren (Alto)

Track length0:27

$1.00

$1.30

Chorale: Ich will dich mit Fleiss bewahren (Chorus)

Track length1:10

$1.00

$1.30

Und die Hirten kehrten wieder um (Tenor)

Track length0:22

$1.00

$1.30

Chorale: Seid froh dieweil (Chorus)

Track length0:52

$1.00

$1.30

Herrscher des Himmels, erhore das Lallen (Chorus)

Track length1:57

$1.00

$1.30

Fallt mit Danken, fallt mit Loben (Chorus)

Track length5:43

$1.00

$1.30

Und da acht Tage um waren (Tenor)

Track length0:32

$1.00

$1.30

Recitative with Chorale: Immanuel, o susser Wort (Bass, Soprano)

Track length2:41

$1.00

$1.30

Aria: Flosst, mein Heiland, flosst dein Namen (Soprano)

Track length5:11

$1.00

$1.30

Recitative with Chorale: Wohlan, dein Name soll allein (Bass, Soprano)

Track length1:35

$1.00

$1.30

Aria: Ich will nur dir zu Ehren leben (Tenor)

Track length4:39

$1.00

$1.30

Chorale: Jesus, richte mein Beginnen (Chorus)

Track length2:01

$1.00

$1.30

Ehre sei dir, Gott, gesungen (Chorus)

Track length6:50

$1.00

$1.30

Da Jesus geboren war zu Bethlehem (Tenor)

Track length0:20

$1.00

$1.30

Recitative: Wo ist der neugeborne Konig der Juden (Chorus, Alto)

Track length2:06

$1.00

$1.30

Chorale: Dein Glanz all Finsternis verzehrt (Chorus)

Track length0:54

$1.00

$1.30

Aria: Erleucht auch meine finstre Sinnen (Bass)

Track length4:24

$1.00

$1.30

Da das der Konig Herodes horte (Tenor)

Track length0:09

$1.00

$1.30

Recitative: Warum wollt ihr erschrecken (Alto)

Track length0:35

$1.00

$1.30

Und liess versammlen alle Hohepriester (Tenor)

Track length1:23

$1.00

$1.30

Aria Terzetto: Ach, wenn wird die Zeit erscheinen (Soprano, Tenor, Alto)

Track length4:41

$1.00

$1.30

Recitative: Mein Liebster herrschet schon (Alto)

Track length0:33

$1.00

$1.30

Chorale: Zwar ist solche Herzensstube (Chorus)

Track length1:21

$1.00

$1.30

Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde schnauben (Chorus)

Track length4:46

$1.00

$1.30

Recitative: Da berief Herodes die Weisen heimlich (Tenor, Bass)

Track length0:41

$1.00

$1.30

Recitative: Du Falscher, suche nur den Herrn zu fallen (Soprano)

Track length0:46

$1.00

$1.30

Aria: Nur ein Wink von seinen Handen (Soprano)

Track length3:17

$1.00

$1.30

Als sie nun den Konig gehoret hatten (Tenor)

Track length1:10

$1.00

$1.30

Chorale: Ich steh an deiner Krippen hier (Chorus)

Track length1:13

$1.00

$1.30

Und Gott befahl ihnen im Traum (Tenor)

Track length0:24

$1.00

$1.30

Recitative: So geht! Genug, mein Schatz (Tenor)

Track length1:57

$1.00

$1.30

Aria: Nun mogt ihr stolzen Feinde schrecken (Tenor)

Track length3:50

$1.00

$1.30

Recitative: Was will der Hollen Schrecken nun (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass)

Track length0:37

$1.00

$1.30

Nun seid ihr wohl gerochen (Chorus)

Track length2:58

$1.00

$1.30

Reviews
Explore

Reviews

2010

Energetic director Helmut Rilling is more fired up than ever here. The choruses crackle with thrilling fervour and a blistering attack and shine to notes which, alongside a forthright Gächinger Kantorei, carry the day persuasively on modern instruments. There will always be those for whom Rilling represents an inflexibility of phrasing and unyielding articulation in Bach, paradoxically more reminiscent of the least alluring elements of period performance than the 'ebb and flow' of mainstream consciousness.
This recording doubtless reinforces the odd prejudice, though the habitually hardedged orchestral textures of the Bach Collegium Stuttgart seem more mollifying and warm hearted in movements such as the pastoral Sinfonia at the beginning of Part 2 and the divinely inspired 'Schlafe, mein Liebster' later in the same cantata (it must be said now, flawed by a tiresomely repeated pull-up before the second phrase).
James Taylor is a natural Evangelist: articulate, discriminating, exacting if not emotionally candid. He also retains focus throughout the events of each tableau and gives clearly etched readings. Yet much of the credit must also go to the outstanding solo singing. Sibylla Rubens and Hanno Müller-Brachmann are stunning in the pivotal duet of Part 3, 'Herr, dein Mitleid', and Ingeborg Danz sings with exquisite and gentle poise in the scene-setting 'Bereite dich, Zion'. If her 'Schlafe' is a touch disappointing, then that reflects the weight of expectation which surrounds this central aria. If you prefer a mezzo to a countertenor, then only Anne Sofie von Otter for Gardiner or Christa Ludwig for Richter can better her largely satisfying contribution. Müller-Brachmann is a fine bass soloist in 'Grosser Herr' and as movingly inti- mate as Michael George for Philip Pickett in the recitative with chorale, 'Immanuel, O süsses Wort'. Rubens is on really terrific form throughout, and her 'Nur in Wink' in Part 6 is a model of outstanding Bach singing.
There's a spiritual containment which serves its purpose here – there's absolutely no sentimental guff – and yet it perhaps trespasses into the clinical too readily. Rilling, as ever, raises hopes and only intermittently fulfils them, but this is still a distinguished reading.

Offer,Bach, J S: Christmas Oratorio, BWV248

3 CDs

Downloads

Contents

Download queue