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Bach, J S: Christmas Oratorio, BWV248

Mary Bevan (soprano), Clare Wilkinson (alto), Nicholas Mulroy (tenor), Matthew Brook (bass) - Cantatas 1, 3, 6), Joanne Lunn (soprano), Ciara Hendrick (mezzo), Thomas Hobbs (tenor), Konstantin Wolff (bass) - Cantatas 2, 4, 5.

Dunedin Consort, John Butt

Bach, J S: Christmas Oratorio, BWV248

Awards:

It has the same sense of freshness as previous releases…[with] a pleasing transparency of texture, and nimbly sprung rhythms under John Butt’s scholarly direction

BBC Music Magazine, Christmas 20164 out of 5 stars

More reviews

Bach, J S: Christmas Oratorio, BWV248

Mary Bevan (soprano), Clare Wilkinson (alto), Nicholas Mulroy (tenor), Matthew Brook (bass) - Cantatas 1, 3, 6), Joanne Lunn (soprano), Ciara Hendrick (mezzo), Thomas Hobbs (tenor), Konstantin Wolff (bass) - Cantatas 2, 4, 5.

Dunedin Consort, John Butt

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Awards:

It has the same sense of freshness as previous releases…[with] a pleasing transparency of texture, and nimbly sprung rhythms under John Butt’s scholarly direction

BBC Music Magazine, Christmas 20164 out of 5 stars

More reviews

About

The Dunedin Consort has established a reputation as one of the finest period performance choirs around, under the direction of prize-winning historical performance specialist John Butt OBE.

The multi-award-winning Dunedin Consort has won praise for the natural style of its soloists and renown for the virtuosity of its singers. In addition to a GRAMMY nomination, Dunedin Consort has won two Gramophone Awards: the 2007 ‘Baroque Vocal’ Award for Handel’s Messiah and the 2014 ‘Choral’ Award for Mozart’s Requiem.

Further accolades include: Esther was voted one of the ‘Top 10 Classical Albums of 2012’ by The Times, Gramophone included Dunedin Consort in its ‘Twenty Greatest Choirs’ list and three of its recordings have been named a ‘Building A Library: First Choice’ by BBC Radio 3’s ‘Record Review’.

  • Release date: 21st Oct 2016
  • Label: Linn
  • Catalogue number: CKD499
  • Length: 2 hours 21 minutes
  • Genre:

Contents and tracklist

Bach, J S: Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248, Cantata No. 1
Work length25:25
I. Chorus "Jauchzet, frohlocket, auf, preiset die Tage"
Track length7:50
II. Evangelist "Es begab sich aber zu der Zeit"
Track length1:25
III. Recit "Nun wird mein liebster Bräutigam"
Track length0:59
IV. Aria "Bereite dich, Zion, mit zärtlichen Trieben"
Track length5:05
V. Chorale. "Wie soll ich dich empfangen"
Track length1:10
VI. Evangelist. "Und sie gebar ihren ersten Sohn"
Track length0:26
VII. Chorale and Recit. "Er ist auf Erden kommen arm – Wer will die Liebe recht erhöhn"
Track length2:48
VIII. Aria. "Großer Herr, o starker König"
Track length4:24
IX. Chorale. "Ach mein herzliebes Jesulein"
Track length1:18
Bach, J S: Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248, Cantata No. 2
Work length26:51
I. Sinfonia
Track length4:56
II. Evangelist. "Und es waren Hirten in derselben Gegend"
Track length0:39
III. Chorale. "Brich an, o schönes Morgenlicht"
Track length1:07
IV. Evangelist and Angel. "Und der Engel sprach zu ihnen – Fürchtet euch nicht"
Track length0:45
V. Recit. "Was Gott dem Abraham verheißen"
Track length0:40
VI. Aria. "Frohe Hirten, eilt, ach eilet"
Track length3:20
VII. Evangelist. "Und das habt zum Zeichen"
Track length0:19
VIII. Chorale. "Schaut hin, dort liegt im finstern Stall"
Track length0:37
IX. Recit. "So geht denn hin, ihr Hirten, geht"
Track length0:52
X. Aria. "Schlafe, mein Liebster, genieße der Ruh"
Track length9:00
XI. Evangelist. "Und alsobald war da bei dem Engel"
Track length0:11
XII. Chorus of Angels. "Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe"
Track length2:40
XIII. Recit. "So recht, ihr Engel, jauchzt und singet"
Track length0:22
XIV. Chorale. "Wir singen dir in deinem Heer"
Track length1:23
Bach, J S: Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248, Cantata No. 3
Work length22:42
I. Chorus. "Herrscher des Himmels, erhöre das Lallen"
Track length1:55
II. Evangelist. "Und da die Engel von ihnen gen Himmel fuhren"
Track length0:08
III. Chorus of Shepherds. "Lasset uns nun gehen gen Bethlehem"
Track length0:44
IV. Recit. "Er hat sein Volk getröst’"
Track length0:40
V. Chorale. "Dies hat er alles uns getan"
Track length0:45
VI. Aria. "Herr, dein Mitleid, dein Erbarmen"
Track length7:31
VII. Evangelist. "Und sie kamen eilend"
Track length1:17
VIII. Aria. "Schließe, mein Herze, dies selige Wunder"
Track length5:16
IX. Recit. "Ja, ja, mein Herz soll es bewahren"
Track length0:28
X. Chorale. "Ich will dich mit Fleiß bewahren"
Track length0:52
XI. Evangelist. "Und die Hirten kehrten wieder um"
Track length0:20
XII. Chorale. "Seid froh dieweil"
Track length0:44
XIII. Chorus da capo. "Herrscher des Himmels, erhöre das Lallen"
Track length2:02
Bach, J S: Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248, Cantata No. 4
Work length21:29
I. Chorus. "Fallt mit Danken, fallt mit Loben"
Track length5:39
II. Evangelist. "Und da acht Tage um waren"
Track length0:31
III. Recit and Chorale. "Immanuel, o süßes Wort! – Jesu, du mein liebstes Leben"
Track length2:31
IV. Aria. "Flößt, mein Heiland, flößt dein Namen"
Track length4:55
V. Recit and Chorale. "Wohlan, dein Name soll allein – Jesu, meine Freud und Wonne"
Track length1:32
VI. Aria. "Ich will nur dir zu Ehren leben"
Track length4:26
VII. Chorale. "Jesus richte mein Beginnen"
Track length1:55
Bach, J S: Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248, Cantata No. 5
Work length22:09
I. Chorus. "Ehre sei dir, Gott, gesungen"
Track length6:25
II. Evangelist. "Da Jesus geboren war zu Bethlehem"
Track length0:22
III. Chorus of Wise Men and Recit. "Wo ist der neugeborne König? – Sucht ihn in meiner Brust"
Track length1:48
IV. Chorale. "Dein Glanz all Finsternis verzehrt"
Track length0:47
V. Aria. "Erleucht auch meine finstre Sinnen"
Track length4:00
VI. Evangelist. "Da das der König Herodes hörte"
Track length0:11
VII. Recit. "Warum wollt ihr erschrecken?"
Track length0:32
VIII. Evangelist. "Und ließ versammlen alle Hohepriester"
Track length1:20
IX. Aria. "Ach, wenn wird die Zeit erscheinen?"
Track length5:17
X. Recit. "Mein Liebster herrschet schon"
Track length0:29
XI. Chorale. "Zwar ist solche Herzensstube"
Track length0:58
Bach, J S: Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248, Cantata No. 6
Work length22:46
I. Chorus. "Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde schnauben"
Track length4:47
II. Evangelist and Herod. "Da berief Herodes – Ziehet hin und forschet fleißig"
Track length0:44
III. Recit. "Du Falscher, suche nur den Herrn zu fällen"
Track length1:00
IV. Aria. "Nur ein Wink von seinen Händen"
Track length3:40
V. Evangelist. "Als sie nun den König gehöret hatten"
Track length1:18
VI. Chorale. "Ich steh an deiner Krippen hier"
Track length1:04
VII. Evangelist. "Und Gott befahl ihnen im Traum"
Track length0:26
VIII. Recit. "So geht! Genug, mein Schatz geht nicht von hier"
Track length1:55
IX. Aria. "Nun mögt ihr stolzen Feinde schrecken"
Track length3:57
X. Recit. "Was will der Höllen Schrecken nun"
Track length0:42
XI. Chorale. "Nun seid ihr wohl gerochen"
Track length3:13

Spotlight on this release

Awards and reviews

Christmas 2016

It has the same sense of freshness as previous releases…[with] a pleasing transparency of texture, and nimbly sprung rhythms under John Butt’s scholarly direction
4 out of 5 stars

Early Music Review 15th November 2016

the vigour and balance of the ensemble, the quality of the instrumental playing, the perfectly judged tempi, the intelligent singers’ splendid phrasing and breath control and the overall sense of line from all the performers combine to make this the best complete Christmas Oratorio I know.

November 2016

Common to all Butt’s Bach is an irresistible brightness and freshness, a clarity that fascinates the ear with internal detail, and a glowing sound…the smaller forces also allow a flexibility of phrasing and textual emphasis that Butt is happy to exploit, as well as a lightness over the ground that enables him to keep strong momentum without ever seriously rushing a single tempo…this latest gift from the Dunedin Consort is one to go under the tree

18th December 2016

This is a beautifully crafted performance...There’s an easy flow to the tempos and the glowing singing of the arias is matched by deeply impressive instrumental obbligatos.

20th October 2016

the singers here are Dunedin regulars...with Mary Bevan as a standout newcomer. The choral sound is pert, sinewy, unforced; the instrumental playing is punchy, broad and charismatic. Butt’s navigation of the sprawling six cantatas is tremendously enjoyable.
5 out of 5 stars

24th October

John Butt's Dunedin Consort does it again. This red hot interpretation of the six cantatas that make up Bach's Christmas Oratorio holds the attention from the word go. The opening chorus, Jauchzet frohlocket, hits you like a lightning bolt, Butt's infectious energy and exhilarating musicianship infusing Bach's joyous music with utterly compelling brilliance.
5 out of 5 stars

The Herald (Glasgow) 21st October 2016

Professor Butt has, of course, drawn on the best research to produce performances that are as close as can be determined to what the composer himself would have conducted. Eight of the finest singers share the ensemble and solo work...21 period specialist players joined the conductor's harpsichord[ist] and producer Philip Hobbs...to make this absolutely essential recording.
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