CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

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Weihnachtsoratorium BWV 248 - Christmas Oratorio Part 1 To 6 [1999]

starring: Claron McFadden, Bernarda Fink, Christoph Genz, Dietrich Henschel, The Monteverdi Choir

Release Date October 31, 2005
Brilliant. Absolutely, stunningly, mind-blowingly brilliant. This was the kick-off concert for the Gardiner Bach cantata pilgrimage of 2000, performed in the Herderkirche, Weimar. I have Gardiner's CD of the Weihnachtsoratorium, which I previously regarded as the best version. Not any more. This knocks spots off it. Soloists (vocal and instrumental), the EBS and of course the marvellous Monteverdis are on top form and the whole thing crackles with excitement. Gardiner clearly has a ball; no routine music-making this, this is passionate with a capital P. He also has a feeling for the dance-like rhythms in much of the piece - just listen to the Monteverdis sizzle through the skittering opening chorale of Cantata 5 and see how long you can stop ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

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Nikolaus Harnoncourt: An Advent Concert of Music by Bach [2000] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

starring: Christopher Maltman, Ian Bostridge, Bernarda Fink, Anna Korondi, Christine Schäfer
directed by: Claus Viller

Release Date October 14, 2003
Brilliant. Absolutely, stunningly, mind-blowingly brilliant. This was the kick-off concert for the Gardiner Bach cantata pilgrimage of 2000, performed in the Herderkirche, Weimar. I have Gardiner's CD of the Weihnachtsoratorium, which I previously regarded as the best version. Not any more. This knocks spots off it. Soloists (vocal and instrumental), the EBS and of course the marvellous Monteverdis are on top form and the whole thing crackles with excitement. Gardiner clearly has a ball; no routine music-making this, this is passionate with a capital P. He also has a feeling for the dance-like rhythms in much of the piece - just listen to the Monteverdis sizzle through the skittering opening chorale of Cantata 5 and see how long you can stop ... Read More: