Search - J.S. Bach, Baker, Ameling :: Christmas Oratorio

"Just right" performance in a crowded field

Allan Brain | Houston, TX USA | 12/20/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Bach's Christmas Oratorio is one of my favorite works, and

this recording features some of the greatest vocal soloists

of the 20th Century in Elly Ameling, Janet Baker, and Dietrich

Fischer-Dieskau. So why did it take me so long to get acquainted

with this recording? Because it came out in the middle of the

"historically informed performance" rage of the mid-'70s that

has been going on for some time now and has been eclipsed in that

respect by the recordings of Gardiner and many others.





Oddly enough, most of the so-called "HIP" performances do not

use a boys choir, even though it is indisputable that Bach's

actual performances used not only boys choirs, but boys as soloists. There

are a few recordings that feature boy soloists, but none recently.



This recording features one of the best boys choirs in the world,

and only the presence of some distortion in the great opening chorus

and the lack of texts make this a 4 star rather than

5 star recording for me. Ameling, Baker and Fischer-Dieskau are

at or near their peaks, the orchestra and choir are excellent,

and Robert Tear as the Evangelist is not quite up to some of

the competition, but he is only a weak link because the others

are so outstanding.



This would be my top recommendation in a work that

deserves to be better known. Moreover, it was originally

intended to be heard over a period of time during the

Christmas season, so you can listen to it over six days,

or two days or three days or whatever and not feel that

you are missing something."

Traditional with Great Soloists

Neil A. Dellar | McLean, VA USA | 10/04/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Yes, OK, this is a traditional recording and as such is perhaps a little "heavier" than one has come to expect; but these soloists are superb. Janet Baker is simply wonderful in "bereitet dich Zion" and, in fact, in all her arias. This recording was made when she was at the height of her powers. Fischer-Dieskau and Robert Tear really make the recitatives and arias meaningful. The choir is good. If you don't want a period instrument recording or want a recording where the soloists really know what they are singing about, this would be a good choice."