"To put my only complaint first, there is no English translation of the text. How much that matters you must determine for yourself.However, the notes on the music are excellent. I had not known that the six cantatas constituting the oratorio were intended to be sung on separate days: Christmas, the day after Christmas, the third day of Christmas, the Feast of the Circumcision, first Sunday of the new year, and the Feast of Epiphany. That places the music clearly in the category of Christmas (not Advent) music.The music is typical Bach - strings, organ, flutes, oboes, brass . . . but it is some of the best of Bach. You will find several of the pieces familar although you may not have associated them with the oratorio e.g. the 5th track on the first cd - Wie soll ich dich empfangen.The performance by the Hungarian Radio Choir and the Failoni Chamber Orchestra is excellent. Add this to your list of very enjoyable Christmas music."
A mixed Christmas blessing.
John Austin | Kangaroo Ground, Australia | 09/12/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Bach's "Christmas Oratorio" is nowadays more likely to be heard and appreciated on record than in live performances. It was never intended for performance in one sitting. It comprises six cantatas, suitable for performing separately during the so-called twelve days of Christmas. The nearest I have come to hearing it performed was on one occasion when three of the six cantatas were done at one early December evening concert.
Veteran Hungarian conductor Geza Oberfrank leads and inspires his Hungarian forces here, highlighting the joyous and celebratory character of the music rather than ensuring an atmosphere of reverence and adoration. A large and generally alert choir is used. What robs the set of a fifth star is the poor recording quality that sometimes marred Naxos issues from the 1990s. The sound lacks richness. Most seriously affected are the soloists, all of whom - especially the bass - sound hoarse. A further consideration counts against this set: it occupies three CDs. Naxos's regular annotator, Keith Anderson, provides the music notes, texts are provided in German only, and the duration is 148 minutes."
Track Listings (23) - Disc #1
