Bach: Christmas Oratorio

This is a filmed performance of Johann Sebastian Bach's monumental Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248. The work is divided into six parts, each intended for performance on a specific feast day during the Christmas season. It tells the story of the Nativity through a masterful blend of recitatives, arias, duets, choruses, and instrumental movements.

The 2005 (released in 2007) recording and performance by Thomas Hengelbrock and the NDR Symphony Orchestra, featuring a stellar cast of soloists, has been widely praised for its vibrant energy, superb musicality, and authentic interpretation. Critics and audiences alike have lauded the clarity of the vocal performances and the dynamic orchestral playing, making it a highly recommended rendition of this beloved masterpiece.

• A powerful and engaging performance of Bach's Christmas Oratorio.

• Praised for its vibrant energy and excellent soloists.

• Hailed as a modern benchmark recording of the work.

Google audience: Audience reviews often highlight the electrifying energy of the performance and the exceptional quality of the vocal soloists. Many appreciate the clarity and precision of the orchestra and choir, contributing to a deeply moving and spiritually uplifting experience.

Bach's Christmas Oratorio was not originally conceived as a single, continuous work but rather as six separate cantatas, each designed for a specific day between Christmas Day and Epiphany.