Bach: Christmas Oratorio, Volume 76

by Kantorei / Rilling

This recording, nominated for a 2001 Grammy, documents as fine a performance of J.S. Bach's Christmas Oratorio as can be found in the catalog. Led by Helmuth Rilling, it is a vibrant, stylistically informed modern-instrument account in the noble tradition of Karl Richter, featuring smashingly good orchestral playing and superb singing from both the chorus and a first-rate group of soloists. Recorded live in Stuttgart from Christmas Day 1999 to Epiphany (January 6) 2000--the precise period in the liturgical calendar for which Bach composed the six cantatas that make up this work--it was issued late in 2000 as Vol. 76 of Hänssler's Bachakademie Complete Bach Edition, one of the final installments in that monumental, and utterly complete, tribute to Bach's genius.

James Taylor is a gentle and ingratiating Evangelist, as befits the story being told, and all four soloists--soprano Sibylla Rubens, mezzo Ingeborg Danz, tenor Marcus Ullmann, and bass Hanno Müller-Brachmann--do Distinguished work in the arias. The sound is excellent. The only real flaw here is the mislabeling of discs 2 and 3: CD 2 contains Parts 3 and 4 of the oratorio (not 5 and 6), and CD 3 contains Parts 5 and 6 (not 2 and 3). Listeners should simply ignore the labeling and play the music. In short, this is the new top choice among modern-instrument recordings of the Christmas Oratorio. Rilling and his forces could scarcely have brought the Edition Bachakademie to a better conclusion. --Ted Libbey