Bach: Christmas Oratorio

Excellent cd in prime condition. Sublime music - have played it ceaselessly. Musicianship of the highest order.

One of the masterpieces of great music perfectly sung by The Sixteen. Wouldn't be without this" must have" outstandingly good recording

A good recording of this Bach master piece

I am constantly amazed by the range, depth, power and subtlety of The Sixteen. I simply urge anyone who loves Bach and thispiece in particular to buy it immediately.

This work isn't only a Christmas listen. Yes, it is in six parts telling the story of Jesus's birth, but contains wonderful music by Bach here performed in an outstanding way by The Sixteen. Clear, bright with fine instrumentalists and soloists - it's a great addition to my home music selection.

Brilliant

Harry Christopher and The Sixteen offer up a lively, energetic reading of Bach's (so-called) Christmas Oratorio, a work that should be heard more often in the USA than it is.The performance of the first chorus of Cantata I, "Jauchzet, frohlocket," bursts with exuberance and energy, but is never rushed. The sopranos are especially to be commended for their performance; the writing requires them to go from the very bottom of their range to the top of it in short order. The opening phrase, set low in all voices, does not have a pushed, chest-voice quality that one usually hears in these opening bars. As the treble instruments pile one entrance on another in downward scales, the trumpets arpeggiate upward-- the excitement Bach meant to convey is readily apparent in this performance. And that's just the first movement.Choices for tempi, phrasing, and voicing are very carefully made, yet the entire performance seems spontaneous, exuberant, youthful. Intonation is spot on and few if any technical flaws distract from the vitality of the performance.For many years, I viewed the Christmas Oratorio as an interesting work, but not one I cared to know beyond my previous experiences, no doubt tainted by poorly prepared and executed performances. Would that this recording were my first exposure to this beautiful and exciting work! If you don't have a recording of this work, this is the recording to get to know it by. If you have one, this is a great addition to your collection.

Clean, clear, and lets the counterpoint show through. Obviously the Sixteen are doing something that sounds right in Baroque as well as early music, since I also have Bach's B Minor Mass and Messiah (Handel) with the same group, acquired at various times.