Bach: Advent & Christmas Cantatas

Read About This Recording

The music of Johann Sebastian Bach is so glorious, we often lose track of the fact that most of it was written for a salary. This is certainly true of the composer's magnificent choral compositions. Bach was employed during his lifetime by various churches and expected to produce music on a time schedule. In Leipzig he had to produce 60 cantatas each year for every Sunday service as well as special feast days. This he did, but there was never anything mechanical or commercial about his work. Every composition seemed totally inspired.

Bach also produced a whole stream of works for the Christmas feast days during his Leipzig and Weimar years. These Christmas cantatas are scored for substantial forces including an orchestra comprising oboes, bassoons, trumpets and timpani in addition to the usual strings and organ. As if the spirit of Christmas was itself in Bach, he "spared no expense" and created large works worthy of this special time in the church calendar.

Helmuth Rilling, the greatest living Bach interpreter and expert today, has created recordings that have garnered critical acclaim for both their musical acumen and scholarly resolution. Advent & Christmas Cantatas has Rilling leading the Gächinger Kantorei and the Bach-Collegium Stuttgart performing the complete seasonal cantatas composed by Bach, on six CDs. This unique set is a wonderful expression of festive feelings and solemn reverence for the new-born King.

Rilling leads his forces in readings that are filled with spirit and insight. He is joined by world-class Baroque specialists including Arleen Augér, Peter Schreier, Helen Watts, Walter Heldwein, Ann Murray, Aldo Baldwin and more. Auger, in particular, appears up to the task; she has an uncanny ability to allow her highest notes to soar while maintaining an effortless vibrato. Here, Auger's precision and deft clarity is on full display.

Presented in a space-saving ultra-thin cap box, the package is complete with all texts in original German with English translation. Hänssler's sound is fine and rewarding. At this incredible price, this is a set that should not be missed.

—J. Maxwell Fletcher

Quotes

"Bach, Rilling and Hänssler Classic. The perfect combination." —Gramophone Magazine

Contents

Imported from Europe!

CD 1 (TT: 66:39): Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV62; Schwingt freudig euch empor, BWV36; Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV61.

CD 2 (TT: 69:27): Bereitet die Wege, bereitet die Bahn, BWV132; Christen, ätzet diesen Tag, BWV63; Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ, BWV91.

CD 3 (TT: 43:15): Unser Mund sei voll Lachens, BWV110; Gloria in excelsis Deo, BWV191.

CD 4 (TT: 66:06): Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes, BWV40; Selig ist der Mann, BWV57; Christum wir sollen loben schon, BWV121.

CD 5 (TT: 59:36): Sehet, welch eine Liebe hat uns der Vater erzeiget, BWV64; Ich freue mich in dir, BWV133; Süßer Trost, mein Jesus kömmt, BWV151.

CD 6 (TT: 52:34): Das neugeborne Kindelein, BWV122; Sie werden aus Saba alle kommen, BWV65; Liebster Immanuel, Herzog der Frommen, BWV123.

Arleen Auger, Inga Nielsen, Helen Donath, Kathrin Graf, Nobuko Gamo-Yamamoto, Sopranos; Helen Watts, Gabriele Schreckenbach, Julia Hamari, Hildegard Laurich, Helrun Gardow, Verena Gohl, Doris Soffel, Ann Murray, Altos; Aldo Baldin, Peter Schreier, Adalbert Kraus, Kurt Equiluz, Tenors; Philippe Huttenlocher, Walter Heldwein, Wolfgang Schöne, Siegmund Nimsgern, Hans-Friedrich Kunz, Niklaus Tüller, Basses; Gächinger Kantorei; Bach-Collegium Stuttgart; Helmuth Rilling, Conductor.