Immerse yourself in the timeless beauty of Johann Sebastian Bach's "J.S. Bach: The Great Choral Masterpieces," a meticulously crafted compilation that showcases the pinnacle of Baroque choral music. Released on January 1, 2013, under the prestigious Decca Music Group Ltd. label, this album is a testament to Bach's unparalleled genius and his enduring influence on classical music.
Spanning a generous duration of 2 hours and 11 minutes, this album is a treasure trove of choral excellence, featuring the renowned Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248. The oratorio is divided into six parts, each corresponding to significant days in the Christmas season, from the first day of Christmas to the Feast of Epiphany. The tracklist is a rich tapestry of choruses, arias, recitatives, and chorales, each piece brimming with Bach's distinctive style and profound musicality.
The album is a collaborative masterpiece, with contributions from renowned artists and ensembles. The performances are nothing short of breathtaking, capturing the essence of Bach's compositions with precision and passion. The choral works are complemented by the exquisite playing of orchestral and chamber musicians, creating a harmonious blend that is both uplifting and deeply moving.
Johann Sebastian Bach, a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period, is celebrated for his intricate and profound musical compositions. His works, including the Christmas Oratorio, are renowned for their technical complexity and emotional depth. This album offers a glimpse into Bach's extraordinary talent, showcasing his ability to weave together intricate melodies and harmonies to create a sound that is both majestic and intimate.
Whether you are a seasoned classical music enthusiast or a newcomer to the genre, "J.S. Bach: The Great Choral Masterpieces" is an essential addition to your music collection. It is a celebration of Bach's enduring legacy and a testament to the timeless beauty of his music. Allow yourself to be transported to the heart of the Baroque era and experience the magic of Bach's choral masterpieces.
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part One - For the first Day of Christmas: No. 1 Chorus: "Jauchzet, frohlocket"Johann Sebastian Bach, MDR Leipzig Radio Chorus, Trumpet Ensemble Ludwig Guttler, Staatskapelle Dresden, Peter Schreier
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part One - For the first Day of Christmas: No. 2 Evangelist: "Es begab sich aber zu der Zeit"Johann Sebastian Bach, Peter Schreier, Staatskapelle Dresden
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part One - For the first Day of Christmas: No. 3 Rezitativ (Alt): "Nun wird mein liebster Bräutigam"Johann Sebastian Bach, Marjana Lipovsek, Staatskapelle Dresden, Peter Schreier
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part One - For the first Day of Christmas: No. 4 Aria (Alto): " Bereite dich, Zion"Johann Sebastian Bach, Marjana Lipovsek, Staatskapelle Dresden, Peter Schreier
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part One - For the first Day of Christmas: No. 5 Choral: "Wie soll ich dich empfangen"Johann Sebastian Bach, MDR Leipzig Radio Chorus, Staatskapelle Dresden, Peter Schreier
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part One - For the first Day of Christmas: No. 6 Evangelist, No. 7 ChoralJohann Sebastian Bach, Peter Schreier, Helen Donath, Robert Holl, MDR Leipzig Radio Chorus, Staatskapelle Dresden
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part One - For the first Day of Christmas: No. 8 Aria (Baß): "Großer Herr, o starker König"Johann Sebastian Bach, Robert Holl, Trumpet Ensemble Ludwig Guttler, Staatskapelle Dresden, Peter Schreier
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part One - For the first Day of Christmas: No. 9 Choral: "Ach mein herzliebes Jesulein"Johann Sebastian Bach, MDR Leipzig Radio Chorus, Trumpet Ensemble Ludwig Guttler, Staatskapelle Dresden, Peter Schreier
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Two - For the second Day of Christmas: No. 10 SinfoniaJohann Sebastian Bach, Staatskapelle Dresden, Peter Schreier
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Two - For the second Day of Christmas: No. 11 Evangelist: "Und es waren Hirten in derselben Gegend"Johann Sebastian Bach, Peter Schreier, Staatskapelle Dresden
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Two - For the second Day of Christmas: No. 12 Chorale: "Brich an, o schönes Morgenlicht"Johann Sebastian Bach, MDR Leipzig Radio Chorus, Staatskapelle Dresden, Peter Schreier
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Two - For the second Day of Christmas: No. 13 Evangelist, Engel: "Und der Engel sprach zu Ihnen"Johann Sebastian Bach, Peter Schreier, Helen Donath, Staatskapelle Dresden
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Two - For the second Day of Christmas: No. 14 Rezitativ (Baß): "Was Gott dem Abraham Verheißen"Johann Sebastian Bach, Robert Holl, Staatskapelle Dresden, Peter Schreier
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Two - For the second Day of Christmas: No. 15 Aria (Tenor): "Frohe Hirten, eilt, ach eilet"Johann Sebastian Bach, Eberhard Büchner, Staatskapelle Dresden, Peter Schreier
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Two - For the second Day of Christmas: No. 16 Evangelist: "Und das habt zum Zeichen"Johann Sebastian Bach, Peter Schreier, Staatskapelle Dresden
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Two - For the second Day of Christmas: No. 17 Chorale: "Schaut hin, dort liegt im finstern Stall"Johann Sebastian Bach, MDR Leipzig Radio Chorus, Staatskapelle Dresden, Peter Schreier
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Two - For the second Day of Christmas: No. 18 Rezitativ (Baß): "So geht denn hin, ihr Hirten, geht"Johann Sebastian Bach, Robert Holl, Staatskapelle Dresden, Peter Schreier
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Two - For the second Day of Christmas: No. 19 Aria (Alto): "Schlafe, mein Liebster, geniesse der Ruh"Johann Sebastian Bach, Marjana Lipovsek, Staatskapelle Dresden, Peter Schreier
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Two - For the second Day of Christmas: No. 20 Evangelist: "Und alsbald war da bei dem Engel"Johann Sebastian Bach, Peter Schreier, Staatskapelle Dresden
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Two - For the second Day of Christmas: No. 21 Chor: "Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe"Johann Sebastian Bach, MDR Leipzig Radio Chorus, Staatskapelle Dresden, Peter Schreier
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Two - For the second Day of Christmas: No. 22 Rezitativ (Baß): "So recht, ihr Engel, jauchzt und singet"Johann Sebastian Bach, Robert Holl, Staatskapelle Dresden, Peter Schreier
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Two - For the second Day of Christmas: No. 23 Chorale: "Wir singen dir in deinem Heer"Johann Sebastian Bach, MDR Leipzig Radio Chorus, Staatskapelle Dresden, Peter Schreier
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Three - For the third Day of Christmas: No. 24 Chor: "Herrscher des Himmels, erhöre das Lallen"Johann Sebastian Bach, MDR Leipzig Radio Chorus, Trumpet Ensemble Ludwig Guttler, Staatskapelle Dresden, Peter Schreier
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Three - For the third Day of Christmas: No. 25 Evangelist, No. 26 Chor, No. 27 Rezitativ (Baß)Johann Sebastian Bach, Robert Holl, Peter Schreier, MDR Leipzig Radio Chorus, Staatskapelle Dresden
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Three - For the third Day of Christmas: No. 28 Choral: "Dies hat er alles uns getan"Johann Sebastian Bach, MDR Leipzig Radio Chorus, Staatskapelle Dresden, Peter Schreier
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Three - For the third Day of Christmas: No. 29 Duett (Sopran, Baß): "Herr, dein Mitleid, dein Erbarmen"Johann Sebastian Bach, Helen Donath, Robert Holl, Staatskapelle Dresden, Peter Schreier
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Three - For the third Day of Christmas: No. 30 Evangelist: "Und sie kamen eilend"Johann Sebastian Bach, Peter Schreier, Staatskapelle Dresden
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Three - For the third Day of Christmas: No. 31 Aria (Alt): "Schließe, mein Herze, dies selige Wunder"Johann Sebastian Bach, Marjana Lipovsek, Staatskapelle Dresden, Peter Schreier
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Three - For the third Day of Christmas: No. 32 Recitativ (Alt): "Ja, ja, mein Herz soll es bewahren"Johann Sebastian Bach, Marjana Lipovsek, Staatskapelle Dresden, Peter Schreier
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Three - For the third Day of Christmas: No. 33 Choral: "Ich will dich mit Fleiß bewahren"Johann Sebastian Bach, MDR Leipzig Radio Chorus, Staatskapelle Dresden, Peter Schreier
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Three - For the third Day of Christmas: No. 34 Evangelist: "Und die Hirten kehrten wieder um"Johann Sebastian Bach, Peter Schreier, Staatskapelle Dresden
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Three - For the third Day of Christmas: No. 35 Choral: "Seid froh dieweil"Johann Sebastian Bach, MDR Leipzig Radio Chorus, Staatskapelle Dresden, Peter Schreier
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Three - For the third Day of Christmas: No. 24 Chor (da capo): "Herrscher des Himmels, erhöre das Lallen"Johann Sebastian Bach, MDR Leipzig Radio Chorus, Trumpet Ensemble Ludwig Guttler, Staatskapelle Dresden, Peter Schreier
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Four - For New Year's Day: No. 36 Chor: "Fallt mit Danken, fallt mit Loben"Johann Sebastian Bach, MDR Leipzig Radio Chorus, Staatskapelle Dresden, Peter Schreier
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Four - For New Year's Day: No. 37 Evangelist: "Und da acht Tage um waren"Johann Sebastian Bach, Peter Schreier, Staatskapelle Dresden
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Four - For New Year's Day: No. 38 Rezitativ (Baß): "Immanuel, o süßes Wort" Arioso (Chor-Sopran, Baß): "Jesu, du mein liebstes Leben"-"Komm ich will dich mit Lust umfassen"Johann Sebastian Bach, Helen Donath, Robert Holl, MDR Leipzig Radio Chorus, Staatskapelle Dresden, Peter Schreier
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Four - For New Year's Day: No. 39 Aria (Soprano, Echo-soprano): "Flösst, mein Heiland, flösst dein Namen"Johann Sebastian Bach, Helen Donath, Andrea Ihle, Staatskapelle Dresden, Peter Schreier
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Four - For New Year's Day: No. 40 Rezitativ (Baß): "Wohlan, dein Name soll allein" Arioso (Chor-Sopran): "Jesu mein Freud und Wonne"Johann Sebastian Bach, Helen Donath, Robert Holl, MDR Leipzig Radio Chorus, Staatskapelle Dresden, Peter Schreier
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Four - For New Year's Day: No. 41 Aria (Tenor): "Ich will nur dir zu Ehren leben"Johann Sebastian Bach, Eberhard Büchner, Staatskapelle Dresden, Peter Schreier
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Four - For New Year's Day: No. 42 Choral: "Jesus richte mein Beginnen"Johann Sebastian Bach, MDR Leipzig Radio Chorus, Staatskapelle Dresden, Peter Schreier
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Five - For the 1st Sunday in the New Year: No. 43 Chor: "Ehre sei dir, Gott, gesungen"Johann Sebastian Bach, MDR Leipzig Radio Chorus, Staatskapelle Dresden, Peter Schreier
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Five - For the 1st Sunday in the New Year: No. 44 Evangelist, No. 45 ChorJohann Sebastian Bach, Marjana Lipovsek, Peter Schreier, MDR Leipzig Radio Chorus, Staatskapelle Dresden
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Five - For the 1st Sunday in the New Year: No. 46 Choral: "Dein Glanz all Finsternis verzehrt"Johann Sebastian Bach, MDR Leipzig Radio Chorus, Staatskapelle Dresden, Peter Schreier
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Five - For the 1st Sunday in the New Year: No. 47 Aria (Bass): "Erleucht auch meine finstre Sinnen"Johann Sebastian Bach, Robert Holl, Staatskapelle Dresden, Peter Schreier
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Five - For the 1st Sunday in the New Year: No. 48 Evangelist, No. 49 Rezitativ (Alt)Johann Sebastian Bach, Peter Schreier, Marjana Lipovsek, Staatskapelle Dresden
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Five - For the 1st Sunday in the New Year: No. 50 Evangelist: "Und ließ versammeln alle Hohepriester"Johann Sebastian Bach, Peter Schreier, Staatskapelle Dresden
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Five - For the 1st Sunday in the New Year: No. 51 Terzetto (Soprano, Alto, Tenor): "Ach, wann wird die Zeit erscheinen?"Johann Sebastian Bach, Eberhard Büchner, Helen Donath, Marjana Lipovsek, Staatskapelle Dresden, Peter Schreier
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Five - For the 1st Sunday in the New Year: No. 52 Rezitativ (Alt): "Mein Liebster herrschet schon"Johann Sebastian Bach, Marjana Lipovsek, Staatskapelle Dresden, Peter Schreier
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Five - For the 1st Sunday in the New Year: No. 53 Choral: "Zwar ist solche Herzensstube"Johann Sebastian Bach, MDR Leipzig Radio Chorus, Staatskapelle Dresden, Peter Schreier
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Part Six - For the Feast of Epiphany: No. 54 Chor: "Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde schnauben"Johann Sebastian Bach, MDR Leipzig Radio Chorus, Staatskapelle Dresden, Peter Schreier