[ EuroArts Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc ]
Release Date: Friday 28 February 2014
Should this item be out of stock at the time of your order, we would expect to be able to supply it to you within 2 - 5 business days.
The Christmas Oratorio from Johann Sebastian Bach is the most famous Christmas work ever. The cantatas, written by Bach for the services from Christmas to the Epiphany, are now performed worldwide during the festive season.
This DVD contains an outstanding recording from the Salle Henry Le Bœuf in the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels in December 2012 with the internationally-renowned Bach expert Philippe Herreweghe, winner of the Bach-Medal, the Collegium Vocale and superb soloists Dorothee Mields, Damien Guillon, Thomas Hobbs, Peter Kooij.
Including all 6 cantatas and features subtitles in English, German, French and Japanese.
Picture format Blu-ray Disc: 1080i Full HD - 16:9
Running time: 153 min
NOTE: Cover pic may differ from that shown
"As the Angel might have said: Herreweghe brings tidings of great joy. A joy that exudes a natural, unforced integrity and humanity; the music gently coaxed into intimate, expressive life. Some of the intimacy derives from the small forces...but it's mainly to do with the relaxed (though never sluggish) tempos...The solo team is outstanding." (BBC Music Magazine, Feb 2014)
"not only musically beguiling but also filmed intelligently...Mields sings with stylistic sureness and radiant personality...Few basses match Peter Kooij's experience in this repertoire: he conveys compassionate authority...Time and again, we see Herreweghe shrewdly direct with an emphasis on less being more" (Gramophone, Jan 2014)
"Herreweghe remains true to the standard in Bach performance which has developed since the 1970s: solo voices, a small choir and a small ensemble of period instruments. To date this recording is probably the best interpretation according to that standard. That is no mean achievement." (MusicWeb, Dec 2013)