Bach: Weihnachtsoratorium

It belongs to Christmas like Christstollen and the Christmas tree: Johann Sebastian Bach's "Christmas Oratorio". Masaaki Suzuki is one of the most distinguished Bach conductors of our time, who has been showered with awards for his numerous Bach recordings.

The recording of the Bach cantatas - an incredible 55 CDs, made over a period of almost 20 years - is considered one of the reference recordings. And the Japanese conductor, a Bach obsessive in the very best sense of the word, has also dealt intensively with Bach's masses, passions and oratorios. Right at the beginning of the "Christmas Oratorio," the proverbial timpani and trumpets provide plenty of festive atmosphere, and even after that, the Christmas story is told with rousing choruses and trumpet-crowned arias.

Anna Dennis had to cancel her participation in the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment tour for personal reasons. We thank Madison Nonoa for taking over the soprano part.