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This recording of Bach's Christmas Oratorio, a landmark for the classical recording industry in the late and not much lamented nation of East Germany, was made in 1974 and early 1975 in Dresden and released the following year by the state monopoly, VEB Deutsche Schallplatten Berlin. It has since been reissued in many forms, in East and West and on both sides of the Atlantic, and that's because it remains, at least in one respect, unexcelled among recordings of the Christmas Oratorio. The reading is in the grand German tradition. For a foundation it takes one of Europe's best and most venerable male choirs, the somewhat underrated but technically nonpareil Dresdner Kreuzchor under its longtime Communist-era director, Martin Flämig. For sheer richness of sound there was hardly a boychoir at the time that could touch this one. The orchestra was the Dresden Philharmonic, and Flämig does better than his contemporaries at scaling a modern symphony orchestra to the demands of Bach's music. He's aided by engineering that was well above the norm for the East Bloc. But what keeps people coming back to this recording is the quartet of soloists, one of the finest ever assembled for a major Bach sacred work. American soprano Arleen Augér was at the height of her powers and contributes soaring Italianate melodies throughout. Among the many fine Bach recordings of tenor Peter Schreier this one is a standout in its fusion of brilliance and emotional commitment. Bass-baritone Theo Adam, departing from his usual Wagnerian specialties (he was also a noted Bachian), adds a gorgeous hard bottom to the sonic palette. But perhaps the most impressive of all is the least-renowned of the four, alto Annelies Burmeister (no countertenors or male altos at this point in time). Sample the aria "Schließe, mein Herze, dies selige Wunder" from part III (CD 2, track 31) to revel in her luxuriant yet edgy sound. With holiday packaging of a sort, this remains a good gift or just a good buy for anyone collecting the classic old-school Bach recordings.
© TiVo
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Dresdner Kreuzchor, Choir - Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Theo Adam, Soloist - Peter Schreier, Soloist - Annelies Burmeister, Soloist - Arleen Auger, Soloist - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Kreuzchor, Performer - Dresdner Philharmonie, Performer - Martin Flamig, Performer - Peter Schreier, Soloist - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Annelies Burmeister, Soloist - Dresdner Kreuzchor, Choir - Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Annelies Burmeister, Soloist - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Kreuzchor, Choir - Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Theo Adam, Soloist - Peter Schreier, Soloist - Annelies Burmeister, Soloist - Arleen Auger, Soloist - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Kreuzchor, Choir - Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Peter Schreier, Soloist - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Kreuzchor, Choir - Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Theo Adam, Soloist - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Theo Adam, Soloist - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Kreuzchor, Choir - Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Kreuzchor, Performer - Dresdner Philharmonie, Performer - Martin Flamig, Performer - Peter Schreier, Soloist - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Kreuzchor, Choir - Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Arleen Auger, Soloist - Peter Schreier, Soloist - Dresdner Kreuzchor, Choir - Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Kreuzchor, Choir - Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Theo Adam, Soloist - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Peter Schreier, Soloist - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Peter Schreier, Soloist - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Dresdner Kreuzchor, Choir - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Kreuzchor, Choir - Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Theo Adam, Soloist - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Dresdner Kreuzchor, Choir - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Annelies Burmeister, Soloist - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Dresdner Kreuzchor, Choir - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Peter Schreier, Soloist - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Kreuzchor, Choir - Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Martin Flamig, Conductor - Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Theo Adam, Soloist - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Kreuzchor, Choir - Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Arleen Auger, Soloist - Annelies Burmeister, Soloist - Peter Schreier, Soloist - Theo Adam, Soloist - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Kreuzchor, Choir - Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Arleen Auger, Soloist - Annelies Burmeister, Soloist - Peter Schreier, Soloist - Theo Adam, Soloist - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Peter Schreier, Soloist - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Kreuzchor, Choir - Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Martin Flamig, Conductor - Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Theo Adam, Soloist - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Kreuzchor, Choir - Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Arleen Auger, Soloist - Annelies Burmeister, Soloist - Peter Schreier, Soloist - Theo Adam, Soloist - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Kreuzchor, Choir - Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Arleen Auger, Soloist - Theo Adam, Soloist - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Kreuzchor, Choir - Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Peter Schreier, Soloist - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Annelies Burmeister, Soloist - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Annelies Burmeister, Soloist - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Kreuzchor, Choir - Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Theo Adam, Soloist - Peter Schreier, Soloist - Annelies Burmeister, Soloist - Arleen Auger, Soloist - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Kreuzchor, Choir - Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Peter Schreier, Soloist - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Kreuzchor, Choir - Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Theo Adam, Soloist - Peter Schreier, Soloist - Annelies Burmeister, Soloist - Arleen Auger, Soloist - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Martin Flamig, Conductor, Performer - Dresdner Kreuzchor, Choir - Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Kreuzchor, Choir - Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Theo Adam, Soloist - Peter Schreier, Soloist - Annelies Burmeister, Soloist - Arleen Auger, Soloist - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Kreuzchor, Choir - Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Peter Schreier, Soloist - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Arleen Auger, Soloist - Theo Adam, Soloist - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Arleen Auger, Soloist - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Arleen Auger, Soloist - Theo Adam, Soloist - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Peter Schreier, Soloist - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Kreuzchor, Choir - Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Theo Adam, Soloist - Peter Schreier, Soloist - Arleen Auger, Soloist - Annelies Burmeister, Soloist - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Kreuzchor, Choir - Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Arleen Auger, Soloist - Theo Adam, Soloist - Peter Schreier, Soloist - Annelies Burmeister, Soloist - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Peter Schreier, Performer - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Kreuzchor, Choir - Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Arleen Auger, Soloist - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Kreuzchor, Choir - Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Theo Adam, Soloist - Peter Schreier, Soloist - Arleen Auger, Soloist - Annelies Burmeister, Soloist - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Kreuzchor, Choir - Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Theo Adam, Soloist - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Kreuzchor, Choir - Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Peter Schreier, Soloist - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Dresdner Kreuzchor, Choir - Dresdner Philharmonie, Orchestra - Martin Flamig, Conductor - Annelies Burmeister, Soloist - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Lyricist
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1975 Eterna/Edel Germany GmbH
Album review
This recording of Bach's Christmas Oratorio, a landmark for the classical recording industry in the late and not much lamented nation of East Germany, was made in 1974 and early 1975 in Dresden and released the following year by the state monopoly, VEB Deutsche Schallplatten Berlin. It has since been reissued in many forms, in East and West and on both sides of the Atlantic, and that's because it remains, at least in one respect, unexcelled among recordings of the Christmas Oratorio. The reading is in the grand German tradition. For a foundation it takes one of Europe's best and most venerable male choirs, the somewhat underrated but technically nonpareil Dresdner Kreuzchor under its longtime Communist-era director, Martin Flämig. For sheer richness of sound there was hardly a boychoir at the time that could touch this one. The orchestra was the Dresden Philharmonic, and Flämig does better than his contemporaries at scaling a modern symphony orchestra to the demands of Bach's music. He's aided by engineering that was well above the norm for the East Bloc. But what keeps people coming back to this recording is the quartet of soloists, one of the finest ever assembled for a major Bach sacred work. American soprano Arleen Augér was at the height of her powers and contributes soaring Italianate melodies throughout. Among the many fine Bach recordings of tenor Peter Schreier this one is a standout in its fusion of brilliance and emotional commitment. Bass-baritone Theo Adam, departing from his usual Wagnerian specialties (he was also a noted Bachian), adds a gorgeous hard bottom to the sonic palette. But perhaps the most impressive of all is the least-renowned of the four, alto Annelies Burmeister (no countertenors or male altos at this point in time). Sample the aria "Schließe, mein Herze, dies selige Wunder" from part III (CD 2, track 31) to revel in her luxuriant yet edgy sound. With holiday packaging of a sort, this remains a good gift or just a good buy for anyone collecting the classic old-school Bach recordings.
© TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 65 track(s)
- Total length: 02:39:36
- Main artists: Dresdner Kreuzchor, Dresdner Philharmonie, Peter Schreier, Theo Adam, Arleen Auger, Annelies Burmeister & Martin Flämig
- Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
- Label: Berlin Classics
- Genre: Classical
1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH 1977 Berlin Classics/Edel Germany GmbH
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