Telemann: Christmas Oratorio & Cantatas

Michaelstein Telemann Chamber Orchestra, Ludger Rémy

Released on 19/11/1996 by CPO
Main artists: Ludger Rémy
Genre: Classical

Available in

16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo

Unlimited Streaming

Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps

Start my trial period and start listening to this album

Enjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription

Digital Download

Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.

CPO's Georg Philipp Telemann: Christmas Oratorio consists of three choral works that come from the last part of Telemann's voluminous oeuvre. The oratorio Die Hirten an der Krippe zu Bethlehem ("The Shepherds at the Crib of Bethlehem") dates from 1759 and has a libretto by poet Karl Wilhelm Ramler, who also contributed the text to Telemann's great masterwork Die Auferstehung und Himmerfahrt Jesu. It is a short oratorio, and CPO has filled out the disc with a pair of Christmas cantatas that post-date it, Siehe, ich verkündige Euch (1761) and Der Herr hat offenbaret (1762). When Telemann composed the last of these cantatas, he was 81 years of age! Listeners who are familiar with the cantatas of Johann Sebastian Bach will find Telemann's work in this genre comparatively clear of Bach's busy counterpoint and a little closer to the vein of Handel, but also not like him. Although Telemann often recycled cantata texts, he seldom saw the need to reuse musical themes as did Bach. Telemann's seemingly inexhaustible supply of compelling melodic ideas is astounding in the pieces heard here, especially when one considers that at this point he was well past composing his 3,000th work. Although the music makes for pleasant, even somewhat easy, listening apart from the words, once one delves into the cantata texts the listener gets a sense of how well the music fits them. The harmonic coloring of Der Herr hat offenbaret, which is a little darker in tone than the other two, is an aspect of the music that becomes additionally moving as the performance unfolds. These performances are led, and the editions made, by harpsichordist Ludger Rémy, who has done a lot to revive Telemann works that are unknown. The soloists are very good, particularly bass-baritone Klaus Mertens in the oratorio. For some reason the opening of Die Hirten an der Krippe zu Bethlehem is a little tenuous and tepid, but about 10 minutes in the disc takes off and is of consistent excellence to the end. For those who already know some of Telemann's sacred music, Georg Philipp Telemann: Christmas Oratorio will prove a delight, and to others seeking an introduction to it this is a good place to start. However, for those who are just seeking a novel bit of Christmas music to vary the Yuletide diet, this is an excellent choice; from the very first notes on the disc it is immediately apparent that this is Christmas music even if one has never heard it, and has no idea who or what it is.
© TiVo

More info

Telemann: Christmas Oratorio & Cantatas

Michaelstein Chamber Choir

You are currently listening to samples.

Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.

Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.

From €13,50/month

Die Hirten bei der Krippe zu Bethlehem, TWV 1:797, Pt. 1 (Georg Philipp Telemann)

I. O Jesu parvule

Michaelstein Chamber Choir