J.S.バッハ: クリスマス・オラトリオBWV.248

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 Flamig. 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 Flamig 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 Auger 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.