Hans-Christoph Rademann, RIAS Kammerchor - Christmas! Noël! Weinachten! (2013) [Official Digital Download 24/48]

The great painters have always known how to combine the different perspectives of the Nativity into a single picture. Here the RIAS Kammerchor tells the Christmas Story in music: Mendelssohn frames the painting, to which the darkness and the promise of promise of heavenly light form the background. The Virgin Mary leads us to the heart of Christmas Night and to rejoicing at the Saviour s birth. We come full circle with the Four Motets of Poulenc, which sum up all the facets of Christmas and its emotions. Founded in 1948 under the auspices of Radio in the American Sector , the RIAS Kammerchor played an important role in the revival of post-war musical life in Berlin. The core of its repertoire is the music of the Baroque era, together with the modern classics and the music of today. It swiftly acquired an international reputation for premiering new works by such composers as Penderecki, Reimann, Kagel, Gundermann, and Tan Dun. After Uwe Gronostay, Marcus Creed, and Daniel Reuss, Hans-Christoph Rademann has directed the ensemble since 2007, in close collaboration with Concerto Köln, Freiburger Barockorchester, Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, and the Orchestre des Champs-Élysées, with such conductors as Frans Brüggen, Roger Norrington, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, René Jacobs and Philippe Herreweghe.

CHRISTMAS CHOICE Perf (5/5) ***** Rec (5/5) ***** The singing, all unaccompanied, has a natural, unforced eloquence, and is of a standard which makes criticism an impertinence. An outstandingly accomplished issue. –Terry Blain, BBC Music Magazine- Christmas Issue 2013

The disc needs no extra-musical endorsement. The music is extraordinarily wide-ranging and has been exceptionally well chosen and sequenced… the result is an unmitigated joy- the performances are immaculate and most expressive, particularly of Poulenc s four motes pour le temps de Noel… a performance that could not, in my opinion be improved upon. This is an truly outstanding disc. –Robert Matthew-Walker, International Record Review- December 2013

TRACKLIST

FELIX MENDELSSOHN BARTHOLDY (1809-1847)
1. Frohlocket, ihr Völker auf Erden op.79/1 1'38
UWE GRONOSTAY (1939-2008)
2. Die Nacht ist vorgedrungen 2'26
JOHANN ECCARD (1553-1611)
3. Ich lag in tiefster Todesnacht 2'46
MAX BRUCH (1838-1920)
4. In der Christnacht op.60/1 3'39
JOHANNES BRAHMS (1833-1897)
5. O Heiland, reiß die Himmel auf op.74/2 5'37
JOHANN ECCARD
6. Nun liebe Seel, nun ist es Zeit 2'59
7. Über's Gebirg Maria geht 3'07
ARVO PÄRT (b.1935)
8. Magnificat 6'47
ANTON BRUCKNER (1824-1896)
9. Ave Maria 3'47
10. Virga Jesse 5'01
FRANCIS POULENC (1899-1963)
11. Salve Regina 4'20
EDVARD GRIEG (1843-1907)
12. Ave maris stella 3'32
JAN PIETERSZOON SWEELINCK (1562-1621)
13. Hodie Christus natus est 3'16
MICHAEL PRAETORIUS (1571-1621)
14. In dulci jubilo 4'23
15. Es ist ein Ros entsprungen 3'01
FRANCIS POULENC
Quatre motets pour le temps de Noël
16. 1. O magnum mysterium 3'15
17. 2. Quem vidistis pastores dicite 2'46
18. 3. Videntes stellam 2'57
19. 4. Hodie Christus natus est 2'18
EUSEBIUS MANDYCZEWSKI (1857-1929)
20. Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! 3'57