Christmas Concert - Classical to Carols / Helen Donath

$8.49
Label
Orfeo
Release Date
October 7, 2022
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      Johann Sebastian Bach, Arcangelo Corelli, Johannes Eccard, Georg Friedrich Handel, Wolfgang Amadeus
    • ORCHESTRA / ENSEMBLE
      Munich Radio Orchestra
    • PERFORMER
      Kurt Peter, Regensburger Domspatzen, Helen, Eichhorn, Donath
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      October 07, 2022
    • UPC
      4011790446011
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      ORF-C230091
    • LABEL
      Orfeo
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      1
    • GENRE
      Classical
    Works ⌄

    1. Part I: Denn es ist uns ein Kind geboren

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: Regensburger Domspatzen, Münchner Rundfunkorchester

      Conductor: Kurt Peter Eichhorn

    2. Part I: Hirtenmusik

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: Münchner Rundfunkorchester

      Conductor: Kurt Peter Eichhorn

    3. Part I: Recitative: Es waren die Hirten beisammen auf dem Felde

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: Münchner Rundfunkorchester

      Performer: Helen Donath

      Conductor: Kurt Peter Eichhorn

    4. Part I: Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: Regensburger Domspatzen, Münchner Rundfunkorchester

      Conductor: Kurt Peter Eichhorn

    5. Part I: Aria: Erwache, frohlocke

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: Münchner Rundfunkorchester

      Performer: Helen Donath

      Conductor: Kurt Peter Eichhorn

    6. Part II: Hallelujah!

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: Regensburger Domspatzen, Münchner Rundfunkorchester

      Conductor: Kurt Peter Eichhorn

    7. I. Vivace - Grave - II. Allegro

      Composer: Arcangelo Corelli

      Ensemble: Münchner Rundfunkorchester

      Conductor: Kurt Peter Eichhorn

    8. III. Adagio - Allegro - Adagio

      Composer: Arcangelo Corelli

      Ensemble: Münchner Rundfunkorchester

      Conductor: Kurt Peter Eichhorn

    9. IV. Vivace

      Composer: Arcangelo Corelli

      Ensemble: Münchner Rundfunkorchester

      Conductor: Kurt Peter Eichhorn

    10. V. Allegro -

      Composer: Arcangelo Corelli

      Ensemble: Münchner Rundfunkorchester

      Conductor: Kurt Peter Eichhorn

    11. V. Pastorale: Largo

      Composer: Arcangelo Corelli

      Ensemble: Münchner Rundfunkorchester

      Conductor: Kurt Peter Eichhorn

    12. Ave verum corpus, K. 618

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Regensburger Domspatzen, Münchner Rundfunkorchester

      Conductor: Kurt Peter Eichhorn

    13. Vesperae solennes de confessore, K. 339: Laudate Dominum

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Regensburger Domspatzen, Münchner Rundfunkorchester

      Performer: Helen Donath

      Conductor: Kurt Peter Eichhorn

    14. Ein Kindelein so löbelich

      Composer: Leonhard Schroeter

      Ensemble: Regensburger Domspatzen, Münchner Rundfunkorchester

      Conductor: Kurt Peter Eichhorn

    15. Nun lasst uns mit den Engelein

      Composer: Johan Stobäus

      Ensemble: Regensburger Domspatzen, Münchner Rundfunkorchester

      Conductor: Kurt Peter Eichhorn

    16. Ich steh' an deiner Krippen hier, BWV 469

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Regensburger Domspatzen, Münchner Rundfunkorchester

      Conductor: Kurt Peter Eichhorn

    17. O Freude über Freud

      Composer: Johannes Eccard

      Ensemble: Regensburger Domspatzen, Münchner Rundfunkorchester

      Conductor: Kurt Peter Eichhorn

    18. Es hat sich halt eröffnet

      Composer: Herbert Paulmichl

      Ensemble: Regensburger Domspatzen, Münchner Rundfunkorchester

      Conductor: Kurt Peter Eichhorn

    19. Adeste fideles

      Composer: Carl Thiel

      Ensemble: Regensburger Domspatzen, Münchner Rundfunkorchester

      Conductor: Kurt Peter Eichhorn

    20. Exsultate, jubilate

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Münchner Rundfunkorchester

      Performer: Helen Donath

      Conductor: Kurt Peter Eichhorn

    21. Fulget amica dies

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Münchner Rundfunkorchester

      Performer: Helen Donath

      Conductor: Kurt Peter Eichhorn

    22. Tu virginum corona

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Münchner Rundfunkorchester

      Performer: Helen Donath

      Conductor: Kurt Peter Eichhorn

    23. Alleluja

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Münchner Rundfunkorchester

      Performer: Helen Donath

      Conductor: Kurt Peter Eichhorn


Recorded here is something which normally is evanescent over the airwaves or in the Philharmonie am Gasteig: the pre-Christmas evening in the series of Munich Sunday concerts, featuring Helen Donath as one of the most distinguished lyric sopranos of her times, the boys’ choir Regensburg Cathedral Sparrows and the Munich Radio Orchestra under the musical direction of Kurt Eichhorn. On this special evening, excerpts from Händels Messias could be heard, followed by Arcangelo Corelli’s Concerto grosso Op. 6,8 Concerto per la notte di natale, Mozart’s Motette Ave verum corpus KV 618 and the Laudate Dominum from the Vesperae solennes de confessore KV 339, Christmas carols performed a cappella by the Regensburg Cathedral Sparrows (dating mostly from the 17th and 18th century) and Mozart’s Exsultate, jubilate KV 165.

REVIEWS:

Here is a reissue of a Christmas Concert (Weihnachtskonzert) from Munich’s Philharmonie am on December 11, 1988 which begins with a sequence of six Messiah excerpts, starring as soloist the great soprano Helen Donath. It has been issued before – as you can see, the YouTube excerpts have a different cover – and it sees daylight once more to grace Yuletide 2022.

These concerts were a regular event in Munich, with the Regensburger (literally, “Regensburg Cathedral Sparrows”) and the Munich Philharmonic under Kurt Eichhorn. When it comes to Corelli and Handel. This is pretty much good old-fashioned modern instrument interpretation of Baroque music, but injected with energy. Here are a couple of movements from the Corelli Christmas Concerto (Concerto grosso, Op. 6/8) to give you an idea. The Messiah (Messias) excerpts are all sung in German – so “Glory to God” becomes “Ehre sei Gott”; but what a choir this is.

Three Mozart pieces bookend the carol part of the programme: initially the choral Ave verum corpus (K 618), restrained and beautiful, and this, a supremely beautiful “Dominum” from Vesperæ solennes de confessore, K 339. The carols are heartwarming, and performed a cappella. Johann Stobäus’ Nun laßt uns mit den Engelein is a lovely chorale carol, each phrase beautifully sculpted, as are the phrases of Bach’s Ich steh’ an deiner Krippen hier. I admit a weakness for Johannes Eccard’s O Freide über Freund’. But I think it is Adeste fideles, beloved of all, surely, that sums up the glory of this choir.

…and what a perfect way to close, with that lovely Mozart Exultate, jubilate, K 165, festive and joyous (and listen tot he trills in her solo vocal cadenza in the first part. After a tender “Tu Alleluja ,” with Donath’s voice bright and agile, each note like a pinprick of light. There is a rather nice, extended interview with Helen Donath by Bruce Duffie available here, laced with many photos, plus scans of Donath’s famous record sleeves. A real treasure of a disc, and a step back in time! At a generous 77 minutes in duration, this is a lovely, heart-warming Christmas disc.

-- Classical Explorer