An expressive performance of Bach's masterpiece
When you hear the joyous words «Jauchzet, frohlocket!», you know that it’s time for your annual rendezvous with the finest Christmas music of all time. Bach‘s Christmas oratorio is a cycle of six Christmas cantatas, some of which are rooted in works written specially for royal birthdays. From there, for Bach it was only a short step to an ode to that other king: Christ. The Christmas story is told by an evangelist in recitatives which, as in Bach’s passions, are alternated with contemplative arias, choruses and chorales. Impressive strokes on the timpani echo around the room. Flutes and oboes join in, followed by jubilant trumpets and swirling strings. What we hear is joy and delight at the birth of Christ. B’Rock, together with the Rias Kammerchor and an illustrious cast of soloists, and conducted by René Jacobs, present a deeply-felt and expressive performance of Bach’s masterpiece.
*Benjamin Bruns is tenor in Bozar, Brussels