Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns (1835 – 1921) was a
French composer, organist, conductor, and pianist of
the Romantic era. He is known especially for The
Carnival of the Animals, Danse macabre, Samson and
Delilah (Opera), Piano Concerto No. 2, Cello Concerto
No. 1, Havanaise, Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso,
and his Symphony No. 3 (Organ Symphony).
Saint-Saëns' Oratorio de Noël is a solid presentation
of an extremely appealing work. Scored for five
soloists, chorus, strings, harp, ...(+)
Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns (1835 – 1921) was a
French composer, organist, conductor, and pianist of
the Romantic era. He is known especially for The
Carnival of the Animals, Danse macabre, Samson and
Delilah (Opera), Piano Concerto No. 2, Cello Concerto
No. 1, Havanaise, Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso,
and his Symphony No. 3 (Organ Symphony).
Saint-Saëns' Oratorio de Noël is a solid presentation
of an extremely appealing work. Scored for five
soloists, chorus, strings, harp, and organ, the
oratorio lies within the capabilities of good church
and community choirs, and could easily find a place in
the repertoires of groups looking for an alternative to
Messiah to celebrate the Christmas season. It's warmly,
but not gushily Romantic, with gratifying vocal and
choral writing, and both harmonic and contrapuntal
richness and variety. Much of it resembles what
Mendelssohn might have sounded like had he lived long
enough to adopt a late-Romantic idiom. Several of the
movements are strongly memorable, particularly the
Prelude and Consurge, Filia Sion (with their nods to
Bach's Weinachtsoratorium), the duet, Benedictus, and
the trio Tecum principium. One of the standouts of this
performance is the organ of Hans-Joachim Bartsch, whose
sensitive playing and colorful choice of registration
is especially striking. The choral singing and
orchestral playing of Bachchor and Bachorchester Mainz,
conducted by Diethard Hellmann is top notch -- full and
warmly nuanced. Sopranos Verena Schweizer, Edith Wiens,
alto Helena Jungwirth, and tenor Friedrich Melzer sing
beautifully, but bass Kurt Widmer is a little hooty.
The sound is adequate, but is sometimes slightly
distant. With a running time of less than 40 minutes,
the CD could have used some filling out, perhaps with a
few of the composer's many excellent liturgical choral
works.
Although originally created for accompanied chorus, I
created this arrangement for Small Orchestra: String
Ensemble (Violins (2), Viola, Cello & Bass), French
Horn & Woodwinds (Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, &
Bassoon)
