Johann Sebastian Bach - Johann Sebastian Bach: Weihnachtsoratorium

Karl Richter's famous 1965 recording of Bach's 'Christmas Oratorio' with a quartet of stunning soloists. Among the many recordings of Bach's 'Christmas Oratorio', Karl Richter's 1965 interpretation holds a special position. Richter was praised not only for his ensembles, the M�nchener Bach-Chor and M�nchener Bach-Orchester, but also for his fabulous soloists both vocal and instrumental. This recording also turned to be one of the last musical testimonials of tenor Fritz Wunderlich who tragically died only a few months after. This was Richter's second recording of the work, markedly different to his first. In his 1965 recording, Richter's Munich forces present a youthful vigour with a homogeneity and clarity not otherwise present in his earlier account, though most notable is his quartet of outstanding soloists:�Wunderlich is joined by Gundula Janowitz, Christa Ludwig, and Franz Crass.

Disc 1:
1) Jauchzet, Frohlocket ()
2) But It Happened at the Time ()
3) Now My Dearest Groom ()
4) Prepare Yourself, Zion ()
5) How Should I Receive You ()
6) And She Gave Birth to Her First Son ()
7) He Is Poor On Earth Come ()
8) Great Lord, O Strong King ()
9) Oh My Dear Little Jesus ()
10) Sinfonia ()
11) And There Were Shepherds in the Same Area... ()
12) Break In, O Beautiful Morning Light ()
13) And the Angel Spoke to You ()
14) What God Promises to Abraham ()
15) Happy Shepherds, Hurry, Oh Hurry ()
16) And That Has a Sign ()
17) Look, There Is in the Dark Stable ()
18) So Go There, Shepherds, Go ()
19) Sleep, My Love, Enjoy the Rest ()

Disc 2:
1) And Immediately There Was With the Angel ()
2) Glory to God in the Highest ()
3) So Right, You Angels, Shout and Sing ()
4) We Sing to You in Your Army ()
5) Lord of Heaven, Hear the Roar ()
6) And Since the Angels Went from Them To... ()
7) Now Let's Go to Bethlehem ()
8) He Comforted His People ()
9) He Did All This to Us ()
10) Lord, Your Pity, Your Mercy ()
11) And They Came in a Hurry ()
12) Close, My Heart, This Blessed Miracle ()
13) Yes, Yes, My Heart Should Keep It ()
14) I Want to Keep You Diligent ()
15) And the Shepherds Returned ()
16) Be Happy Meanwhile ()
17) Lord of Heaven, Hear the Roar ()
18) Fall With Thanks, Fall With Praise ()
19) And Since Eight Days Were Up ()
20) Immanuel, O Sweet Word... ()
21) Flow, My Savior, Flow... ()
22) Well, Your Name Should Be Alone... ()
23) I Only Want to Live in Honor of You ()
24) Jesus Judge My Beginning ()

Disc 3:
1) Glory to You, God, Sung ()
2) Since Jesus Was Born in Bethlehem ()
3) Where Is the Newborn King of the Jews? -... ()
4) Your Shine Consumes All Darkness ()
5) Illuminate My Dark Senses Too ()
6) When King Herod Heard That ()
7) Why Do You Want to Scare? ()
8) And Let Gather All the High Priests ()
9) Oh, When Will The... ()
10) My Dearest Already Rules ()
11) Although Such a Heart Is ()
12) Lord, When the Proud Enemies Snort ()
13) Herod Secretly Called the Wise -... ()
14) Wrong One, Just Try to Cut Down... ()
15) Just a Wink from His Hands ()
16) When They Had Heard the King ()
17) I'm at Your Cribs Here ()
18) And God Commanded Them in a Dream ()
19) So It Goes! Enough, My Darling... ()
20) Now You May Scare Proud Enemies ()
21) What The... ()
22) Now You Smelled Good ()