CD Feature/ Bach: "Christmas Oratorio"
TobiasDiego Fasolis, the „Coro della Radio Svizzera“ and the ensemble „I Barocchisti“ have been rather active, when it comes to Bach’s oratorios – having released quite a few of his passions, cantatas and even the h-minor mass. And now there’s this (hybrid) double SACD featuring the Christmas Oratorio.
During the first seconds of this recording, you might be just a little disappointed by the use of old instruments, especially with such a reduced instrumentation. One is quickly led to file this sort of recording under those, which bitterly fight for being “true to a piece” under the flag of historic practise. Historic practise and playing on original instruments are always associated with being overly rational and devoid of sensuality: Somehow, the past seems more tangible, when it is marked by musical asceticism and when performing and listening are related to science. Fasolis’ album proves that this is just another cliche: Even though he is not shying away from this approach in general, his interpretation is marked by an irrepressible vitality and a sense of being happily in love – which show the Christmas Oratory to be the opposite of the Johannes Passion. There’s only a handful of renditions offering such a degree of easy accesibility and clarity of musical layers and structures. And there’s even less offering such rhythmical precision and clean intonation.
This is one of those recordings, which despite its demands in terms of performance pratise, does not aim to demonstrate historical and aural estrangement – but rather a musical common ground, which serves as a present of its own.
By Jan Giffhorn
Homepage: ARTS Music
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