Bach: Christmas Oratorio [2 CD]

With John Eliot Gardiners uniquely open-shouldered and virtuoso Bach performances, the new period generation was transformed in a trice from the mid-1980s.

The poetic sensibility and vocal allure of Anthony Rolfe Johnson is as memorable here . . . The solo singing is seamlessly distinguished, from Anne Sofie von Otters bloom-filled and pliably decorated Bereite dich to the recitative quartet at the end.

This is indeed a highly accomplished and consistent reading, one where Bachs sense of imagery is especially keenly developed. Gramophone

Includes new liner notes and translations of sung texts