{"id":21323,"date":"2022-11-11T15:38:05","date_gmt":"2022-11-11T14:38:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/?p=175298"},"modified":"2022-11-11T15:53:11","modified_gmt":"2022-11-11T14:53:11","slug":"the-best-recordings-of-the-christmas-story-by-heinrich-schutz","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/rss_feed\/the-best-recordings-of-the-christmas-story-by-heinrich-schutz\/","title":{"rendered":"The best recordings of The Christmas Story by Heinrich Sch\u00fctz"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By BBC Music Magazine\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 11 November 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

T<\/span>he portrait of Heinrich Sch\u00fctz by Christoph Spetner depicts a distinctly sober man; an easy visual fit for the composer of three austere Passion settings and the haunting Musikalische Exequien<\/i>. <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

But The Christmas Story<\/i>, first heard at the Dresden Court\u2019s 1660 Christmas Day Vespers, paints another Sch\u00fctz, a man turning his German piety and Italian learning to a score suffused with sparkle and irony, mystery and awe.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h2>What is <em>The Christmas Story<\/em> about?<\/h2>\n<p class=\""p1"\"><span class=\""s2"\">The narrative, declaimed by an Evangelist, unfolds the events of Christ\u2019s birth up to the return after the flight into Egypt, and is punctuated by eight vocal \u2018Intermedia\u2019 \u2013 each is given its own instrumental colour, and brings the speech of the protagonists into vividly imagined relief. Opening and closing choruses act like the outer panels of an altarpiece framing a nativity scene whose youthful exuberance belies Sch\u00fctz\u2019s own 75 Christmases past.<\/span><\/p>\n<section class=\""highlight\"><div class=\""highlight__content\" editor-content=\"\"> <ul><li><strong><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/christmas-classical-music-the-best-festive-pieces-of-all-time\/"\">Christmas classical music: the best festive pieces of all time<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/17-lesser-known-pieces-of-christmas-music-that-deserve-more-recognition\/"\">17 lesser-known pieces of Christmas music that deserve more recognition<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul><p> <\/p><\/div> <\/section><h2>Best recordings of <em>The Christmas Story<\/em><span class=\""s1"\"><em>\u00a0<\/em>by<\/span><span class=\""s2"\">\u00a0Sch\u00fctz<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><strong><span class=\""s1"\">Ren\u00e9 Jacobs (conductor)<\/span><span class=\""s2"\">, <\/span><span class=\""s1"\">Martin Hummel (Evangelist); Concerto Vocale (1990)<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong><span class=\""s1"\"><i>Harmonia Mundi HMX 2921310\u00a0<\/i><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\""p1"\"><span class=\""s1"\">When it comes to sifting the currently available recordings, the end result proves a close call. But Ren\u00e9 Jacobs\u2019s warmly recorded, spacious yet urgent 1990 account winningly marries the precision and illustrative thrust of an Albrecht D\u00fcrer woodcut with the spicy, heart-gladdening cheer of a festive Gl\u00fchwein. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\""p1"\"><span class=\""s1"\">Given the importance of the recitative, the choice of Evangelist is crucial, and Sch\u00fctz asked for a \u2018tenor with a good light voice\u2019. Martin Hummel obliges, balancing decorum and engagement in a delivery one moment full of wonder, the next of outrage. And the supporting continuo is every bit as inventive as you\u2019d expect from Jacobs. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\""p1"\"><span class=\""s1"\">Less expected, perhaps, is the gentleness of the opening which gives no hint of the lively tempos Jacobs has in store. \u2018Ehre sei Gott\u2019 seems to fill the skies with the whirring of angels\u2019 wings, the high recorders and dulcian speed the shepherds on the way to Bethlehem with a joyous spring, echoed by the sprightly tread of the Magi, while the dark-hued, brass-rich tableau of High Priests gleams with the sombre glow of a Rembrandt. Jacobs\u2019s chorus includes one Andreas Scholl, doubling as a shepherd and an angel in a cast including Ulrich Messthaler\u2019s imperious Herod and Susanne Ryd\u00e9n\u2019s radiant bringer of glad tidings.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\""monetizer__price-comparison-container"\" data-position=\""adhoc"\" hidden=\"\"> <h5 class=\""monetizer__price-comparison-title\" monetizer-title=\"\" style=\""background-color:\" color:=\"\"\/> <div id=\""monetizer__deals"\" data-type=\""price-comparison"\" data-config=\"'{"shopId":"1378","market":"gbp_en","template":"default","searchKeywords":"https:\\\/\\\/www.amazon.co.uk\\\/Schutz-Weihnachts-Historie-Concerto-Vocale\\\/dp\\\/B00K1Q3VYA","excludeKeywords":"","geolocation":true,"limit":"4","priceRange":"4.9-9.1","sid":"term-classicalmusic-5-pcs-txt-pos"}'\"\/> <div class=\""monetizer__price-comparison-explanatory-text\" body-copy-extra-small=\"\" editor-content=\"\"\/><\/div> <h3 class=\""p1"\"><span class=\""s1"\">P<\/span><span class=\""s1"\">aul Hillier (conductor)<\/span><span class=\""s2"\">, <\/span><span class=\""s1"\">Adam Riis (Evangelist); Ars Nova Copenhagen (2008)<\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\""p3"\"><strong><span class=\""s3"\"><i>Dacapo 8226058\u00a0<\/i><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\""p4"\"><span class=\""s3"\">Given Sch\u00fctz\u2019s Danish expeditions in the 1630s, it\u2019s only appropriate that Ars Nova Copenhagen should have taken him to heart. And with its more modern, forwardly-focused recording and clean-cut Scandinavian \u2018interior design\u2019, Paul Hiller\u2019s direction of <i>The<\/i> <i>Christmas Story<\/i> might well be many people\u2019s first choice. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\""p4"\"><span class=\""s3"\">His Evangelist, Adam Riis, negotiates with consummate skill the fine line between church and stage in articulating the story, and he\u2019s notably striking at the end where, with nobility and grandeur, Sch\u00fctz imagines the Christ-child flourishing and growing. Hillier\u2019s apposite tempos and sense of continuity between recitative and Intermedia lend a beguiling naturalness to a strongly characterised and always fresh reading.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\""monetizer__price-comparison-container"\" data-position=\""adhoc"\" hidden=\"\"> <h5 class=\""monetizer__price-comparison-title\" monetizer-title=\"\" style=\""background-color:\" color:=\"\"\/> <div id=\""monetizer__deals"\" data-type=\""price-comparison"\" data-config=\"'{"shopId":"1378","market":"gbp_en","template":"default","searchKeywords":"https:\\\/\\\/www.amazon.co.uk\\\/Schutz-Weihnachts-Historie-Auferstehungs-Historie-Heinrich\\\/dp\\\/B002QEXBTU\\\/ref=sr_1_1","excludeKeywords":"","geolocation":true,"limit":"4","priceRange":"9.1-16.9","sid":"term-classicalmusic-5-pcs-txt-pos"}'\"\/> <div class=\""monetizer__price-comparison-explanatory-text\" body-copy-extra-small=\"\" editor-content=\"\"\/><\/div> <h3 class=\""p3"\"><span class=\""s5"\">Wolfgang Katschner (conductor)<\/span><span class=\""s1"\">,<\/span> <span class=\""s1"\">Christoph Pr\u00e9gardien (Evangelist); Capella Angelica, Lautten Compagney (2007)<\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\""p3"\"><strong><span class=\""s3"\"><i>Berlin Classics 0016232BC\u00a0<\/i><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\""p4"\"><span class=\""s3"\">Sch\u00fctz was heavily involved in the emergence of the first German opera: <i>Dafne<\/i>, created for wedding celebrations staged in 1627, <\/span><span class=\""s1"\">but now lost. Driven along at a cracking pace by Christoph Pr\u00e9gardien\u2019s scrupulously considered Evangelist, Wolfgang Katschner\u2019s account, with its elaborately worked-out continuo, suggests most nearly what a Sch\u00fctz opera might have sounded like. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\""p4"\"><span class=\""s1"\">The immediacy of the performance is founded on an enlivening and illuminating interdependence between Capella Angelica\u2019s voices and Lautten Compagney\u2019s instruments. The colours glisten and glow, the word painting fairly leaps off the page, while the majestic Heavenly Hosts of Intermedium II are intoxicatingly light.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\""monetizer__price-comparison-container"\" data-position=\""adhoc"\" hidden=\"\"> <h5 class=\""monetizer__price-comparison-title\" monetizer-title=\"\" style=\""background-color:\" color:=\"\"\/> <div id=\""monetizer__deals"\" data-type=\""price-comparison"\" data-config=\"'{"shopId":"1378","market":"gbp_en","template":"default","searchKeywords":"https:\\\/\\\/www.amazon.co.uk\\\/Schutz-Christmas-Story-Heinrich-Sch%C3%BCtz\\\/dp\\\/B000WGN7U2\\\/ref=sr_1_2","excludeKeywords":"","geolocation":true,"limit":"4","priceRange":"9.1-16.9","sid":"term-classicalmusic-5-pcs-txt-pos"}'\"\/> <div class=\""monetizer__price-comparison-explanatory-text\" body-copy-extra-small=\"\" editor-content=\"\"\/><\/div> <p class=\""p4"\"><strong><span class=\""s3"\">Jeremy Summerly (conductor), <\/span><\/strong><strong><span class=\""s3"\">Paul Agnew (Evangelist); Oxford Camerata (1995)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\""p5"\"><strong><span class=\""s1"\"><i>Naxos 8.553514\u00a0<\/i><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\""p1"\"><span class=\""s1"\">With two recommendable budget versions available, even Scrooge himself needn\u2019t forgo seasonal Sch\u00fctz. Both are by specialist English ensembles, each with a supple and responsive Evangelist. Performing at a higher pitch, The King\u2019s Consort ought to have an in-built advantage when it comes to innate brightness, but the pristine neatness sometimes borders on daintiness.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\""p1"\"><span class=\""s1"\"> Oxford Camerata\u2019s 1995 account, in fact, also has the edge in personality, whether in humorously playing up the dutiful tramp of the Wise Men or securing an almost Wagnerian opulence for the self-important High Priests. Although The King\u2019s Consort\u2019s tempos are generally brisker, the Oxford Camerata\u2019s is the more dramatic reading, uniting finely calibrated storytelling with hearty cheer.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\""monetizer__price-comparison-container"\" data-position=\""adhoc"\" hidden=\"\"> <h5 class=\""monetizer__price-comparison-title\" monetizer-title=\"\" style=\""background-color:\" color:=\"\"\/> <div id=\""monetizer__deals"\" data-type=\""price-comparison"\" data-config=\"'{"shopId":"1378","market":"gbp_en","template":"default","searchKeywords":"https:\\\/\\\/www.amazon.co.uk\\\/Sch%C3%BCtz-Christmas-Story-Heinrich\\\/dp\\\/B00000149I\\\/ref=sr_1_3","excludeKeywords":"","geolocation":true,"limit":"4","priceRange":"7.7-14.3","sid":"term-classicalmusic-5-pcs-txt-pos"}'\"\/> <div class=\""monetizer__price-comparison-explanatory-text\" body-copy-extra-small=\"\" editor-content=\"\"\/><\/div> <section class=\""highlight\"><div class=\""highlight__content\" editor-content=\"\"> <h4>More Christmas music<\/h4>\n<ul><li><strong><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/recordings\/poulencs-four-christmas-motets\/"\">The best recordings of Poulenc\u2019s Four Christmas Motets<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/the-sixteens-best-christmas-recordings\/"\">The Sixteen\u2019s best Christmas recordings<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/recordings\/js-bachs-christmas-oratorio\/"\">The best recordings of JS Bach\u2019s Christmas Oratorio<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/best-christmas-ballets\/"\">The best Christmas ballets of all time<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/best-christmas-organ-music-of-all-time\/"\">Best Christmas organ music of all time<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/six-best-pieces-christmas-choral-music\/"\">Six of the best pieces of Christmas choral music<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul><p> <\/p><\/div> <div class=\""highlight__image-container"\"> <div class=\""highlight__image"\"> <div class=\""img-container\" img-container--highlight-image=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/24\/2022\/10\/ChristmasViolin-32a5e7c.png?quality=45&resize=556,556"\" srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/24\/2022\/10\/ChristmasViolin-32a5e7c.png?quality=45&resize=1025,1025\" https:=\"\" sizes=\""(min-width:\" calc=\"\" width=\""556"\" height=\""556"\" class=\""img-container__image\" img-fluid=\"\" wp-image-174456=\"\" alignnone=\"\" size-highlight_image=\"\" img-container__image=\"\" alt=\""Easy\" christmas=\"\" music=\"\" for=\"\" the=\"\" violin=\"\" title=\""ChristmasViolin"\"\/><\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section><\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By BBC Music Magazine Published: Friday, 11 November 2022 at 12:00 am The portrait of Heinrich Sch\u00fctz by Christoph Spetner depicts a distinctly sober man; an easy visual fit for the composer of three austere Passion settings and the haunting Musikalische Exequien. But The Christmas Story, first heard at the Dresden Court\u2019s 1660 Christmas Day […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":21324,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"4"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/11\/the-best-recordings-of-the-christmas-story-by-heinrich-schutz.jpg",500,448,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/11\/the-best-recordings-of-the-christmas-story-by-heinrich-schutz-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/11\/the-best-recordings-of-the-christmas-story-by-heinrich-schutz-300x269.jpg",300,269,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/11\/the-best-recordings-of-the-christmas-story-by-heinrich-schutz.jpg",500,448,false],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/11\/the-best-recordings-of-the-christmas-story-by-heinrich-schutz.jpg",500,448,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/11\/the-best-recordings-of-the-christmas-story-by-heinrich-schutz.jpg",500,448,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/11\/the-best-recordings-of-the-christmas-story-by-heinrich-schutz.jpg",500,448,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By BBC Music Magazine Published: Friday, 11 November 2022 at 12:00 am The portrait of Heinrich Sch\u00fctz by Christoph Spetner depicts a distinctly sober man; an easy visual fit for the composer of three austere Passion settings and the haunting Musikalische Exequien. But The Christmas Story, first heard at the Dresden Court\u2019s 1660 Christmas Day…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/21323"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21324"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21323"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21323"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}