Weihnachts-Oratorium

%3Cstrong%3EThis+is+a+Dutch%2FBelgian+version+of+the+Weihnachts-Oratorium%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3EThis+luxurious+edition+of+the+Weichnachts-Oratorio+with+2+free+CD%26%2339%3Bs+is+in+stores+now%21++It+is+only+available+for+the+Dutch+and+Belgian+markets+at+the+moment.+%3Cstrong%3EAn+international+release+will+follow+october%2Fnovember+2007%3C%2Fstrong%3E.+Also+a+german+version+will+be+released+end+of+2007+wich+additional+info+from+Boris+Kehrmann.%3Cbr+%2F%3E+++The+Weihnachts-Oratorio+of+J.S.+Bach+performed+by+Combattimento+Consort+Amsterdam+and+Cappella+Amsterdam+conducted+by+Jan+Willem+de+Vriend.+The+music+of+Bach%2C+the+inspiration+of+Jan+Willem+de+Vriend%2C+his+musicians+and+singers%2C+the+interesting+texts+and+the+magnificent+photographs%2C+make+this+a+very+special+production+and+an+inspiring+gift+for+the+holiday+season.++%3Cstrong%3EAuthors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E+%3Cbr+%2F%3EFrits+de+Haen+%3Cbr+%2F%3ERobin+A.+Leaver+%3Cbr+%2F%3E+%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cstrong%3EPhotography%3A+%3C%2Fstrong%3E++%3Cbr+%2F%3EEddy+Posthuma+de+Boer++%3Cstrong%3ECombattimento+Consort+Amsterdam%2C+Cappella+Amsterdam%3C%2Fstrong%3E+%3Cbr+%2F%3EMalin+Hartelius+-+soprano+%3Cbr+%2F%3EKristina+Hammarstr%26ouml%3Bm+-+alto+%3Cbr+%2F%3EJ%26ouml%3Brg+D%26uuml%3Brm%26uuml%3Bller+-+tenor+%3Cbr+%2F%3EDetlef+Roth+-+bas+baritone+++%3Ca+href%3D%22javascript%3Achangelang%281%29%3B%22%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3C%2Fa%3E+++Combattimento+Consort+Amsterdam+and+Cappella+Amsterdam+conducted+by+Jan+Willem+de+Vriend+have+made+2+brand+new+CD-recordings+of+the+famous+Weihnachts-Oratorio+of+J.S.+Bach.+These+are+accompanied+by+a+luxuriously+produced+book+containing+extensive+information+about+the+Oratorio.+This+has+been+written+by+the+Dutch+musicologist+Frits+de+Haen+and+the+internationally+renowned+musicologist%2C+theologian+and+Bach+expert+Robin+A.+Leaver.+De+Haen+interviewed+conductor+Jan+Willem+de+Vriend+and+writes+about+the+spiritual+and+worldly+aspects+of+these+six+cantatas.+Leaver+goes+into+the+liturgical+background+of+the+Oratorio.+All+this+is+combined+with+unique+%26%2339%3BMother+%26amp%3B+Child%26%2339%3B+photographs%2C+which+have+been+made+by+Eddy+Posthuma+de+Boer+from+all+over+the+world.+%26nbsp%3B+The+focus+is%2C+of+course%2C+on+the+magnificent+recordings+of+the+Weihnachts-Oratorio.+The+soloists+are+singers+of+international+reputation%2C+such+as+tenor+J%26ouml%3Brg+D%26uuml%3Brm%26uuml%3Bller%2C+soprano+Malin+Hartelius%2C+alto+Kristina+Hammarstr%26ouml%3Bm+and+bass-baritone+Detlef+Roth.+The+emotions+Jan+Willem+de+Vriend+experienced+during+his+study+of+the+score+and+later+while+playing+the+cantatas+seem+to+correspond+with+the+conclusions+that+Robin+A.+Leaver+arrived+at+during+his+research.+There+are+many+musical+and+textual+connections+between+Bach%26%2339%3Bs+Matth%26auml%3Bus-+and+Johannes-Passions+and+his+Weihnachts-Oratorio+in+which+he+expresses+his+belief+that+the+birth+of+Christ+was+meaningful+and+that+Christ%26%2339%3Bs+suffering+led+to+the+redemption+of+man.+%3Cbr+%2F%3ETo+give+birth+and+rejoice%2C+still+knowing+that+your+child+will+have+to+endure+the+ups+and+downs+of+human+existence%2C+hope+and+fear+-+all+these+varied+emotions+are+present+in+that+first+moment%3A+when+a+mother+holds+her+newborn+baby+in+her+arms+and+all+of+this+finds+expression+in+Bach%26%2339%3Bs+splendid+and+moving+composition%2C+which+celebrates+the+birth+of+Our+Lord%2C+Jesus+Christ+on+Christmas+Day.+The+superb+photographs+of+Mothers+and+their+children+by+Eddy+Posthuma+de+Boer+give+further+expression+to+this+joyful+message+by+Jan+Willem+de+Vriend%2C+his+musicians+and+singers.+To+crown+it+all%2C+we+have+the+sensitive+and+insightful+text+by+Frits+Haen+and+Robin+A.+Leaver+to+help+to+elevate+this+whole+production+to+the+realms+of+a+very+special+Christmas+gift+to+give+or+to+receive.