Customer Rating: 
Summary: Bach perfectly performed in Catholic outfit
Comment: This production of the Christmas Oratorio is well situated in a Roman-Catholic baroque church. I like the "near crazy" looking Nikolaus Harnoncourt because he feels this wonderful music deep inside and brings all his fire and spiritual power to the singers, especially the choirboys who are singing like hypnotized by the conductor.
The coir- and solosinging is great and of a beauty that comes from the heart.
The orchestra playing with period instruments is virtuose and fits perfectly with the whole "Klangrede", that Harnoncourt is to realize for us all together with his so deeply engaged partners.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A wonderful performance of Bach's music
Comment: This is actually quite an old film from 1982 which has been transferred to DVD. The DVD itself therefore can only be played in 4:3 format and not widescreen, and it's an NTSC disc. However the film is crisp and clear and there have been no problems with the transfer. The quality of the sound in the recording is also excellent.
Subtitles have been provided in German, English, French, Spanish and Chinese. It's worth noting that I played this film back on my 10.2 inch small screen portable DVD player and had no difficulty reading them. The disc format is Region 0 and should be playable on any DVD player worldwide.
The actual performance of the Weihnachtsoratorium (to give it the name Bach gave it) is given on this disc by Peter Schreier, Robert Holl, soloists of the Tolzer Knabenchor and the Tolzer Knabenchor, with the Concentus Musicus Wein orchestra. Nikolaus Harnoncourt conducts.
The recording takes place in the Collegiate Church at Waldhausen and the delightful introduction to the film shows the church in winter, snow falling and bells ringing for Christmas day. This is despite the fact that the actual recording was made during the summer and autumn in 1981. A wonderful Nativity scene by the sculptor Josef Stammel has been used as an illustration between each of the six cantatas which form the Christmas Oratorio.
The performance is on period instruments, and the top notch playing accompanying the singing is particularly good in this production. The musicians in the film (both singers and instrumentalists) are totally absorbed in the work they are performing, and you feel also that they are enjoying the whole experience. The singing is also excellent; Peter Schreier and Robert Holl are internationally known singers and Nikolaus Harnoncourt specialises in conducting early music. Some of the choirboys admittedly do have slightly breathy voices but they are trained in the continental style of singing which gives a richness to their tone sometimes lacking in that of choirboys from other countries. This makes their voices particularly suited to this music.
This is a disc that you will enjoy again and again and I cannot recommend it too highly.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Excellent saving the dodgy 80's hairstyles
Comment: The performance here is superlative and sung with real passion and conviction. By the DVD and listen to to it.Maybe too much from conductor Harnoncourt who looks half crazed at times.
The DVD was filmed in 1982 and there are elements of the decade that style forgot (70's) so sideburns and long hair abound. Fine if you are notalgic for that sort of thing. The church that that the Oratorio was filmed in is too decorative for me as well!Perhaps I should have bought the CD rather than the DVD!
Taking the tongue out of my cheek I will say that the Tolzer Knaben Chor, soloists and the orchestra all play immaculately and it is a thrilling performance.
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![Bach - Christmas Oratorio [2005]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61FXFD28MXL._SL160_.jpg)
