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Disc 1:

1. Part One. 1. Chor - Chorgemeinschaft Neubeuern
2. Part One. 2. Recitative Evangelist - Tom Allen
3. Part One. 3. Recitative - Melinda Paulsen
4. Part One. Aria - Melinda Paulsen
5. Part One. Chor - Chorgemeinschaft Neubeuern
6. Part One. Recitative Evangelist - Johann Sebastian Bach
7. Part One. Chor W. Recitative - Chorgemeinschaft Neubeuern/Dietrich Henschel
8. Part Two. Aria - Dietrich Henschel
9. Part One. Chor - Chorgemeinschaft Neubeuern
10. Part Two. Sym - Orch Of The Kang Verwaltung/Enoch Zu Guttenberg
11. Part Two. Recitative Evangelist - Tom Allen
12. Part Two. Chor - Chorgemeinschaft Neubeuern
13. Part Two. Recitative Evangelist - Tom Allen
14. Part Two. Recitative - Dietrich Henschel
15. Part Two. Aria - Tom Allen
16. Part Two. Recitative Evangelist - Tom Allen
17. Part Two. Chor - Chorgemeinschaft Neubeuern
18. Part Two. Recitative - Dietrich Henschel
19. Part Two. Aria - Melinda Paulsen
20. Part Two. Recitative Evangelist - Tom Allen
21. Part Two, Chor - Chorgemeinschaft Neubeuern
22. Part Two. Recitative - Dietrich Henschel
23. Part Two. Chor - Chorgemeinschaft Neubeuern
24. Part Three. Chor - Chorgemeinschaft Neubeuern
25. Part Three. Recitative Evangelist - Tom Allen
26. Part Three. Chor - Chorgemeinschaft Neubeuern
27. Part Three. Recitative - Dietrich Henschel
28. Part Three. Chor - Chorgemeinschaft Neubeuern
29. Part Three. Duet - Malin Hartelius/Dietrich Henschel
30. Part Three. Recitative Evangelist - Tom Allen
31. Part Three. Aria - Melinda Paulsen
32. Part Three. Recitative - Melinda Paulsen
33. Part Three. Chor - Chorgemeinschaft Neubeuern
34. Part Three. Recitative Evangelist - Tom Allen
35. Part Three. Chor - Chorgemeinschaft Neubeuern
36. Part Three. Chor - Chorgemeinschaft Neubeuern

Disc 2:

1. Part Four. Chor - Chorgemeinschaft Neubeuern
2. Part Four. Recitative Evangelist - Tom Allen
3. Part Four. Recitative And Arioso - Johann Sebastian Bach
4. Part Four. Aria - Malin Hartelius/Kerstin Klein
5. Part Four. Chor - Chorgemeinschaft Neubeuern
6. Part Four. Aria - Tom Allen
7. Part Four. Chor - Chorgemeinschaft Neubeuern
8. Part Four. Chor - Chorgemeinschaft Neubeuern
9. Part Four. Recitative Evangelist - Tom Allen
10. Part Four. Chor And Recitative - Melinda Paulsen/Chorgemeinschaft Neubeuern
11. Part Four. Chor - Chorgemeinschaft Neubeuern
12. Part Four. Aria - Dietrich Henschel
13. Part Four. Recitative Evangelist - Tom Allen
14. Part Four. Recitativer - Melinda Paulsen
15. Part Four. Recitative Evangelist - Tom Allen
16. Part Four. Aria - Malin Hartelius/Melinda Paulsen/Tom Allen
17. Part Four. Recitative - Melinda Paulsen
18. Part Four. Chor - Chorgemeinschaft Neubeuern
19. Part Six. Chor - Chorgemeinschaft Neubeuern
20. Part Six. Recitative Evangelist - Tom Allen
21. Part Six. Recitative - Malin Hartelius
22. Part Six. Aria - Malin Hartelius
23. Part Six. Recitative Evangelist - Tom Allen
24. Part Six. Chor - Chorgemeinschaft Neubeuern
25. Part Six. Recitative Evangelist - Tom Allen
26. Part Six. Recitative Evangelist - Tom Allen
27. Part Six. Aria - Tom Allen
28. Part Six. Recitative - Malin Hartelius/Melinda Paulsen/Tom Allen/Dietrich Henschel
29. Part Six. Chor - Chorgemeinschaft Neubeuern

Disc 3:

1. Enoch Zu Guttenberg Speaks About Johann Sebastian Bachs' Christmas Oratario, BWV 248 - Enoch Zu Guttenberg
2. Enoch Zu Guttenberg Speaks About Johann Sebastian Bachs' Christmas Oratario, BWV 248 - Enoch Zu Guttenberg
3. Enoch Zu Guttenberg Speaks About Johann Sebastian Bachs' Christmas Oratario, BWV 248 - Enoch Zu Guttenberg
4. Enoch Zu Guttenberg Speaks About Johann Sebastian Bachs' Christmas Oratario, BWV 248 - Enoch Zu Guttenberg
5. Enoch Zu Guttenberg Speaks About Johann Sebastian Bachs' Christmas Oratario, BWV 248 - Enoch Zu Guttenberg
6. Enoch Zu Guttenberg Speaks About Johann Sebastian Bachs' Christmas Oratario, BWV 248 - Enoch Zu Guttenberg
7. Enoch Zu Guttenberg Speaks About Johann Sebastian Bachs' Christmas Oratario, BWV 248 - Enoch Zu Guttenberg
8. Enoch Zu Guttenberg Speaks About Johann Sebastian Bachs' Christmas Oratario, BWV 248 - Enoch Zu Guttenberg
9. Enoch Zu Guttenberg Speaks About Johann Sebastian Bachs' Christmas Oratario, BWV 248 - Enoch Zu Guttenberg
10. Enoch Zu Guttenberg Speaks About Johann Sebastian Bachs' Christmas Oratario, BWV 248 - Enoch Zu Guttenberg

Rating: - TALENTED SOLOISTS, POOR CHOIR
I was able to borrow this CD from a library. The choir is, in my opinion very poor. Unless you like to hear bass, tenor, alto and soprano parts reduced to unison, with all the wonderful counterpoint and harmonies submerged, buy the new one conducted by Jan Willem de Vriend. Click on "my reviews" to read my review of this new CD.

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Rating: - Sublime Realization - the Best Recording to Date!!
I don't know to which recording the previous reviewer is referring, but it is not this one. This IS NOT a performance of the Hungarian Radio Choir. This rendering comes from the Orchester der KlangVerwaltung and Chorgemeinschaft Neubeuern under the more-than-able direction of Enoch zu Guttenberg.

The Orchester der KlangVerwaltung is based in Munich and comprised of members of the Berlin Philharmonic, Stuttgart State Opera, Deutsche Oper am Rhein and Cologne Radio Orchestera. The orchestra roster is rounded out with various soloists, chamber musicians and competition winners hand picked by Herr Dirigent zu Guttenberg. Truly a collection of incredibly gifted musicians! The Chorgemeinschaft Neubeuern is a "traditional Bavarian folk choir" from the village of Neubeuern.

The recording and performance are the finest known to me. First, the performance is blessed with the incomparable (aside from Maurice Andre!) Swedish trumpet player, HAkan HArdenberger. Without question the finest trumpeter before the public today, I consider this to be one of his finest recorded performances. It stands alongside both his Telemann and debut release on Philips (Haydn, Hummel, Stamitz, Hertel) as the quintessential captures of his singular brilliance to be found on disc. HArdenberger's interpretation and execution are flawless as usual, but there is a special quality about the recorded sound of his playing here. Characteristically resplendent and sensitive, both musically and interpretively, additional nuances of vibrancy and sheer joy are evidenced in his performance here.

While the execution of all participants is deft and indeed virtuosic in every sense, there is a distinct feeling that the hinge on which this entire production turns is the direction of zu Guttenberg. Tempi, balance and texture are copiously spot on throughout. And the blending of orchestra, chorus and soloists is perhaps the most noteworthy aspect of this account.

Combine these attributes with the most festively exuberant rendering of the Christmas Oratorio I have had the privilege of listening to, and the result is an unmitigated REVELATION where this magnificent work from the pen of J.S. is concerned.

Also noteworthy is the exemplary performance of tenor Tom Allen. The work of soprano Malin Hartelius, alto Melinda Paulsen and bass Dietrich Henschel should also be lauded.

My greatest regret is that this recording is currently unavailable. I was lucky enough to pick it up in Munich in the Spring of '98, where I filled in briefly on trumpet in the Bavarian Radio Symphony. I couldn't possibly offer a more enthusiastic recommendation of this recording. DO NOT hesitate to grab this one if you are fortunate enough to locate a copy!