Album

Saint-Saëns' Oratorio de Noël, written when the composer was 25, is scored for five soloists, choir, strings, harp, and organ. It's drenched in warm Romanticism, but its roots in Baroque and Classical traditions are easy to hear, as in the sacred music of Mendelssohn, which it stylistically resembles. It begins with a lovely, Bachian pastorale that sets the tone of reverence and transcendence that suffuses the whole work, and which returns at the end. Only its second movement, a recitative, deals with the Biblical nativity story; the remaining movements, with texts largely taken from the Psalms, praise God in mostly general terms. Musical highlights include the Benedictus for soprano, baritone, harp, and organ and the radiant, ethereal "Tecum principium," a trio for the same ensemble, plus tenor. The Oratorio is a hugely attractive piece that reveals Saint-Saëns' mastery of shapely vocal lines, graceful contrapuntal choral writing, and gently evocative tone painting—it's a piece that should appeal to anyone who loves nineteenth century choral music. The CD also includes six of the composer's smaller instrumental, choral, and vocal liturgical pieces that demonstrate the same virtues and values of the Oratorio. Holger Speck leads the Vocalensemble Rastatt and the instrumental ensemble Les Favorites in warm and idiomatically sensitive performances, and the soloists sing with admirable purity and delicacy. Carus' balance is ideal, but the sound in the louder passages gets a little bright, almost shrill.

© Stephen Eddins, All Music Guide

CD 1
Camille Saint-Saëns Composer Oratorio De Noël, Op.12 Work 37:01 Romano Giefer Organ, Les Favorites Ensemble, Holger Speck Conductor, Sabine Czinczel Alto, Vocalensemble Rastatt Vocal Ensemble, Marcus Ullmann Tenor, Jens Hamann Baritone, Gundula Schneider Mezzo-Soprano
1	1.Prelude (In the Style of Bach)	3:53			$0.99
2	2.Recitative and Chorus: Et Pastores erant; Gloria (Chorus)	4:59			$0.99
3	3.Air: Expectants expectavi Dominum (Soprano)	3:02			$0.99
4	4.Air: Domine, ego credidi (Tenor, Chorus)	3:38			$0.99
5	5.Duet: Benedictus qui venit (Soprano, Bass)	3:47			$0.99
6	6.Quare fremuerunt gentes (Chorus)	3:15			$0.99
7	7.Trio: Tecum principium (Soprano, Tenor, Bass)	3:46			$0.99
8	8.Quartet: Alleluja (Soprano, Soprano, Alto, Bass)	2:30			$0.99
9	9.Quintet and Chorus: Consurge, Filia Sion (Soprano, Soprano, Alto, Bass, Chorus)	6:03			$0.99
10	10.Tollite hostias (Chorus)	2:08			$0.99
Camille Saint-Saëns Composer Bénédiction nuptiale in F, Op.9 Work Romano Giefer Organ, Holger Speck Conductor
11	Bénédiction nuptiale in F, Op.9	7:24			$1.49
Camille Saint-Saëns Composer Ave verum, motet for 4 female voices, organ and horn in D Work Romano Giefer Organ, Holger Speck Conductor, Vocalensemble Rastatt Vocal Ensemble
12	Ave verum, motet for 4 female voices, organ and horn in D	4:51			$0.99
Camille Saint-Saëns Composer Sub tuum, motet for soprano, alto and organ in F- Work Romano Giefer Organ, Holger Speck Conductor, Antonia Bouervé Soprano, Gundula Schneider Mezzo-Soprano
13	Sub tuum, motet for soprano, alto and organ in F-	3:14			$0.99
Camille Saint-Saëns Composer O salutaris, motet for soprano, alto, baritone abd organ in Bb Work Romano Giefer Organ, Holger Speck Conductor, Sabine Czinczel Alto, Antonia Bouervé Soprano, Jens Hamann Baritone
14	O salutaris, motet for soprano, alto, baritone abd organ in Bb	4:34			$0.99
Camille Saint-Saëns Composer Ave Maria, motet for chorus, Op.145 Work Romano Giefer Organ, Holger Speck Conductor, Antonia Bouervé Soprano, Gundula Schneider Mezzo-Soprano
15	Ave Maria, motet for chorus, Op.145	2:31			$0.99
Camille Saint-Saëns Composer Tantum ergo, motet for 2 sopranos, alto, organ and chorus ad lib in Eb Work Romano Giefer Organ, Holger Speck Conductor, Vocalensemble Rastatt Vocal Ensemble
16	Tantum ergo, motet for 2 sopranos, alto, organ and chorus ad lib in Eb	3:32			$0.99