Verve Bach: Weihnachtsoratorium, BWV 248 [VINYL]

Karl Richter's famous 1965 recording of Bach's 'Christmas Oratorio' with a quartet of stunning soloists. Among the many recordings of Bach's 'Christmas Oratorio', Karl Richter's 1965 interpretation holds a special position. Richter was praised not only for his ensembles, the Münchener Bach-Chor and Münchener Bach-Orchester, but also for his fabulous soloists both vocal and instrumental. This recording also turned to be one of the last musical testimonials of tenor Fritz Wunderlich who tragically died only a few months after. This was Richter's second recording of the work, markedly different to his first. In his 1965 recording, Richter's Munich forces present a youthful vigour with a homogeneity and clarity not otherwise present in his earlier account, though most notable is his quartet of outstanding soloists: Wunderlich is joined by Gundula Janowitz, Christa Ludwig, and Franz Crass.