Mary Bevan (soprano), Clare Wilkinson (alto), Nicholas Mulroy (tenor), Matthew Brook (bass) - Cantatas 1, 3, 6), Joanne Lunn (soprano), Ciara Hendrick (mezzo), Thomas Hobbs (tenor), Konstantin Wolff (bass) - Cantatas 2, 4, 5.
Dunedin Consort, John Butt
The Dunedin Consort has established a reputation as one of the finest period performance choirs around, under the direction of prize-winning historical performance specialist John Butt OBE.
The multi-award-winning Dunedin Consort has won praise for the natural style of its soloists and renown for the virtuosity of its singers. In addition to a GRAMMY nomination, Dunedin Consort has won two Gramophone Awards: the 2007 ‘Baroque Vocal’ Award for Handel’s Messiah and the 2014 ‘Choral’ Award for Mozart’s Requiem.
Further accolades include: Esther was voted one of the ‘Top 10 Classical Albums of 2012’ by The Times, Gramophone included Dunedin Consort in its ‘Twenty Greatest Choirs’ list and three of its recordings have been named a ‘Building A Library: First Choice’ by BBC Radio 3’s ‘Record Review’.
Christmas 2016
It has the same sense of freshness as previous releases…[with] a pleasing transparency of texture, and nimbly sprung rhythms under John Butt’s scholarly direction
Early Music Review15th November 2016
the vigour and balance of the ensemble, the quality of the instrumental playing, the perfectly judged tempi, the intelligent singers’ splendid phrasing and breath control and the overall sense of line from all the performers combine to make this the best complete Christmas Oratorio I know.
November 2016
Common to all Butt’s Bach is an irresistible brightness and freshness, a clarity that fascinates the ear with internal detail, and a glowing sound…the smaller forces also allow a flexibility of phrasing and textual emphasis that Butt is happy to exploit, as well as a lightness over the ground that enables him to keep strong momentum without ever seriously rushing a single tempo…this latest gift from the Dunedin Consort is one to go under the tree
18th December 2016
This is a beautifully crafted performance...There’s an easy flow to the tempos and the glowing singing of the arias is matched by deeply impressive instrumental obbligatos.
20th October 2016
the singers here are Dunedin regulars...with Mary Bevan as a standout newcomer. The choral sound is pert, sinewy, unforced; the instrumental playing is punchy, broad and charismatic. Butt’s navigation of the sprawling six cantatas is tremendously enjoyable.
24th October
John Butt's Dunedin Consort does it again. This red hot interpretation of the six cantatas that make up Bach's Christmas Oratorio holds the attention from the word go. The opening chorus, Jauchzet frohlocket, hits you like a lightning bolt, Butt's infectious energy and exhilarating musicianship infusing Bach's joyous music with utterly compelling brilliance.
The Herald (Glasgow)21st October 2016
Professor Butt has, of course, drawn on the best research to produce performances that are as close as can be determined to what the composer himself would have conducted. Eight of the finest singers share the ensemble and solo work...21 period specialist players joined the conductor's harpsichord[ist] and producer Philip Hobbs...to make this absolutely essential recording.
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