Harnoncourt's new reading of Bach's Christmas Oratorio at Deutsche Harmonia Mundi makes a big difference from the sometimes very poor Teldec edition of 1973. The old edition belonged to Harnoncourt's pioneering experiments in the field of authentic performance practice, which is why the quality was inversely proportional to the urge to innovate. The new edition, however, is a fruit of that old
… pioneering work, but with all modern conveniences. Harnoncourt is nevertheless as idiosyncratic as ever, which makes his interpretations always adventurous and almost always successful. Somewhat curious are the determined echoes of the aria Flößt, mein Heiland, but they will certainly not jeopardize the musical pleasures of Christmas. (HJ)more
