Christus, Der Auferstandene / Christ, The Risen On

Selbig, Ute; Conrad, Lars; Pietzonka, Johannes; Reinhold, Marie Henriette; Clement, Julian Dominique; Cottbus State Theatre Philharmonic Orchestra; Wilson, Viktoria; Sächsischer Kammerchor; Scheibner, Andreas; Khamasmie, André; Enders, Fabian; Haussner, Estelle; Abram, Franziska

Just in time for the 100th anniversary of his death, Gustav Schreck (1849–1918) is finally given the attention he deserves. Schreck was the only of Bach’s twentieth-century successors as cantor at St Thomas’s Church, Leipzig, to be active as a composer. The present album presents the world premiere recording of Schreck’s oratorio ‘The Risen Christ’, which has not been performed in Germany since 1892. Buried in the archives for a century, the work is once more restored to life by the Philharmonisches Orchester des Staatstheaters Cottbus under the direction of Fabian Enders at its original home — the church of St Thomas in Leipzig. The oratorio effectively combines the colourful riches of a late Romantic orchestration with choral splendour like few other works of the sacred repertoire. Its stunning beauty and addictive sound offer a thrilling sonic experience of great drama: Schreck’s masterpiece was unjustly forgotten and is certainly worth being performed once again!

Price: $42.98