Bach - Christmas Oratorio
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Movie Reviews of Bach - Christmas Oratorio
Movie Review: Adequate Performance
Summary: 3 Stars
There is so much genuine talent present for this rare dvd presentation of Bach's Christmas Oratorio that it rather grieves me to admit to being less than overwhelmed. The main reason is Maestro Gardiner's fast tempi.
Like so many of today's baroque conductors, the tempi here all favor the "lively," "efficient" performance. All the notes are there, and it's remarkable how the musicians are able to keep up with the fast beats. But the majesty of much of Bach's score is lacking.
What this conductor is doing is focusing on the main beats (such as quarter notes) while ignoring the sixteenths--the latter being really the determining factor of a chosen tempo. When the "small notes" are not given their due, the entire enterprise becomes a technical feat of endurance and bravura skill. Unfortunately, this isn't what Bach's inspired score is about.
In fact, some tempi are so fast that the conductor abandons beating the main three or four and starts "shaping" entire measures into one sweeping motion, This is understandable since beating so fast will become physically tiring on the arm after a while.
Sixteenth malismas, turns, and runs all become technical feats rather than genuine modes of expression. One reason I feel conductors choose these fast tempi is to avoid a too-long performance. Thus expensive union time is trimmed, while getting the work in its entirety onto two discs rather than three. Modern audiences seem to like efficiency and the tenor of the time is fast editing, swift cutting and spunky action.
Sorry, but to do Bach properly, one must settle down, be patient and get in a relaxed mode. The object is not to "get it over with" but rather ponder the creative sharing. It's time for conductors to settle down and get serious about their artistic responsibility.
The dvd is well recorded and edited, and the instrumental ensemble, chorus and soli are all fine.
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