Search - Peter Brechbüller, Philippe Huttenlocher, Frank [1] Martin :: Martin: Le Mystère de la Nativité

A fine modern recording of a colorful Christmas oratorio

08/31/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a welcome modern recording of Swiss composer Frank Martin's Mystery of the Nativity (1957-59), a large Christmas oratorio intended for both stage & concert, whose text is taken from a mid-15th century religious drama. It's one of Martin's most colorful scores, ranging through 3 levels of action - Heaven, Earth & Hell - with music to match. There are thrilling choral climaxes as well as breathtaking moments of quiet beauty like Mary's lullaby over the infant Jesus, as well as grotesque humor in the scenes involving the Devils. The only previous recording is of the first performance (Geneva, 23 December 1959)- available on Cascavelle VEL 2006 - led with memorable rhythmic verve & sweeping conviction by the composer's great champion, Ernest Ansermet, & with a superb group of 9 soloists headed by the radiant Elly Ameling. The mono sound remains immediate & pleasing in the solo sections but more cramped in the large choral scenes. It's here that this new version, a live recording from Lucerne (7 December 2000), at once makes its mark, with full, spacious sound that allows the choral climaxes to bloom & resonate thrillingly. There is even a subtle acoustical difference between the miking of the Angelic & Earthly choirs - very helpful in clarifying the numbers where Martin uses both simultaneously. Overall, this is a fine performance. Conductor Alois Koch may not bring the kinetic urgency to the work that Ansermet did, but his more relaxed reading is valid on its own terms & he leads an excellent overall reading, with the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra & 3 different choirs contributing first-rate work. The soloists have been carefully cast. Veteran bass-baritone Philippe Huttenlocher is an exemplary Adam/Joseph, the firm, even alto of Liliane Zuercher is welcome in her 2 roles, & tenor Hans-Juerg Rickenbacher & baritone Peter Brechbuehler tackle their multiple parts with particular success. Barbara Locher is a very positive presence as Eve/Mary, & does some truly beautiful singing (some minor unsteadiness in the lower part of her voice suggests she was in slightly less than top form). 2 anomalies: Rickenbacher takes on 2 singers' roles (sung originally by tenors Hugues Cuenod & Eric Tappy), for a total of 4 characters - did a soloist drop out at the last minute? - which entails some revoicing of the men's ensembles; & there's a cut of 28 measures in the "Infernal Machine" chorus in Part I. More seriously, although the booklet prints an English translation of Bernhard Billeter's excellent program note, the libretto is given only in French & German.(Cascavelle has English as well.)"