Johann Sebastian Bach |Himmelfahrtsoratorium

In addition to the famous Christmas Oratorio and his Passions, Johann Sebastian Bach has also set other biblical narratives such the Ascension Oratorio (BWV 11) to music. Under the direction of Felix Koch, two ensembles dedicated to the lively performance of Baroque music have now joined forces here with two thematically fitting works by Bach: the Ascension cantata Wer da gläubet und getauft wird (BWV 37) and the Pentecostal cantata O ewiges Feuer der Liebe. The Gutenberg Kammerchor Mainz and the Neumeyer Ensemble, which plays on historical instruments, bring the events of Ascension Day to life. And not just these two ensembles: the Allgemeine Zeitung Mainz wrote enthusiastically about the soloists Jasmin Hörner (soprano), Julien Freymuth (alto), Christian Rathgeber (tenor) and Christian Wagner (bass): ‘should the great names of early music ever relinquish their place, there are worthy successors here. The recording, which was recorded live during concerts, shows how detailed the composer Bach worked in his oratorios as a director and dramaturge: the tongues of fire of the Gospel can be heard not only in the Pentecostal cantata. Conductor Felix Koch uses the brilliant instrumentation of all three works with timpani and trumpets to make Bach’s music shine from the inside out, proving to be an intimate connoisseur of the Baroque musical language.