Bach-Chor Siegen, Ulrich Stotzel - Festliche Weihnachtschoräle 2 (2005)

These are two popular recordings of traditional German chorales and Christmas songs.
Both albums were released by the Gerth Medien label and are still considered classics of German sacred choral music for the Christmas season.
The first volume of the series, which brought together classic German Christmas carols,
The second volume, featuring the Pro Musica Sacra ensemble, expanded the timeframe and included a broader range of composers.
The recordings were made in 1999 and the spring and summer of 2005 at the Martinikirche (St. Martin's Church) in Siegen, Germany. This church has unique acoustics and is the choir's home venue.
Ulrich Stötzel directed this choir since 1973 and made it one of the most important ensembles in Westphalia. The Martinikirche recordings are considered benchmarks for this choir due to the ensemble's close historical connection with the place. For 40 years, the Siegen Bach Choir has delighted audiences with outstanding CD recordings, radio broadcasts, and numerous concerts both at home and abroad. Now, choir director Ulrich
Stötzel and over 100 singers present their first Christmas programs.
They include a festive selection of well-known and beloved Christmas
carols, motets, and arias, recorded with organ and instrumental ensemble. The repertoire spans from the late Renaissance to modern late
Romanticism, transcending eras. This production invites listeners to discover popular Christmas carols from other countries, such as
France, England, and the Netherlands. This musical diversity creates an experience as vibrant as a stained-glass window.
In their second album, the dedicated singers, under the baton of conductor Ulrich Stötzel, present another selection of Christmas carols. The variety of instruments is particularly impressive. Along with the organ, various strings, flutes, and harp provide a beautiful backdrop for the singers. The singers themselves showcase a wide range of styles: sometimes performing in small ensembles, sometimes in larger ones, culminating in a sumptuous nine-part arrangement of "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern" (How beautifully the morning star shines).
Here you'll hear Christmas classics from the early Baroque to late Romanticism, as well as English Christmas carols and a few
contemporary works.
A truly delightful Christmas gift for lovers of classical choral music!