Wagner, and Liszt, and Humperdinck, Oh My...

I've mentioned this before, but I love exploring Christmas oratorios. I make sure to add a couple each year to continue discovering these works.

But with unknown exploration, not every discovery is going to turn up the Fountain of Youth. Sometimes, you find the Wellington Boot.

Philipp Wolfrum, a heretofore unknown composer to me, honors his musical past with distinctive homages. There is an evangelist who leads the proceedings, along with some specific nods to Bach Cantatas, and the whole fifth movement is based on Resonet in Laudibus. 

Also, The physical media really wants me to know Wolfrum was influenced by those three composers in my blog title. I get it!

While the soloists are pretty firm here, the chorus is a local affair and the orchestra is decidedly regional. This only means there are many moments which exhibit less than tight ensemble work and tuning. Unfortunate.

For many, the wait for Wolfrum's Ein Weihnachtmysterium is finally over, and that will be enough to satisfy. But if you too are exploring, make sure you know what you are getting into. 

The physical media, on the other hand, is wonderful; I only wish I had better to say about the music and its performances. Still, all should be proud of bringing this work to record; I am sure it was a mighty feat.

A review from 2022

It is always fun to find newly dusted-off Christmas oratorios and cantatas from music societies across the globe. Here we have the rarely recorded German composer Philipp Wolfrum and his 100-minute Christmas Mystery championed by the orchestra and choirs of Hameln, Germany.

The fact that Wolfrum was influenced by Wagner, Liszt, and Humperdinck is stamped all over the physical media. While this is mostly a choral/vocal work, Wolfrum gives the orchestra plenty of spotlight with a hearty amount of instrumental showcases, allowing these influences to be ably heard. The opening portions of both parts of this oratorio are barn-burners of the best type, and it all ends gloriously too.

But Wolfrum goes in other directions too, though. He honours past musical masters by borrowing melodic content from a number of Bach Cantatas, and the fifth movement focuses on Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine (Resonet in Laudibus) as a centerpiece of the work. Wolfrum also uses an Evangelist in its recitative sections, another throwback to the mighty JS Bach.

It is too bad that the performing forces are a regional affair instead of a professional sounding one. The best of the lot is the Northwest German Philharmonic Orchestra, who give the instrumental side of the work power and able support, although their abilities are decidedly local. Unfortunately the chorus is definitely amateur, with issues tuning (particularly among the sopranos) and uneven choral work.

Generally the solo singing is very good. A large swathe of this work primarily dwells on the Evangelist and Mary, and both are fine singers. Joo-Anne Bitter is a touch wobbly and matronly, but Paweł Brożek’s tenor is strong. The rest of the team fills out well, and the children’s chorus was quite lovely too.

On the positive side, the production values of this recording are excellent. The capturing of the orchestra is crystal clear, with percussion and other features having a strong presence sonically. The physical media is a beautiful digipak, although the liner notes have no song text translations in English.

If you like exploring Christmas choral works, this is a neat recording. I wouldn’t call Wolfrum’s Ein Weihnachtsmysterium essential listening, yet it is colourful and occasionally stirring. The recording is really only let down by an amateur chorus, but this work has been waiting in the wings for a modern recording for some time.

 Listen on YouTube

Works
A Christmas Mystery

Soloists
Joo-Anne Bitter, soprano
Anne Schuldt, alto
Pawel Brożek, tenor
Martin Berner, baritone
Hans Christian Hinz, baritone

Ensembles
Hamelner Kantorei an der Marktkirke
Jugendkantorei Hameln
Philipp-Wolfrum-Ensemble
Northwest German Philharmonic Orchestra
Stefan Vanselow, conductor

Label: Christophorus
Year: 2019
Total Timing: 1.40.44

 

So I am lightly tossing this one to The Kraken, but not savoring it.

This is not a Bad recording per se, but I don't think I will listen again. Some could be happy with it, and more power to them.

Really, this is only for Wolfrum-a-philes, and intrepid, daring explorers!

 

 

 

Find more Wolfrum recordings HERE!