Cantata 1

Sassetta, Star from Journey of the Magi, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1435

Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern
How brightly shines the morning star
Cantata 1
BWV 1

Event: Choral Cantata for the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
1st Performance: March 25, 1725, Leipzig
Readings: Epistle: Isaiah 7: 10-16; Gospel: Luke 1: 26-38
Text: Philipp Nicolai (Mvts. 1, 6); Anon (Mvts. 2-5)
Chorale Text: Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern

Click to read brief commentaries by Simon Crouch for Classical Net, Brian Robins for All Music, Craig Smith for Emmanuel Music and Carol-Traupman-Carr for the Bach Choir of Bethlehem.


Performance of Soprano: Malin Hartelius; Tenor: James Gilchrist; Bass: Peter Harvey; Monteverdi Choir /English Baroque Soloists; John Eliot Gardinerconducting. Live recordings from the Bach Cantata Pilgrimage, at Walpole St Peter, Norfolk, England.

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Performance of Soprano: Deborah York; Tenor: Paul Agnew; Bass: Klaus Mertens; Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir; Ton Koopman conducting. Recorded at Waalse Kerk, Amsterdam, Holland.

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Performance of  Soprano: Marjon Strijk; Tenor: Knut Schoch; Bass: Bas Ramselaar; Holland Boys Choir / Netherlands Bach Collegium; Pieter Jan Leusink conducting.  Recorded at St. Nicolaschurch, Elburg, Holland.

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Performance of Soprano: Edith Mathis; Tenor: Ernst Haefliger; Bass: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau; Münchener Bach-Chor / Münchener Bach-Orchester; Karl Richter conducting.  Recorded at Herkules-Saal, München, Germany.

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Performance of Soprano: Inga Nielsen; Tenor: Adalbert Kraus; Bass: Philippe Huttenlocher; Gächinger Kantorei Stuttgart / Bach-Collegium Stuttgart; Helmuth Rilling conducting.  Recorded at Gedächtniskirche Stuttgart, Germany.

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