A consort of renowned early music vocalists (including Nicholas Mulroy) joins acclaimed ensemble Arcangelo for this seasonal programme of music by Schütz and his contemporaries.

Schütz captures the freshness of the nativity story (the Bible only having been translated from Church Latin a few decades earlier) and gives it an expressive immediacy – the Italian influence on his style very much in evidence.

The rest of the programme explores the development of Schütz’s dramatic vocal style through a sequence of festive works for voices and instruments, alongside works by other important contemporaries.

Programme:

H. Schütz Hodie Christus natus est, SWV 456
J. Vierdanck Sonata No.28 (from Capricci, Canzoni und Sonaten, 1641)
M. Praetorius Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern
J.H. Schein Intrada (No 21 from Banchetto Musicale, 1617)Schein Gagliarda, Allemanda (from Banchetto musicale, Suite 10 in D minor)
Schütz Heute ist Christus, der Herr, geboren SWV 439
Praetorius Ballet TMA 268, La Bouree TMA 32 (from Terpsichore, 1612)
Schütz Auf dem Gebirge, SWV 396
Schein Padouana (from Suite No 10 of Banchetto Musicale, 1617)
Schütz Siehe, es erschien der Engel, SWV 403
Schütz Die Weihnachtshistorie (The Christmas Story), SWV 435

Katharine Dain soprano (Angel)
Zoe Brookshaw soprano
Alexander Chance alto
Nicholas Mulroy tenor (Evangelist)
Jorge Navarro-Colorado tenor
Matthew Long tenor
Hugo Herman-Wilson baritone
Dingle Yandell bass
William Gaunt bass