Benjamin Appl: The Christmas Album
A lovely disc, superbly planned, expertly executed.
As mince pies are now freely available, it's time. The first of the Chrimbo crop is here, and there's a steadily-building pile of discs behind this one.
Released November 1, this Alpha disc views Christmas through Bach chorales and carols via the famous children's choir Regesburge Domplatzen, the Munich Radio Orchestra Nebjamin Appl himself and, at one point, his mother on guitar!
From the first, glowingly familiar Adeste fideles in the David Willcocks arrangement (first verse in Latin, second English), all is warm; but it is clear, too, with zero muddiness to textures.
An excerpt from Mendelssohn's Elijah (or, more accurately as I is sung in German, Elias) next: “Ja, es wollen wild Berge weichen” (for teh mountains shall depart), Appl's voice full and beautiful:
.. not the place near Kensington but a composer, Hammerschidt's Machet die Töre weit (Open the doors wide) is unaccompanied boys choir, the Regensnburg singers in all their glory:
Max Reger remains woefully under-rated to this day. His output is vast and includes a significant piano concerto. Of his vocal works, Maria Wiegenlied (Mary's Lullaby) is probably his most popular. Appl explains why via his performance, tender, beautifully phrases, perfectly of Christmas:
.. and there is more Reger later in the form of his Schlaf, main Kindelein from the Op. 142 Neue Kinderlieder. It is absolutely fascinating, seemingly simple but listen to the harmonies closely and there are little Reger tweaks:
Interesting to hear Appl sing in English in Michal Head's The Three Mummers, perhaps not the most memorable of pieces but nevertheless it holds its place on teh album. The real erat is the Regensburger Domspatzen singing Michal Praetorius' Es ist den Ros' entsprungen, simply perfect. Appl joins them after a while, but it is really the choir that excels here:
Sadly, Appl's version of “Größer Herr” from Bach's Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio) is rather lacklustre from both Appl and the Munich forces, even the inexplicably unnamed, as far as I can see, trumpeter). The solo chorale that follows, though, is lovely, “Ich steh' an define Krippen her”Æ (also from teh Weihnachtspratorium)
It is good to know that there are new Christmas pieces being written of quality. One is by a composer born in 1964, Christoph Israel, O du fröhliche, in all-0orchestral garb. It is followed by a remarkably Baravrian-sounding“Geh, änsl,” by the long-lived Hermann Delacher (1918-2004) One can almost smell teh Lederhosen. This is principally Appl with accordion:
The real delight for me is teh Chaminade, Les Noël des Oiseaux. Yes, who doesn't like Rutter (Christmas Lullaby), but this Chaminade is really special, perfectly fragranced, and Appl is, it turns ou, fabulous in French music:
One of the most powerful carols is Gustaf Nordovist's Jul, Jul, strälande Jul. all the more poignant for its restraint:
It is fascinating to ear Ruter's Joseph's Carol - the last time I heard it was the composer conducing the Oxford Philharmonic and the soloist was Sir Bryn Terfel! To be honest I don't think Appl has Terfel's authority here, although teh piece sill is lovely. Instantly recognisable as Rutter, of course!
One of the loveliest pieces here is a du form Hänsel und Gretel (Humperdick), sung by Appl and one of the young choristers:
Chris Hazel's arrangement of a piece by Samuel Scheidt is lovely, the hummed choral accompaniment against Appl's heartfelt works perfect:
As is traditional, the final few racks are the most famous, closing with Stille Nacht (Silent Night). In dull Jubilo I of course there too, as is teh hug of a piece, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (in a Rutter arrangement):
To me though, Sehet der Stern *Hans Berger) is not so well known, bu it s certainly stirring:
And finally, that Stille Nacht, but heard with guitar initially before expanding out into jul-fat Christmas. And how pure is Appl's voice for this:
A lovely disc, superbly planned, expertly executed.
The release is available via Amazon here.
