Dunedin Consort - J.S. Bach: Christmas Oratorio - Financial Times

John Butt and his Dunedin Consort's performance gives the composer's Christmas fare a seasonal sparkle 

Spreading the six cantatas that make up Bach's Christmas Oratorio over the 12 days of Christmas, as originally intended, could be just the way to occupy the festive season.

John Butt and his Dunedin Consort follow up their earlier Bach recordings with another well-researched performance, in which the interest never flags.

Speeds are sure-footed and the instruments have an earthy period tang. Although the solo voices are not uniformly good, the chorus of eight offers singing of vivid immediacy.

Trust the ever-resourceful Butt to give Bach's Christmas fare a seasonal sparkle.