Le Mystère de la Nativité

Le Mystère de la Nativité
Oratorio de Noël en 12 tableaux pour 9 solistes (soprano, mezzo-soprano, 3 ténors, 3 barytons, basse), choeurs et orchestre | The Mystery of the Nativity – Christmas oratorio in 12…

Year of composition

1957-1959

Duration

105’

Scored for

9 soloists (soprano, mezzo-soprano, 3 tenors, 3 baritones, bass), small mixed choir, male choir, large mixed choir and orchestra: 3 4 3 3 - 4 3 3 1 - timp. - perc.(4) - harp(2) - strings
Dédié à Monsieur René Dovaz

From this: Pièce brève (1957; 5'), short extract for flute, oboe and harp

Publication information

Universal Edition (UE13110); Pièce brève by Edition Hug (GH11098)

Text(s)

from ‘Mystère de la Passion’ (ca. 1450) of Arnoul Gréban (1420-1471)

Text file

  1. https://www.frankmartin.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/1957-Le-Mystere-de-la-Nativite-fr.pdf

Premiere

World premiere: Geneva, 23 December 1959. Ernest Ansermet, conductor
First performance stage version: Salzburg, 15 August 1960. Heinz Wallberg, conductor
First performance ‘Pièce brève’: Lausanne, 10 May 1957. Edmond Defrancesco, flute; Max Frankenhauser, oboe; Amadea Redditi, harp

Recordings (selective list)

  • Elly Ameling, soprano; Aafje Heynis, mezzo-soprano; Louis Devos, tenor; Hugues Cuénod, tenor; Eric Tappy, tenor; Pierre Mollet, baritone; Derrik Olsen, baritone; André Vessières, bass; Charles Clavensy, baritone
    Choeur des Jeunes de l’Eglise Nationale Vaudoise (André Charlet)
    Le Motet de Genève (Jacques Horneffer)
    Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
    Ernest Ansermet, conductor
    (world première 23-12-1959 Victoria Hall, Genève)
    Cascavelle VEL 2006-2 mono ℗ + © 1991 (FMS022)


  • ‘Netherlands Radio Philharmonic - Jean Fournet’
    Elly Ameling, soprano; Aafje Heynis, mezzo-soprano; Ernst Haefliger, tenor; Herbert Handt, tenor; Serge Maurer, tenor; Louis-Jacques Rondeleux, baritone; Leo Ketelaars, bass/baritone; Guus Hoekman, bass
    Netherlands Radio Choir (Chorus masters Carel Laôut and Meindert Boekel)
    Netherlands Radio Philharmonic
    Jean Fournet, conductor
    Q-Disc 97019 CD’S NOS. 6 & 7 ℗ + © 2000 (FMS092)

  • Barbara Locher, soprano; Liliane Zürcher, alto; Christoph Einhorn, tenor; Hans-Jürg Rickenbacher, tenor; Peter Brechbühler, baritone; Philippe Hüttenlocher, baritone; Michael Pavlu, bass; Rudolf Rosen, bass
    Mozart-Ensemble der Musikhochschule Luzern
    Akademiechor Luzern; Mädchenchor inVOICE, Städtische Musikhochschule Luzern
    Luzerner Sinfonieorchester
    Alois Koch, conductor
    Musikszene Schweiz MGB CD 6173 ℗ + © 2001 (FMS113)

  • world première also available via YouTube (only audio)

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