[Classical] Masterpieces of oratorios. Recommended classical music.

Christmas OratorioHilarion (Alfeyev)

Hilarion Alfeyev. Christmas oratorio / Рождественская оратория

This is a work by Hilarion Alfeyev, a bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church who is also active as a theologian and composer.

The piece is a grand oratorio that portrays the story of Christ’s Nativity under the theme “from darkness to light,” featuring an impressive blend of the Orthodox Church’s solemn choral tradition and a Western narrative musical style.

The harmony woven by a boys’ choir symbolizing the voices of angels and a mixed choir representing people’s prayers deeply stirs the listener’s heart.

The work received its world premiere in Washington, D.C., in December 2007, and parts of it are included on the album “Stabat Mater / Songs of Ascent / Christmas Oratorio.” It is a perfect choice for those who wish to enjoy a sacred, serene atmosphere during the Christmas season, rather than something lively.

ChristFranz Liszt

Liszt: Christus – 1.Weihnachts-Oratorium [Antal Doráti]

It is one of the oratorios composed by Franz Liszt, a composer renowned for his piano works.

Although Liszt was an outstanding pianist, he was also skilled at arrangement, which led him to produce many orchestral works.

Moreover, as a composer deeply committed to his Catholic faith, he devoted himself to composing and reforming sacred choral music, and thus also wrote oratorios.

Christus is a work that incorporates many elements of Gregorian chant chorales, with texts drawn from the Bible and the Catholic liturgy.

Liszt also composed another oratorio titled The Legend of St.

Elizabeth.

Great FloodMichelangelo Falvetti

Michelangelo Falvetti – Il Diluvio Universale – Ecco l’Iride paciera | 2 variants (excerpts)

This is an oratorio composed by the 17th-century Italian composer Michelangelo Falvetti.

Written to a libretto based on the Old Testament story of Noah’s Ark, the music depicts the scene in which God decides to bring a great flood upon the earth, the confusion of the people, the deaths of many in the storm, and the moment when Noah’s family, having survived aboard the ark, offer thanks to God.

In 1682, when Falvetti assumed the post of maestro di cappella at the cathedral in Messina, a strait-side town on the island’s eastern coast, this Deluge was premiered there in the same year.

Judit of VictoryAntonio Vivaldi

Antonio Vivaldi – Juditha Triumphans – Arma, caedes, vindictae, furores

This is an oratorio by the Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi, famous for The Four Seasons.

As the title suggests, it opens with powerful, triumphant music.

Composed in 1716 for the Ospedale della Pietà, where Vivaldi taught, it sets a story about the faith of a woman from the Book of Judith.

Juditha triumphans is the only surviving oratorio by Vivaldi; he is said to have written three others, but they have been lost and can no longer be heard today.

If we could hear them, it would be wonderful to do so.

Elias (Elia)Felix Mendelssohn

Mendelssohn Elias, oratorio – op 70 Orchestre National de France 240p

An oratorio depicting the life of Elijah, a prophet from the Old Testament, and one of the signature works of German composer Felix Mendelssohn.

Premiered in Birmingham, England, in August 1846, it captivated an audience of more than 2,000.

Centered on the themes of God’s power and human faith, it portrays Elijah’s suffering and hope with dramatic intensity.

Its rich harmonies for chorus, soloists, and orchestra leave a deep impression on listeners.

Seamlessly blending Romantic emotional expression with Baroque tradition, this masterpiece is recommended for those new to classical music and for anyone seeking music with a moving, narrative quality.

Christmas OratorioJ.S.Bach

Bach – Christmas Oratorio [1-3] Harnoncourt

This is a representative oratorio by composer Johann Sebastian Bach, known as the Father of Music.

As the title suggests, it was written in 1734 to be performed in churches during the Christmas season.

Strictly speaking, it is closer in form to a cantata than an oratorio, but it is called an oratorio because the singers and chorus take on the roles of biblical characters.

It remains a beloved masterpiece frequently performed at Christmas.

It is also recommended as an introductory oratorio, offering a sense of the Baroque era and the religious views of the time.

Saint LudmilaAntonín Dvořák

Antonin Dvorak – Introduzione e coro ( Saint Ludmila )

It is an oratorio by the Czech composer Antonín Dvořák, famous for his Symphony No.

9 “From the New World.” Although it is rarely performed, Dvořák composed many sacred works—most notably the well-known Stabat Mater—and this piece is one of them.

It is based on the legend of Saint Ludmila, a tale long told in the Czech lands; Ludmila is said to have been a real person who lived in the 9th century.

The musical character is quintessentially Dvořák, with similarities to the middle section of the fourth movement of the New World Symphony and to the Slavonic Dances.

It is a hidden masterpiece from Dvořák’s mature period, when he wrote works such as the Slavonic Dances.