Oratorio de Noël op. 12

• New edition for the Saint-Saëns Anniversary Year 2021
• Piano reduction by Saint-Saëns’ pupil Eugène Gigout
• Notes on Gallican pronunciation of the Latin text

Saint-Saëns was barely 23 years old when he composed his “Oratorio de Noël” in just 12 days in 1858. Now this Christmas oratorio which has been edited by Christina M. Stahl is appearing in a scholarly-critical Urtext edition.

In the Foreword (Ger/Eng/Fr), the editor explains the background of the premiere, elucidates the work’s expansion from six movements to ten and describes the composer’s multiple revisions. These revisions, among other things, are documented in the detailed Critical Commentary (Eng). Moreover, this edition is the first to offer valuable tips on the Gallican pronunciation of the Latin text, which was customary in France until 1903.

Instrumentation: Soprano solo, Mezzo-soprano solo, Alto solo, Tenor solo, Baritone solo, Mixed choir (SATB), Harp, Violin (2), Viola, Violoncello, Double bass, Organ