DISTLER: Die Weihnachtsgeschichte [CD de audio] Thomanerchor Leipzig, Distler and Hans-Joachim Rotzsch

The Christmas Story, Christmas Oratorio for solo voices and four-voice a cappella choir - Born in 1908 in Nuremberg, Hugo Distler is considered one of the most important composers of choral works of the first half of the 20th century. As a Protestant, Distler wrote most of his works in German. From a stylistic point of view, Distler's music goes back to the tradition of the great German polyphonists such as Heinrich Schütz, from whom he adopted the polyrhythmic and polymodal elements, creating an extremely peculiar, introverted, ascetic and profound style, capable of playing the heart even of disenchanted modern audiences. A series of personal problems and the banning of his music by the Nazis - who considered it degenerate - led Distler to take his own life in 1942, a sad epilogue for a composer of great talent and a kind-hearted person. This album stars the famous Thomanerchor from Leipzig and some of the best German singers. The booklet includes detailed liner notes in English and German, while the text is available online at the Brilliant Classics site. Regina Werner (Elizabeth), Volker Arndt (Angel), Heidi Riess (Mary), Hermann Christian Polster (Herod), Gothart Stier (Simeon), Thomanerchor Leipzig