Camille Saint-Saëns

1835 - 1921

I could hardly suggest that Saint-Saëns is an unknown. Danse Macabre, Carnival of the Animals, his organ concerto and Requiem are all the stuff of classical radio stations the world over.

But as it is Christmas it only seems right to dwell on one of his less well known compositions, the Christmas Oratorio.

It is a fascinating piece, operatic in places but with the ever present organ keeping a sense of the religious. The Oratorio was composed for five vocal soloists, mixed choir, strings, organ and harp. An unusual mix!

The work is a bit of a hybrid in terms of the libretto. Sung in Latin, it uses texts from the Old and New Testaments including the Psalms and the Gospels, as well as drawing on the Catholic Christmas liturgy.

Happy Christmas everyone!