Oratorio on “Operatoonity”? Ach du lieber, mensch.
Not a stretch–not really. In many ways, oratorio is a lot like opera. Oratorios use a choir of singers, soloists, an ensemble, musicians/orchestral accompaniment, and arias. Perhaps oratorios are most like concert operas though oratorios are sometimes staged like operas.
Here’s seven-ish minutes of sheer seasonal joy. Sir John Eliot Gardiner conducts the Monteverdi Choir and the English Baroque Soloists in a performance of Bach‘s Christmas Oratorio BWV 248.
As you’re listening, just know that I’m not changing the name of my blog to “Oratorioonity,” okay, not even for this beautiful clip because that would just be silly. And we all know, I’m above doing silly things like that. You just won’t find anything silly on this blog, so don’t even try. Instead, try to enjoy this oratorio:
Operatoonity 
You know how much I love Fritz Wunderlich. Have a listen to his recording of Bach’s “Weihnachtsoratorium” with Ludwig and Janowitz with Karl Richter conducting. Here is a link ->http://www.amazon.com/Weihnachtsoratorium-Christmas-Oratorio-Johann-Sebastian/dp/B000025U4P/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1291730099&sr=1-1
Aww, grazie Tenore. I will definitely give it a listen. I may have to change the name of this blog after all.