Mendelssohn: Christus, Cantates Chorales – review

Mendelssohn left his oratorio Christus Op 97 incomplete at the time of his death in 1847. Scored for soloists, chorus and orchestra, this short section announces the birth of Christ and includes the chorus "Es wird ein Stern aus Jakob aufgehn" ("There shall come a star out of Jacob"), which opens serenely and unfolds into urgent choral splendour, echoing Bach and the Lutheran tradition in which Mendelssohn was steeped, despite his Jewish heritage. Some of the focus is soft in this performance, but doesn't deter from the pleasure. Three cantatas complete the disc, including "Verleih uns frieden gnädiglich", much loved by Schumann, and the joyful Christmas work "Vom Himmel hoch".