Considered one of the world's leading specialists of Baroque music,
Nikolaus Harnoncourt founded the "Concentus Musicus Wien" in 1953. It has
since become one of the world's most respected ensembles specializing in
the performance of early music on original instruments or faithful
reproductions. With its opulent decor and gilt ornamentation, the Austrian
Baroque church of Waldhausen provides a setting evocative of Bach's times.
An added highlight of the program is the retelling of the Nativity story
with the magnificent carved figures of two master wood-carvers of the
Baroque period from Upper Austria. Also heard on the recording are the
distinguished tenor Peter Schreier, bass Robert Holl and the Tölzer Boys'
Choir.