Composed in 1803, while Beethoven was also writing the Eroica Symphony, Christ on the Mount of Olives is the composer's only oratorio, and combines the emotive force of his later Missa Solemnis with the theatre of a Bach Passion. With orchestra, chorus and soloists, it tells the story of Jesus’ prayer and arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane and reflects the emotional pressure Beethoven was under at the time he composed the work. This recording by Sir Simon Rattle, with acclaimed singers Elsa Dreisig, Pavol Breslik and David Soar was made during the London Symphony Orchestra's celebration of Beethoven's 250th anniversary.

'When I came to the Mount of Olives, I immediately was simply puzzled. Why isn't this piece played? Of course, it's a mixed piece and there are weird flaws and edges but so there are in the Ninth Symphony, they're part of the personality. It's a fascinating moment in his life when he was starting really to deal with his hearing loss. He'd written the Heiligenstadt Testament, where he really confessed to his suicidal thoughts on losing the single-most important ability a musician could have. There is a kind of unearthly, underground sensation of some of it, there's also a real feeling of naive belief in the possibility of things being better. I think it is completely heaven.' — Sir Simon Rattle

Composer Beethoven
Conductor Sir Simon Rattle
Performers London Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Chorus
Soloists Elsa Dreisig, Pavol Breslik, David Soar

1. No. 1a, Introduzione. Grave - Adagio
2. No. 1b, Recitativo. Jehova, Du Mein Vater!
3. No. 1c, Aria. Meine Seele Ist Erschuttert
4. No. 2a, Recitativo. Erzittre, Erde!
5. No. 2b, Aria. Preist Des Erlosers Gute
6. No. 2c, Chor Der Engel. O Heil Euch Ihr Erlosten
7. No. 3a, Recitativo. Verkundet, Seraph, Mir Dein Mund

8. No. 3b, Duetto. So Ruhe Dann Mit Ganzer Schwere
9. No. 4a, Recitativo. Willkommen, Tod!
10. No. 4b, Chor Der Krieger. Wir Haben Ihn Gesehen
11. No. 5a, Recitativo. Die Mich Zu Fangen Ausgezogen Sind
12. No. 5b, Chor Der Krieger. Chor Der Junger
13. No. 6a, Recitativo. Nicht Ungestraft Soll Der Verwegnen Schar
14. No. 6b, Terzetto. In Meinen Adern Wuhlen Unbandig Zorn Und Wut
15. No. 6c, Chor Der Krieger, Chor Der Junger

16. No. 6d, Chor Der Engel. Welten Singen Lob Und Ehre
17. No. 6e, Chor Der Engel. Preiset Ihn, Ihr Engelschore

Release date: 3 November 2020
LSO0862 | 0822231186229

Booklet in English, French & German.

SACD incl.stereo | multi-channel 5.1

Producer Andrew Cornall
Engineers Classic Sound Ltd
Recorded January & February 2020 at the Barbican Hall, London
FLAC - 24bit 96kHz - Compatible with Windows and Android devices
MP3 - 320kbps - Universal compatibility