Audio: Distler Hugo - Die Weihnachtsgeschichte (Philips N 00736 R) 1954

Die Weihnachtsgeschichte op. 10 for a cappella 4-voice choir and 4 soloists was written by the German composer, organist, choral conductor and teacher Hugo Distler (Nürnberg, 24.06.1908 - Berlin, 01.11.1942). One of the most important innovators of church music in the post-1920 period.
1927-1931: studied at the Leipzig conservatory with Martienssen (piano), Günther Ramin (organ) and Grabner (theory of harmony)
1931-1937: became organist in Lübeck
1933: Married Waltraut Thienhaus. Became a member of the NSDAP, and soon came into conflict between the anti-church Nazi regime and his own views. He taught at the newly founded Lübeck conservatory and the Kirchenmusikschule in Spandau.
1937-1940: taught at Württemberger Hochschule, Stuttgart, and was choral conductor of 2 choirs.
1940: moved to Berlin, taught at the Hochschule für Musik in Berlin
1942: conductor of the Staats-und Domchor.
He became overworked and depressed, was also afraid of being called up as a fighting force, and increasingly clashed with the anti-Church Nazis. He eventually committed suicide at the age of 38.

Marinus Voorberg (Hoek van Holland, 07.05.1920 - Hilversum, 29.03.1985): Dutch pianist and conductor.
1940: graduated in piano and organ from the conservatory in The Hague. Concert tours as pianist through Europe, Israel, Indonesia and India and followed.
1950-1952: studied choral conducting in Italy
1952-1978: conductor of the NCRV Vocal Ensemble
From 1961: conductor of the Amsterdam Chamber Orchestra
1975-1981: conductor Südfunkchor in Stuttgart

Hugo Distler: Die Weihnachtsgeschichte, op. 10 (1933)

Wiebe Drayer, tenor: recitative
Tineke van Raalte, soprano: Maria
Elisabeth Lugt, soprano: Elisabeth
Henk Driessen, bass: Herod
Bert van 't Hoff, tenor: angel
Kees Deenik, baritone: Simeon
Dutch Madrigal and Motet Choir conducted by Marinus Voorberg

LP 25 cm: Philips N 00736 R
Recorded Amsterdam, Buurkerk, 09.09.1954