Saint-Saëns was just 23 years old when he composed his “Oratorio de Noël” in 1858 in only twelve days. Edited by Christina M. Stahl, this choral masterpiece is now available in a comprehensive scholarly-critical Urtext edition.

In the Foreword (Ger/Eng/Fr), the editor explains the background to the premiere, explains the expansion of the work from six to ten movements as well as the composer’s multiple revisions. The Critical Commentary (Eng) meticulously records these revisions.

For the first time, valuable tips are provided for the Gallican pronunciation of the Latin text, customary in France until 1903.

The piano reduction is based on the contemporary arrangement by Saint-Saëns’ student Eugène Gigout.