The Star of Bethlehem

• The Star of Bethlehem, Op. 164 is a Christmas cantata for soloists, choir, and orchestra with libretto by poet Franziska von Hoffnaass (Rheinberger’s wife).
• Rheinberger began writing the work in 1889, and the cantata was first published in 1891.
• The Star of Bethlehem is organized into nine sections:
  1. Erwartung / Expectation (choir)
  2. Die Hirten / The Shepherds (soprano solo and choir)
  3. Erscheinung des Engels / Appearance of the Angel (soprano solo and choir)
  4. Bethlehem (baritone solo)
  5. Die Hirten an der Krippe / The Shepherds at the Manger (choir)
  6. Der Stern / The Star (choir)
  7. Anbetung der Weisen / Adoration of the Wise Men (solos or small choir)
  8. Maria (soprano solo)
  9. Erfüllung / Fulfillment (choir)¹

Read the English translation of the text here.

1. Joseph Rheinberger, The Star of Bethlehem (Leipzig: Robert Forberg, 1891).