'Christus am Ölberge', text by Franz Xaver Huber, is Beethoven's only oratorio and an isolated piece in his overall output. He composed it early in 1803, shortly before his great Third Symphony and a few months before he began work on his only opera, 'Fidelio'. Huber chose the biblical accounts of Jesus and his disciples in the garden of Gethsemane and of Christ's capture there as the basis of his work.

Originally released in November 2003, this spectacular recording launched a new collaboration between Kent Nagano and harmonia mundi.

Cast:
- Luba Orgonasova [Seraph]
- Plácido Domingo [Jesus]
- Andreas Schmidt [Petrus]

"A prime attraction here, of course, is the presence of Placido Domingo as Christ, a wonderfully impassioned, charismatic performance...Kent Nagano directs this unfairly maligned score with exciting urgency and dramatic flair." - The Daily Telegraph

“Placido Domingo is on compelling form; the dramatic intensity with which he loads Beethoven's sometimes formulaic tenor lines is startling.” - Andrew Clements, The Guardian, 28 November 2003

"It is hard to imagine a finer performance or more inspirational Christmas listening." - Anthony Holden, Classical CD of the Week, The Observer, 7 December 2003

“Kent Nagano’s high-powered performance is strong in all departments, and presents a persuasive case for a piece that shows us Beethoven in an intriguing period of transition.” - Michael Dervan, The Irish Times, 18 December 2004