Xmas Song Book

Editorial Reviews
TIME MAGAZINE
The vocal event of the season and just possibly the best vocal album of the year.

Downbeat
Helen Merrill has long been one of the most important Jazz singers, comparable to any of the top names.

Album Description
It is a Christmas Album with guest artists Mel Torme And Art Farmer. However, several of the songa have year round appeal.

Xmas Song Book

Tracks:

Ave Maria - Choir Of Men And Boys Of St. Thomas Episcopal Church
Ave Maria - Helmuth Froschauer
Ave Maria - Munich Radio Orchestra
Ave Maria - George Stoll
Ave Maria - Orchestra
Ave Maria - The Ave Maria Album
Ave Maria
Ave Maria
Ave Maria
Ave Maria
Ave Maria
Ave Maria
Ave Maria
Ave Maria
Ave Maria
Ave Maria

Customer Reviews:

beautiful beautiful.......2007-06-27

This CD was a gift for someone who loves the classic Ave Maria, and it delivers an assortment of the most beautiful recordings of the hymn ever made. Just lovely!

Ave Maria.......2007-05-30

Some very good renditions of various versions, but some were rerecordings and not remastered, so were grainy and sounded like old 33.3 RPM recordings. I was disapppointed in those, but most were excellent for my purpose in becoming familiar with the music.

Ave Maria - penetrating hymns.......2006-01-26

Other CD's have various versions of Ave Maria, as does this one. What distinguishes this CD is the quality of the recordings, the reverent tone of the vocalists, and the impressive blending of the singers and orchestras. Some versions inpsire an awesome silence, attracting our focus on these hymns and their solemnity. Ave Maria continually provides a respite from the world--it is so intense. These Ave Maria hymns are captivating enough by their music alone. The meaning adds the intended spiritual dimension. This album comes highly recommended.

the Ave Maria Album.......2005-10-03

My husband and I listen to this all the time .. whatever
version is your preference, you can probably find it on this
album. Excellent.

My Dad used to sing this while shaving.......2005-06-11

This beautiful aria is interpreted 16 ways by several renown singers and composers, so I'm sure you'll find your own personal favorites among the different versions. Each rendition has its own descriptor, and I found myself thinking "riveting", "exhilerating", "captivating", "evocative", "inspiring", or even "heartbreaking" for the same compelling music. To me, even the old fashioned, ragged recordings herein had a certain charm, and I don't mind the 'scratchiness' at all. I believe my Dad would sing Franz Schubert's 'Ave Maria' as interpreted by tenor Jerry Hadley -- I swear it literally brought tears to my eyes when I first heard it. As a child, I remember the delight I took in hearing my Dad sing with all the passion and drama of an artiste -- and you know, for a man who didn't even know all the lyrics, he sounded pretty darn good in our old bathroom! Seriously, this is a wonderful collection, even without the reminiscent sentimentality. I highly recommend it.

A Christmas Celebration: Kathleen Battle

Average customer rating:

A Christmas Celebration: Kathleen Battle
One of the most beautiful Christmas albums
A Christmas Collection For The Ages
Kathleen Battle, My Madam Christmas
Pure Joy

A Christmas Celebration: Kathleen Battle
Kathleen Battle , traditional/various , Leonard Slatkin , and Orchestra of St. Luke's with New York Choral Artists & Harlem Boys' Choir
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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A Carnegie Hall Christmas Concert
Angels' Glory
Jessye Norman - Christmastide
The Best of Kathleen Battle
Kathleen Battle at Carnegie Hall

ASIN: B000002ROL
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

O Come All Ye Faithful
O Holy Night
Bring A Torch, Jeannette Isabelle
Fum, Fum, Fum!
Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming
Ave Maria
Gesu Bambino
Medley: I Saw Three Ships; The First Nowell; The Holly And The Ivy
Away In A Manger
Silent Night
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Mary's Cradle Song
Zither Carol
I Wonder As I Wander
Mary Had A Baby
Rise Up, Shepherd
What Child Is This?
Ave Maria
Finale and Reprise: Veni, Veni, Emmanuel; It Came Upon A Midnight Clear; O Little Town Of Bethlehem; Silent Night; O Come All Ye Faithful

Customer Reviews:

A Christmas Celebration: Kathleen Battle.......2007-01-19

what can i say about the best of the best? As always, Miss Battle makes me wonder how anyone else would dare to sing this music after her rendition. A beautiful CD

One of the most beautiful Christmas albums .......2005-11-22

I love Kathleen Battle's voice, and to get such a great collection of beautiful sacred music, it was like a dream come true. She sings many traditional carols like Holy Night, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Silent Night, which is possibly my favorite here, you may think you have heard this song so many times, but Kathleen's voice really shines in it. Her English diction is so incredible, you can understand every word, which is not something many opera singers can achieve. Her singing is always so natural and lovely. Many other songs are oustanding on this album, I love the two version of Ave Maria and the Italian song Gesu Bambino. If you are looking for a really beautiful collection of Christmas music, this album is a great choice.

A Christmas Collection For The Ages.......2005-11-13

If there is one performer I miss hearing on a regular basis, it is Kathleen Battle. Anytime I knew that she'd be in a Metropolitan Opera radio broadcast, I knew it would be a performance to remember and more often than not, I was correct. She has a light voice that reaches the upper reregisters with ease and has as a gorgeous sound. She not a regular at many opera houses these days, and in likelihood, if she still did perform on the world's opera stages, we'd be hearing critics say her voice was not what it once was, but thanks to her recorded legacy, her voice will, always have that youthful, energetic sound.

Overall I believe that Ms. Battle performs better in complete opera recordings than recital albums, but most of her recital recordings are of at least good quality and this Christmas collection is outstanding. She handles all of the works with apparent similar ease, but since the recording is so varied, this is a compliment to her skill as a performer. She begins and ends with "O Come All Ye Faithful" where she does a few vocal acrobatics but it's never overdone. Each time I think of what the bets part of the collection is, my mind changes. She brings her skills from the operatic stage in her renditions of "O Holy Night," "Gesu Bambino" (only Pavarotti sings this better, but it's a very close second), and "The Zither Carol" which sounds so much like something that could come from the mouths of Oscar from UN BALLO or Zurbinetta from ARIADNE AUF NAXOS, two of her signature roles. The music from the African American Spirituals tradition and American background are well done and the accompaniment of the Harlem Boys Choir, used to great advantage here adds so much.

With so many Christmas collections from the world of opera available, choosing one can be difficult, but this is one collection that has proven to be a joy for almost fifteen years and will continue to give holiday pleasure for years to come.

Kathleen Battle, My Madam Christmas.......2004-12-28

I probably have 50 Christmas albums. I love many of them. This is my favorite. Leaves me astounded and breathless every time I enjoy it.

Pure Joy.......2003-12-07

In a world where disturbing things are all too common, Christian scripture guides us to dwell on that which is lovely. Kathleen Battle's blessed voice is most certainly one of those lovely things.

I bought this CD in the early 1990's, and I am here to buy it again because I have worn out the original with scratches, etc. I only listen to it during the Christmas season, but I enjoy it enough to hear it all year.

The 'Christmas Celebration' CD should be enough to convince you to also purchase Kathleen's 'A Carnegie Hall Christmas Concert'. Ms. Battle's wonderful soprano voice is joined by that of the mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade, and the blending is more than memorable. There are a couple of songs which are on both CD's, but you'll want to hear both. In fact, the video of the PBS special is also available, and I recommend buying all three. You won't regret it.

Some of my favorite selections from 'Christmas Celebration' include 'Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabelle' and 'Fum, Fum, Fum', both of which are from a culture different from my own. I found such glimpses into unfamiliar favorites to enhance my own enjoyment of the Christmas season, as long as all of my traditional American favorites were included. They were. "I Wonder As I Wander" and "Oh Come, All Ye Faithful" are there among the other favorites.

Tracks:

Pueri Concinite
Adeste Fideles
Panis Angelicus
Ave Maria
Der Evangelimann: Selig Sind, Die Verfolgung Leiden (Lied Des Evangelimann, 2. Akt)
Xerxes: Largo (Ombra Mai Fu - Welch Schattig Grun) Arie Des Xesxes, 1. Akt)
Omnes De Saba Venient (Graduale)
Ave Maria
Crucifix (Vous Qui Pleurez)
Agnus Dei: Agnus Dei (Intermezzo)
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (Ein Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott)

Customer Reviews:

Ave Maria-Christmas with Placido Domingo and the Vienna Boys Choir.......2007-03-08

Excellent! I purchased this as a gift for a friend who loves Placido Domingo and she was very pleased. There is no other who compares to him. (our opinion)

Average customer rating:

Superb Christmas Album
Love Mario Lanza
Mario Lanza - fantastic
Christmas Hymns & Carols: You Do Something to Me
Pure hymnal power.

Christmas with Mario Lanza

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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You'll Never Walk Alone

ASIN: B000003EP6
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Deck The Halls
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
God Rest You Merry Gentlemen
Joy To The World
O Christmas Tree
I Saw Three Ships
It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
Ave Maria
O Holy Night
The Virgin's Slumber Song
Pieta Signore
The First Nowell
O Come All Ye Faithful
Away In A Manger
We Three Kings
O Little Town Of Bethlehem
Silent Night
Guardian Angels
I'll Walk With God
The Lord's Prayer

Customer Reviews:

Superb Christmas Album.......2007-02-19

Mario Lanza infuses his characteristic beautiful vocal intensity into this collection of carols and Christmas songs.
The result is an outstanding album which will bring a lump to your throat and tears to your eye.
The recordings are old, but the Lanza magic makes this album a must-buy

Love Mario Lanza.......2007-01-28

I love Mario Lanza. He is in my top favs. I have wanted this album for ages and it is just as great as I knew it would be. I'll be back to buy more of Mario Lanza.

Mario Lanza - fantastic.......2007-01-15

Fantastic voice, wonderful classic Christmas songs. My all-time favourite version of O Holy Night - spine tingling.

Christmas Hymns & Carols: You Do Something to Me.......2007-01-12

Wonderful songs, great selections of songs sung by the greatest singer, Mario Lanza.

Pure hymnal power........2006-12-20

I have just spent the past six hours listening to snippets of every Christmas CD that I can find on Amazon, and this is the best by far. It's the purest rendition of the best Christmas hymns that are sung in church on Christmas Eve. No inane flourishes, no ignorant alterations, no arrogant amendments, just pure hymnal power. Don't agree? Type "christmas" in the Amazon music search box, listen to all the renditions of all the classic hymns such as "O Come All Ye Faithful" and when you are done you cannot but agree that Mario Lanza is not surpassed.

Update: I am now listening to the full CD and it is better even than I had hoped for. The beauty of Lanza's voice brings tears to my eyes and joy to my heart.

Average customer rating:

Dream a dream
This girl has Potential (I wish the press would back off)!!!!!!
This girl has Potential (I wish the press would back off)!!!!!!
A must-have for Christmas music lovers
Gorgeous!

Dream a Dream

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Voice of an Angel
Charlotte Church
Enchantment
Prelude: The Best of Charlotte Church
Our Favorite Things

ASIN: B00004ZDPO
Release Date: 2000-10-17

Tracks:

Dream A Dream (Elysium)
O Come, All Ye Faithful
The Little Drummer Boy
Mary's Boy Child
Ding Dong! Merrily On High
Winterwonderland
The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
The Coventry Carol (Lully Lullay)
Joy To The World
When A Child Is Born
What Child Is This?
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
Draw Tua Bethlehem/Far Over Bethlehem
Ave Maria
Gabriel's Message
O Holy Night
Lo! How A Rose E'er Blooming
Silent Night

Amazon.com

Everybody's favorite precocious sprite of a soprano comes out with her third album in Dream a Dream. It's only been two years since Charlotte Church's smash debut, Voice of an Angel, but that's a big chunk of the Welsh singer's life span so far. This latest is basically a Christmas album, so full of festive cheer you'd never guess it was recorded in the summer. Even the glummest of moods will disappear when you hear Charlotte's infectious take on chestnuts such as "Winter Wonderland" and "Little Drummer Boy" (and having the London Symphony Orchestra as your backup band doesn't hurt either). And on top of that is a really special treat: the title song (borrowing an unforgettable classical melody) which blends Church's soaring vocals with the tender voice of young country prodigy Billy Gilman. --Sarah Chin

Customer Reviews:

Dream a dream.......2007-04-03

I bought this CD after watching the music video of the same name. Their performance of "dream a dream" is exquisite. The fact that they wrote the lyrics just adds icing to an already magnificent cake!

This girl has Potential (I wish the press would back off)!!!!!!.......2007-03-01

You know charlotte church has received so much harsh critismn about her,I find that people were jeolous of her voice, and of how a young girl can sing, she is definetly my dream ome true, (So back off johnathan flanders),this girl in the past has done some wonderful music which is inspirational and she is a wonderful person, I dont care whether she has changed, anyway her rock albumn has given me a lease on life and has given me potential in my singing,I love your voice very much, and this reviewer hasnt been written by a kid at all,if charlotte church is reading this,good on yeah girl,you definetly my dream come true,and I hope I will see you one day. your best friend JJCox

This girl has Potential (I wish the press would back off)!!!!!!.......2007-03-01

A must-have for Christmas music lovers.......2006-12-07

this cd is pure magic...almost 20 great christmas songs on one cd sung by the voice of an angel herself..there may be a few mixed reviews by some people who must be opera voice teachers because there is nothing wrong with this cd...it is flawless....charlotte's soaring vocals, the beautiful orchestra and background singers, the whole cd has the christmas feel to it..."o come all ye faithfull" has to be heard to be believed...it is breathtaking...i love charlottes take on "winter wonderland" and "ding dong merrily on high" ..made me want to go dance in the snow or something.....she hits every note beautifully..buy this cd...i bought it back in 2000 and have listened to it at every Christmastime since or Christmas doesnt feel the same.

Gorgeous! .......2005-12-07

Charlotte Church has done it again! She is extremely talented. Even if she was 25 when she put this out, she'd be amazing. But she was only 14-15 years old when she recorded this! Beautiful. This album has great choral accompaniments and fabulous orchestra arrangements. It is a little on the high side in certain songs, but it still sounds amazing. I love her voice.

Average customer rating:

Nanna /Christmas
A Christmas Trip Around The World
A truly international album from a classy singer

Christmas Album
Nana Mouskouri
Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00004Z4YF
Release Date: 2003-10-14

Tracks:

Deck The Hall (With Boughs Of Holly)
Kalin Imeran
Minuit Chretien
Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht
Sanctus
O Come All Ye Faithful
Petit Garcon
Ich Steh' An Deiner Krippe Hier
Ave Maria (Schubert)
Mille Cherubini In Coro
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
O Du Frohliche
White Christmas
Panis Angelicus
Berceuse
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Guten Abend Gut Nacht
L'enfant Au Tambour
O Freudenreicher Tag
All Through The Night
Ave Maria (Gounod)
O Tannenbaum
Lullaby
Kyrie

Album Description

2000 holiday album from the best selling female artist of all time worldwide. 24 Christmas classics. Mercury. 2000.

Customer Reviews:

Nanna /Christmas.......2007-01-10

I have always enjoyed the voice of Nanna Mouskouri for many years. She has a voice of a nightingale. This cd is full of beautiful international Christmas music. If you enjoy music in multi languages then you totally agree with my rating of this cd...

A Christmas Trip Around The World.......2004-12-01

When it comes to singing in many languages, Nana Mouskouri is among the best. This album covers beautiful carols in French, English, Greek, German, Italian, and Latin. Her clear voice and perfect diction give a wonderful glimpse into the traditional Christmas songs of many lands. I especially enjoyed hearing "Kalin Iméran" - it's not easy to find Greek carols and this one is excellent.

A truly international album from a classy singer.......2003-11-16

Nana is a huge star in mainland Europe with a string of hit singles in several countries. She only had one big hit in Britain but her albums have always enjoyed healthy UK sales. I don't know the extent of her following in America but this Christmas album was finally given an American release in 2003 to coincide with a tour. Nana sings in several different languages and you can hear some of them on this collection, including English, French, German and Greek.

The only songs here that Nana sings in English are Deck the halls, O come all ye faithful, Hark the herald angels sing, White Christmas, God rest ye merry gentlemen, All through the night and Lullaby.

Five songs are taken from an album of German Christmas songs, including Stille nacht heilage nacht (Silent night), and O tannenbaum (O Christmas tree).

Nana sings Minuet Chretien (O holy night) and L'enfant au tambour (Little drummer boy) both in French. Ave Maria is here as well but I haven't worked out in which language. I recognize some other songs here from the tune, but there are plenty of high quality songs that I don't recognize at all (or only recognize from other foreign language recordings).

I have the French edition of this album, which has the title Les plus beaux Noels du monde, but the track listing and front cover artwork is the same as the American edition.

Tracks:

O Holy Night - Leontyne Price
Ave Maria - Luciano Pavarotti
In The Bleak Midwinter - Rosemary Joshua/Ian Bostridge
Coventry Carol - The Choir Of King's College, Cambridge/David Willcocks
Away In A Manger - Mark Tinkler
Gabriel's Message - The Choir And Orchestra Of Clare College, Cambridge
Pastoral Sinfonia - Academy Of St Martin In The Fields/Neville Marriner
Il S'en Va Loin De La Terre - Acadamy And Chorus Of St Martin In The Fields/Neville Marriner
Panis Angelicus - Kiri Te Kanawa
Schlafe, Mein Liebster - Marilyn Horne
Wiegenlied - Renata Tabaldi
O Jesu So Meek - Simon Preston
While Shepherds Watched - Stephen Cleobury
Susser Trost, Mein Jesus Kommt - Agnes Giebel
Lute Concerto, RV 93: Largo - Eduardo Fernandez
Alma Redemptoris Mater - Julian Podger
O Magnum Mysterium - John Angelo Messana
Zastupnitse Userdnaya - St Petersburgh Chamber Choir/Nikolai Korniev
Iubi-Te-voi (I Will Love Thee, O Lord) - Angela Gheorghiu/Romanian National CHamber Choir 'Madrigal'/Constantin Marin
Once In Royal David's City - Robin Barter/David Briggs
O Tannenbaum - Vienna Boys Choir/Uwe Christian Harrer
O Little Town Of Bethlehem - The Choir Of King's College, Cambridge/David Willcocks

Tracks:

Stille Nacht - The Bach Choir/David Willcockes
Gloria In Excelsis Deo - Katherine Fuge/Nicola Jenkin/Elinor Carter/Julian Podger
Winter, RV 297: Largo - Alan Loveday
The First Nowell - The Choir Of Kings College, Cambridge/David Willcocks
In Dulci Jubilo - The Bach Choir/David Willcocks
The Three Kings - Gerald Finley
Es Ist Ein Ros Entsprungen - Monteverdi Choir
Still, Still, Still - Ian Bostridge
The Crown Of Roses - The Choir Of Clare College, Cambridge/John Rutter
Christmas Concerto, Op.6 No.8: Largo Pastorale - Academy Of Saint Martin In The Fields/Neville Marriner
The Lamb - Monteverdi Choir/John Eliot Gardiner
Balulalow - Anthony Way/Lucy Wakeford/St Paul's Cathedral Choir/John Scott
Ave Maria - Leontyne Price
Mille Cherubini In Coro - Luciano Pavarotti
Vesperae Solennes De Confessore, K.339: Laudate Dominum - Kiri Te Kanawa
The Infant King - The Choir Of King's College, Cambridge/David Willcocks
Lullaby My Jesus - The Choir Of Winchester Cathedral/David Hill
What Child Is This? - Anthony Way/Tom Finucane
The Tales Of Hoffmann: Barcarolle - L'Orchestra De La Suisse Romande/Richard Bonynge
See Amid The Winter's Snow - The Choir Of King's College, Cambridge/David Willcocks
The Blessed Son Of God - The Choir Of Winchester Cathedral/David Hill
It Came Upon The Midnight Clear - Leontyne Price
White Christmas - Kiri Te Kanawa/London Voices

Customer Reviews:

Christmas Adagios.......2007-03-03

This is the BEST Christmas collection that I have ever heard. I would like
to purchase 15 more to give as gifts this year; however, it appears that
Decca is out of stock or no longer releasing it. HELP!!

christmas adagios.......2007-01-14

this was one of the best assortment of classical holiday songs that i have ever heard. it contains a marvelous array of the best composers and performers that the world has to offer. if you are a fan of classical music, i think this cd will be a positive addition to your music collection

Nice Background for the Holidays.......2007-01-11

Beautiful Adagios and a rich selection for the price. Audio travels to Vienna, London, Cambridge etc

One of my very top 5 favorite holiday albums!.......2005-11-19

What a delightful surprise this 2 disc album was and I'm not a big fan of Christmas music. I loved all the selections and felt they were well performed. This is a true "must have" for any Christmas collection. Superior to many other compliations on the market. This one is a keeper! It is the one album I'll pick first to listen to after Thanksgiving.

Wonderful POCOCAT?.......2005-07-16

Great CD. The reviewer who calls him/herself POCOCAT says he/she is an opera singer. Wonder how much work an uninformed singer gets?
A "fast spinning" vibrato,as you describe Ms. Price, is not the same as a wide vibrato. The former is a speed issue, the latter a width issue. Therefore, 4 variables exist: fast, slow, wide, slim. Thus, 4 types of voice exist: fast/wide, fast/slim, slow/wide, and slow/slim. Most often a singer leans toward fast/slim or slow/wide, in varying degrees. A matter of taste, yes, but learn more about the voice before you expound.

Average customer rating:

Christmas Carols at there best
Nice Christmas CD
The Best Christmas CD Ever
A masterpiece.
You need one traditional Xmas cd - this is it.

Noel: Christmas at Kings

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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O Come All Ye Faithful: Christmas Carols at King's College, Cambridge
Carols from Trinity
A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
The Holly and the Ivy: Carols from Clare College
Carols From Clare College

ASIN: B00000427N
Release Date: 1995-10-17

Tracks:

Hark! the herald angels sing
The first Nowell
While Shepherds Watched
I Saw Three Ships
Ding, Dong! Merrily On High
King Jesus Hath A Garden
In Dulci Jubilo
Unto Us Is Born A Son
O Come All Ye Faithful
Away in a manger
O Little Town Of Bethlehem
The Holly And The Ivy
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
See Amid The Winter's Snow
Past Three O'clock

Tracks:

Once In Royal David's City
The Sussex Carol
Rocking
Rejoice And Be Merry
Joseph Was An Old Man
The Three Kings
As With Gladness Men Of Old
A Great And Mighty Wonder
The Infant King
Balulalow
The Crown Of Roses
Christ Was Born On Christmas Day
Blessed Be That Maid Mary
Lute-book lullaby
Myn Lyking
Personent Hodie
In the bleak mid-winter
Coventry Carol
Shepherd In The Field Abiding
Torches
Fantasia On Christmas Carols

Customer Reviews:

Christmas Carols at there best.......2005-10-18

It does not get any better. This 2 cd set is outstanding.
As one reviewer notes the second disk has many carols not heard by most people in the USA. I heard them growing up, but most are hard to find on an album.

Christmas is not Christmas without King's College Choir singing carols.

A great collection... :)

Nice Christmas CD.......2004-01-10

In my haste for looking for some traditional and exuberant Christmas music, and in my blinding affinity for all things "King's", I purchased this cd. It is a nice compelation, although I, and I daresay many Americans, am not very familiar at all with most of the hymns/carols on the 2nd cd. Morever, I found most of the music lacking in pomp and circumstance. Of course, now, I understand that is not what this cd set is for. If you want big sound and more familiar tunes, try something else.

The Best Christmas CD Ever.......1999-12-19

If you are seeking a CD of traditional Christmas music to help you 1) focus on the true meaning of the holiday and 2)draw near to God, this is it. The choral arrangements are alternately beautiful and powerful, delicate and majestic. There is a rich heritage of European carols which 99% of Americans know nothing of. Broaden your horizons with this disc. You won't regret it.

A masterpiece........1999-01-04

David Willcocks has produced, without question, the most elegant and dignified collection of Christmas choral music available. This CD is a masterpiece.

You need one traditional Xmas cd - this is it........1998-11-30

Yes, most of the stuff was originally recorded in the 50's and 60's and it's not going to win prizes for signal to noise ratio. However, if you, like me break out in a sweat hunting for a xmas cd which won't contain some desperate wannabe modernised rehash of carols or a "listen to me aren't I a good tenor/diva and by the way here are some carols?" tracks, then this is your album.

Tracks:

Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful) - Luciano Pavarotti/London Voices
Silent Night (Stille Nacht) - The Bach Choir/Sir David Willcocks
Ave Maria - Leontyne Price
Once In Royal David's City - Robin Barter/David Briggs/The Choir Of Kings College, Cambridge/Stephen Cleobury
Ding Dong! Merrily On High - The Choir Of King's College, Cambridge/Stephen Cleobury
Joy To The World - Joan Sutherland
Good King Wenceslas - Simon Keenlyside/Richard Suart/Stephen Cleobury/The Choir Of St John's College, Cambridge...
Wiegenlied (Brahms' Lullaby) - Renata Tebaldi
In Dulce Jubilo - The Choir Of King's College, Cambridge/Sir David Willcocks
Christmas Oratorio: Pastoral Sinfonia - Stuttgarter Kammerorchester/Karl Munchinger
Messiah: For Unto Us A Child Is Born - Chicago Symphony Chorus And Orchestra/Sir Georg Solti
Ave Maria - Kiri Te Kanawa
L'Enfance Du Christ: Shepherds' Farewell - St Anthony Singers
Mille Cherubini In Coro - Luciano Pavarotti
See Amid The Winter's Snow - Simon Preston/The Choir Of King's College, Cambridge/Sir David Willcocks
What Child Is This? - Anthony Way/Tom Finucane/John Scott
The First Nowell - David Briggs/The Choir Of King's College, Cambridge/Stephen Cleobury
O Tannenbaum - Leontyne Price
While Shepherds Watched - Simon Preston/The Choir Of King's College, Cambridge/Sir David Willcocks
Away In A Manger - Anthony Way/The Choir Of St Paul's Cathedral/John Scott
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - John Scott/James Blades/David Corkhill

Tracks:

Deck The Hall - Joan Sutherland/The Ambrosian Singers
The Holly And The Ivy - Jonathan Lamb/Christopher Hughes/Simon Haynes/Roland Robertson/The Choir Of King's College...
Panis Angelicus - Luciano Pavarotti/Wandsworth Boys Choir
In The Bleak Midwinter - Anthony Way/The Choir Of St Paul's Cathedral
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - John Scott/James Blades/David Corkhill
German Dance No.3, K.605: Sleigh Ride - Wiener Mozart Ensemble/Willi Boskovsky
The Twelve Days Of Christmas - Joan Sutherland/The Ambrosian Singers
Shepherds In The Fields Abiding - The Choir Of King's College, Cambridge/Sir David Willcocks
Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle - Renata Tebaldi
I Saw Three Ships - Mark Tinkler/William Kendall/The Choir Of St. John's College, Cambridge/George Guest
O Holy Night - Leontyne Price
O Little Town Of Bethlehem - David Briggs/The Choir Of King's College, Cambridge/Stephen Cleobury
Gesu Bambino - Luciano Pavarotti/Wandsworth Boys' Choir
Rocking - The Choir Of King's College, Cambridge/Sir David Willcocks
The Virgin's Slumber Song - Joan Sutherland
Child In A Manger - The Choir And Orchestra Of Clare College, Cambridge/John Rutter
Hosanna In Excelsis - Placido Domingo/James Lancelot/Winchester Cathedral Choir
The Nutcracker: Waltz Of The Snowflakes - Members Of The Finchley Children's Music Group
White Christmas - Kiri Te Kanawa/London Voices
The Skaters' Waltz - National Philharmonic Orchestra/Douglas Gamley
Mary's Boy Child - Kiri Te Kanawa/London Voices

Customer Reviews:

A Christmas celebration for Classical Music Lovers only.......2002-11-06

The cover of this 2 disc set features half a dozen of the great voices of our time: Pavarotti, Domingo, Joan Sutherland, Renata Tebaldi, Kiri Te Kanawa, and Leontyne Price. However, selections by these soloists comprise only 2/5 of the set, the rest being choral and orchestral works.

Nor are these fabulous voices given equal representation. Pavarotti and my personal favorite, Joan Sutherland, have four songs apiece; Price and Kanawa have three apiece; Renata Tebaldi two and only one for Placido Domingo.

However, this is basically a very good collection. The first disc is a bit on the solemn side, while the second is brighter. Pavarotti leads off the entire collection with "Adeste Fideles" and returns later on the first disc with "Mille Cherubini in Coro". His renditions of "Panis Angelicus" and "Gesu Bambino" help grace the second CD.

Joan Sutherland brightens the first disc with her "Joy To The World" and then sets the lighter mood of the second disc with "Deck The Halls" and later returns with a sprightly "Twelve Days of Christmas". She also gives us the beautiful and tender "Virgin Slumber Song". Leontyne Price gives us Schubert's "Ave Maria", "O Tannenbaum" and "O Holy Night". Kiri Te Kanawa gives us Bach/Gounod's "Ave Maria", surprises us with "White Christmas" (a very beautiful & unique interpretation), and winds up the entire set with "Mary's Boy Child". Renata Tebaldi's contributions are Brahms' "Lullaby" and "Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle". Placido Domingo's sole appearance is with the dynamic "Hosanna in Excelsis" from Lloyd Weber's Requiem.

It is a splendid feast of vocal performances. However, the choral and orchestral selections have weak spots. I was especially disappointed in the Chicago Symphony & Chorus rendition of "For Unto Us a Child Is Born", and also thought that a good rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus would've worked better. The orchestral selections did have bright spots such as "Sleigh Ride" (Mozart's, not Leroy Anderson's), Tchaikovsky's "Waltz of the Snowflakes" from the Nutcracker, and the "Skater's Waltz".

All in all, this is a collection which belongs in your Christmas Classical collection, but can't be considered an absolute essential.

This may be a good album; the marketing ploy is shameless.......2001-11-15

I have not listened specifically to this edition, but I can tell you with near absolute certainty that this is a classic example of marketing at its most shameless. This is nothing more than a reissue of "The Greatest Christmas Show on Earth", but with a different title! (Something similar was done back in 1963, when the Harry Simeone Chorale's ever-popular 1958 LP, "Sing We Now of Christmas", was retitled and re-released as "The Little Drummer Boy"--its current CD title--, but at least the advertising there seemed slightly more honest.)

Everything on "The #1 Christmas Album" is exactly the same as on "The Greatest Christmas Show on Earth", right down to the order of the musical selections on the album. Only the cover design is different. Decca/London apparently believes that it can fool its customers into thinking that they are buying another album if they simply change the title. Of course, the album itself is reasonably good, though not on the level of most of my favorite Christmas albums, not even the now-deleted RCA Victor "Christmas Treasures", a collection culled from RCA Victor's Living Stereo series. The offense lies in the marketing gimmick,something I have never seen in all my years of avid CD buying. This is worse than all those "collections" which just rehash old material--at least each collection is a newly organized album.

Touch of angle, touch of heart.......2001-11-14

If you enjoy opera or choir, this is a must collection. The Choir of King's College probably knows the secret how to make the listener flying among thousands of Christmas candles. Pavarotti's opening is so mighty that remind people, this year, to be courageous and to believe (not limited from religious sense but the humanity perspective.) And his Mill Cherubini and Panis Angelicus can vibrate one's tear from the heart, reflecting to the tragedy and the war in 2001. As for the sopranos, this collection is a Jewel. Joan Sutherland's Deck The Hall and The Twelve Days of Christmas bring out the merry atmosphere of the season and cheer one's mood to celebrate. Also her Virgin's Slumber Song has so much beauty and grace . Kanawa's Ave Maria is so dramatic performed that perfectly drawn out the human's longing for love and protection. All the orchestra also have done a splendid job. The arrangement is perfect there is no dull moment from the beginning to the end.

Average customer rating:

Great music, fine performance
The Best of the best
Beautiful Music, Beautifully Sung
A bleak Mid-winter
If you own one Christmas Music CD--this is it

Christmas Night: Carols of the Nativity

Manufacturer: Collegium
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Cambridge Singers Christmas Album
The John Rutter Christmas Album
Christmas Day in the Morning
Christmas Star
The Holly and the Ivy: Carols from Clare College

ASIN: B0000031H5
Release Date: 1993-01-20

Tracks:

In Dulci Jubilo
Adam Lay Ybounden
Christmas Night
Once, as I Remember
A Spotless Rose
In the Bleak Midwinter
There Is a Flower
The Cherry Tree Carol
I Wonder as I Wander
Candlelight Carol
O Tannenbaum
Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day
A Virgin Most Pure
I Sing of a Maiden
Lute-Book Lullaby
The Three Kings
Myn Lyking
O Little One Sweet
All My Heart This Night Rejoices
I Saw a Maiden
Away in a Manger
Nativity Carol

Amazon.com

"The theme of this album is the birth of Christ, reflected in the words and music of 22 carols spanning more than six centuries." This description might also say that the program contains some of the best and best-loved Christmas choral pieces of all time, presented in a pleasing mix of familiar carols and lesser-known original works. Among the best-known selections are Darke's "In the bleak mid-winter" and Howells's "A spotless rose." Several original pieces by John Rutter appear here for the first time--"Christmas Night," "There is a flower," and "Nativity Carol." Other notable highlights are Peter Cornelius's "The three kings" and the lively Willcocks arrangement of "Tomorrow shall be my dancing day." Of course, the singing is among the best on the planet--in fact, there may even be a few heavenly angels in the soprano section. --David Vernier

Album Description

An incredible collection of 22 carols, old and new, including I Wonder As I Wander, Away In A Manger, O Tannenbaum, and In Dulci Jubilo. "In the field of choral Christmas CDs, Christmas Night shines brightest of all." David Vernier - Classics Today

Customer Reviews:

Great music, fine performance.......2007-01-26

The Best of the best.......2006-12-22

I,ve been collecting Christmas Music for over 25 Years especially the non-pop genre. This is my desert CD. The Chanticleer and Kings College CDs are very good but this is the summit of quiet meditative music for the season. I always listen to this alone at night and still get thrilled and overwhelmed by it's beauty and sublimity. My favorite track is "In the Bleak Mid-Winter" simply because of the beauty of the poetry of Rossetti. I always give this as a gift to my friends who enjoy beautiful acapella music.Do yourself a favor and purchase this most beautiful of all Christmas music. I own over 200 Christmas CD'S and this one gets played at least twice a season. The other Rutter Christmas CD's are excellent but not quite in the same class. This is a once in a lifetime album. It is the centerpiece of my own personal celebration of christmastime.

Beautiful Music, Beautifully Sung.......2003-12-18

This compilation of Christmas carols both traditional and modern stands in stark contrast to much of the bubble gum, soda pop Christmas music so often heard on popular radio these days. There are no divas or over the top performances or attempts to make "a moment". What there is are beautiful songs sung by talented singers.

So many of these carols are so beautiful that it's hard to pick out which are the best. More likely than not, that's going to be a highly personal choice but if you see one of your favorites on the track list you can be sure that it's well performed.

In short, this album should be part of your Christmas collection. It's best listened to in the quiet time on Christmas Eve.

A bleak Mid-winter.......2003-10-17

This CD contains the usual Rutter mix of gorgeous traditional treatments with a few incredibly schlocky arrangements. Fortunately, I can just leave the schlock off my iPod playlist (otherwise I'd return the CD).

The real letdown is my own fault: I didn't notice that "In the Bleak Midwinter" is the Darke version, not Holst. Ugh. If only the RealAudio samples had stretched one song further down the song list.

If you own one Christmas Music CD--this is it.......2002-12-24

You can't beat the polished ensemble sound of the Cambridge Singers and John Rutter has devoted his life to celebrating the joys of Anglican Christmas music. This is a coherent program of carols that you can play without skipping tracks. The selection is well-balanced and covers a broad historical range. Although there are some interesting alternatives out there for purists (such as Kings College Choir and the Tallis Singers)if you own just one CD of English Christmas music--this should be the one.

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