Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) A Bach Christmas
rec. 1983-2003
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94103 [10 CDs: 549:14] 
[JV]
If
you want a Christmas with Bach you had better look for something
else.
Gustav
HOLST
(1874-1934)
Two
Psalms: 86; 148; Nunc Dimittis; I love my love
; The Coming of Christ
Robert Hardy.(narrator) Chamber Choir of St Paul’s Girls’ School/Heidi
Pegler City of London Choir; Holst Orchestra/Hilary Davan Wetton
rec. 2011. world premiere recording
EM RECORDS CD004 [58:54] 
[RB]
This
is a strong and indispensable entry in the English music revival.
see
also review by John Quinn
A
dedicated recording of a great Holst rarity, which is very well
worth hearing
Jan
Jacub RYBA (1765-1815)
Czech Christmas Mass, Song of Praise for the Festival of
the Birth of Christ Jan Václav
Antonín STAMITZ (1717-1757) Sinfonia pastorale
Václav PICHL
(1741-1805) Sinfonia pastorlis
Anna Hlavenková (soprano); Sylva Čmugrová (alto); Jan Ondrejka
(tenor); Roman Janál (bass); Pavel Černý (organ/harpsichord);
Czech Boy’s Choir Boni Pueri/Pavel Horák; Czech Chamber PO Pardubice/Marek
Štryncl rec. 2011. DDD
ARCODIVA UP 0142-2131 [72.12]
[GH]
Charming.
It’s all quite seasonal in its happy disposition.
Another
Night Before Christmas and
Scrooge
Simon Callow (narrator) RTÉ Concert Orch/Royal Ballet Sinf/Gavin
Sutherland rec. 2008-2011
NAXOS 8.572744 [79:20]
[Byz]
A
good stocking-filler or cockle-warmer.
see
also review by John
Sheppard
An
undemanding, unhackneyed and unexciting collection of Christmas
orchestral music.
The
Colours of Christmas –
JOHN RUTTER
Full contents list at end of review
The Bach Choir, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, John Birch
(organ), Over the Bridge, onductor John Rutter rec. 2011
DECCA 2782129 [73:27] 
[NB]
Very
good and enjoyable.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH On
Christmas Night
Ch St John’s College, Cambridge/Andrew Nethsingha rec. 2011
CHANDOS CHSA5096 
[74:22] [JQ]
This
excellent and most enjoyable disc will be a high quality Christmas
present for a musical friend - or to give to yourself!
see
also review by Michael
Cookson
If
I wanted a single disc of Christmas-themed music in my collection
I would be happy with this release.
Christmas
Goes Baroque A
Musical Tour of Switzerland, Germany & Belgium
Slovak State Phil/Peter Breiner rec. 1989
NAXOS 2.110546 
[54:28]
[Byz]
Inoffensive
family-friendly viewing, more than can be said of most Christmas
TV nowadays.
see
also review by Robert
Farr
Plenty
of interesting content, well photographed, complements the musical
arrangements of popular Christmas tunes.
Epiphany
at St Paul’s
St Paul’s Cathedral Ch/John Scott, Huw Williams (organ)
rec. 2001
HYPERION HELIOS CDH55443 [72:13]
[JS]
A
musically and emotionally satisfying seasonal feast.
The
Golden Age of Light Music Christmas Celebration
rec. 1958/9
GUILD GLCD5185 [77:57] [JW] 
This
early Festive offering offers plenty of good cheer and it’s
never too early to slip something nice into your stocking.
Libera
– The Christmas Album
Joy to the World; Still, still, still; Carol
of the Bells; Veni, veni Emmanuel; Once in Royal
David’s City; O Holy Night; White Christmas;
Corpus Christi Carol; In Dulci Jubilo; Have
yourself a Merry Little Christmas; Sing the Story;
Coventry Carol; The First Nowell; Jubilate
Deo; While Shepherds Watched their Flocks; Lullabye
Libera/Robert Prizeman rec. 2011. stereo/DDD
EMI CLASSICS 50999 0 88635 2 2 [61:19]
[EML]
If you like your Christmas complete
with fairies, glitter, inflatable snowmen and gold-leafed angels,
this is the disc for you.
Plum
Pudding Christmas songs and readings
Felicity Lott (soprano) Gabriel Woolf (reader) Joyful Company
of Singers/Peter Broadbent rec. 2002
CHAMPS HILL RECORDS CHRCD 013 [77:44] [Byz]
Best
consumed at Christmas, but as festive CDs go, it is certainly
one of the most appetising.
Sleep,
Holy Babe - A Collection
of Christmas Lullabies
Blossom Street/Hilary Campbell rec. 2011
NAXOS 8.572868 [57:07]
[JQ]
An
enjoyable and enterprising collection, offering some welcome
new listening for the Christmas season.
Snowflakes
A Classical Christmas
Řystein Baadsvik (tuba) Cantus Women’s Ch, Trondheim SO/Torodd
Wigum rec. 2011
BIS-CD-1885 [65:00] [RB]
Toffee
apple sweetness including one or two real seasonal jolts.
Christmas
The King’s Singers
SIGNUM SIGDVD008
[53:09]
[ST]
A
good selection, but I’m not convinced that it works as
a DVD.
Joy
to the World
The King’s Singers rec. 2010
SIGNUM SIGCD268 [58.39]
[RB]
An
eminently enjoyable release that will please fans of The King’s
Singers and lovers of Christmas music alike.
Michael
PRAETORIUS (1571-1621) Christmas Music
Westminster Cathedral Ch, The Parley of Instruments/David Hill
rec. 1986
HYPERION HELIOS CDH55446 [49:13] [JV]
From
every point of view this is an intriguing and captivating disc.
And
some from earlier years
Celebration
- Christmas Fanfares and Carols 
Aled Jones (readings), BBC Welsh Chorus, John Hugh Thomas, Huw
Tregelles Williams (organ), Fanfare Trumpeters of the Welsh
Guards, Lt. Col. P. Hannam, BEM, musical director rec. 3-4 February
and 1 July 1991, Brangwyn Hall, Swansea. DDD
NIMBUS NI 5310 [73:34] 
[BBr]
A
lovely collection
Christmas
Chant:
Traditional Latin Plainchant for Christmas
The Monks of Prinknash Abbey; The Nuns of Stanbrook Abbey
rec. 1987. DDD. Texts and translations included.
SAYDISC CD-SDL 369 [62:48]
[BW]
Ideal
for those seeking peace and simplicity at Christmas
Christmas
from Lichfield
Robert Sharpe (organ); The Choir of Lichfield Cathedral/Andrew
Lumsden rec. Lichfield Cathedral, 12-15 February 1996. DDD.Texts
included.
NIMBUS NI5496 [69:57]
[BW]
This
may be the collection you’re looking for
Christmas
Organ Music
Kevin Bowyer (organ) rec. Chichester Cathedral, 16-17 August
1995. DDD.
NIMBUS NI7711 [71:45] 
[BW]
A
most attractive recording
Fear and
Rejoice, O People:
Music for Advent and Christmas
The Choir of St. John's College, Cambridge/Christopher
Robinson Iain Farrington (organ) rec. 14–15 July 1998, Chapel
of St. John's College, Cambridge
NIMBUS NI 5589 [66:42] 
[BBr]
Absolutely
delightful
Make
We Joy -
Music for Christmas by Gustav
HOLST (1874 - 1934) and William
WALTON (1902 - 1983)
Christ Church Cathedral Choir Oxford/Stephen Darlington Simon
Lawford (organ) rec. Merton College Chapel Oxford, 11- 12 May
1987
NIMBUS NI7021 [49:41]
[NB]
If
you are looking for a choral disc of Christmas music without
resorting to the usual “lessons & carols” format
you will be hard pressed to do better than this.
Prima
Voce Party
NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI 7839 [71:21]
A
magnificent, fascinating, compilation.
Nativitas
- American Christmas Carols
James Higdon (organ); Pamela Williamson (soprano solo); Lyra
Pringle Pherigo (flute); Wesley Kelly (harp); Kansas City Chorale/Charles
Bruffy
NIMBUS NI5413 [67:03]
[NB]
As
beautiful a disc of precious Christmas music as you are likely
to hear this or any year
