£16 post free World-wide   555 sonatas 9Cds mp3 files Only £22   Benjamin: Written on Skin £16

Buy through MusicWeb for £13.95 postage paid World-wide. You may prefer to pay by Sterling cheque or Euro notes to avoid PayPal. Contact for details Musicweb Purchase button Visit our partner ArkivMusic

In Dulci Jubilo ANONYMOUS: In Dulci Jubilo [3:17] Remember O thou Man [3:03] Gently the Fragrance [3:11] Tomorrow Shall be my Dancing Day [1:43] Vous qui désirez sans fin [1:30] Chrétiens qui suives l’église [3:54] Grâce soit renduë [1:30] Philipp Friedrich BÖDDECKER (1607-1683) Veni Salvator hominum [6:22} Michel CORRETTE (1709-1795) Quartrième Symphonie en quatuor [9:24] Noël Provençal [2:01] Nikolaus BRUHNS (1665-1697) Jauxhzet dem Herrn, alle Welt [12:45] Jean-Philippe RAMEAU (1683-1764) Musettes from Les Fêtes d’hébé [3:27] Rigadouns from Les Fêtes d’hébé [1:57] Francois COUPERIN (1668-1733) Musette from Troisième Concert Royal [2:20] Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Bereitet die Wege, beritet die Bahn (from BWV 132) [5:40] Mit zarten und vergnügten Trieben (from BWV 36b) [6:28] The Aulos Ensemble: Christopher Krueger (flute and recorder); Marc Schachman (oboe); Linda Quan (violin); Myrnon Lutzke (cello); Arthur Hass (harpsichord and organ); Julianne Baird (soprano). rec. 19-21 May 2006, Miller Chapel, Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, New Jersey. CENTAUR CRC 2831 [68:38]

The Aulos Ensemble have produced in this recording one of the most elegant and delightful collections of Christmas music to have graced my stereo system in some years. Beautifully programmed and masterfully played, this is a disc of rather constant delights. Of particular merit is the superb flute and recorder playing of Christopher Krueger, who lives up to his fame as one of the finest flute virtuosos in the world. Having heard him play live several times, it is nice to know that an artist can produce equally superior performances both on recordings and in concert. There is also first rate playing from Marc Schachman, whose oboe tone is wonderfully sweet, and at times hauntingly plaintive. Amongst an entire disc of attractive music, there are some definite standouts. It is perhaps in the instrumental selections that the group shines brightest. Of particular merit are the two lovely works by Michel Corrette, and the delightful excerpts from Rameau’s Les Fêtes d’hébé. I was also particularly enamored of the lovely renditions of the traditional carols. The arrangements were lively and varied, and performed with a graceful simplicity that was most fetching. Julianne Baird has at this point in her career achieved near legendary status as a singer of early music. In this recording she sings with an elegant sweetness that is most pleasant to the ear. I would advise, however, that listeners consider taking the vocal pieces a few at a time, because the sameness of color in her singing and the one size fits all emotional and dynamic range of her performances wears on the ear after a long uninterrupted stretch. In all, this is a fine addition to the vast collection of Christmas albums available, and a little treasure trove of gems that though old and familiar, are not in the least overdone or hackneyed. This disc is well worth the outlay! Kevin Sutton   Gerard Hoffnung CDs Advertising on Musicweb Donate and get a free CD New Releases   Musicweb sells the following labels Acte Préalable Arcodiva Avie British Music Soc. CDAccord Hallé Hortus Lyrita Nimbus Northern Flowers Redcliffe Sheva Tactus Talent Toccata Classics Follow us on Twitter Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter

Return to Index

Reviews from previous months Join the mailing list and receive a hyperlinked weekly update on the discs reviewed. details We welcome feedback on our reviews. Please use the Bulletin Board Please paste in the first line of your comments the URL of the review to which you refer.