Christmas Recordings 2014
Johann Friedrich AGRICOLA (1720-1774) Die Hirten bei der Krippe
(Christmas Cantatas) -
Kölner Akademie/Michael Alexander Willens rec. 2014
CPO 777 921-2 [81:07] [JV]
If you are interested in music for Christmastide which is different from what you are used to, don't hesitate.
Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Christmas Oratorio -
Monteverdi Ch,
English Baroque Soloists/Sir John Eliot Gardiner
rec. 1999 EUROARTS 2045094 Blu-ray [198:00]
[KM] Gardiner is one of the finest interpreters of Bach’s vocal music, but don’t pay extra for the Blu-Ray.
Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Christmas Oratorio -
Monteverdi Ch, English Baroque Soloists/Sir John Eliot Gardiner
rec. 1999
EUROARTS DVD 2045098 [2 DVDs: 142:00 +
bonus 56:00] [JQ] A splendid and very satisfying account of Bach’s great Christmas present to music-lovers.
Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Weihnachtsoratorium (highlights) -
St. Thomas Boys Ch,
Leipzig Gewandhaus O/Georg Christoph Biller
rec. 2009 RONDEAU ROP4042 [65:48] [GPJ] A thoroughly enjoyable CD, and a useful ‘taster’ for the complete recording, with superb singing from the choir.
Giovanni Pierluigi da PALESTRINA (c.1525-1594) Missa Hodie Christus natus est, O magnum mysterium, Christe redemptor omnium, Magnificat primi toni - Westminster Cathedral Ch/Martin Baker rec. 2003 HYPERION HELIOS CDH55367 [78:20] [ST] A sense of swing and ebullience matched with moments of serious contemplation. Hyperion have done a very good job of capturing the live-ness of this acoustic.
John RUTTER (b.1947)
The John Rutter Songbook rec. 1994-2014 DECCA CLASSIC FM CFMD36 [76:22 + 73:42]
[GPJ] Christmas carols, folk-songs, craftily arranged Beatles tunes – they’re all here. Rutter Heaven for his many, many fans and admirers throughout the musical world. Enjoy.
Heinrich SCHÜTZ (1585-1672)
Weihnachts-Historie,
Kleiner geistliche Konzerte -
Concerto Vocale/René Jacobs
rec. 1989
HARMONIA MUNDI MUSIQUE D’ABORD HMA1951310 [50:52] [ST] Now that Harmonia Mundi have re-released Jacobs’ 1989 recording at super budget price this festive season is a good time to get to know Schütz’s Weihnachts-Historie.
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) The Nutcracker
- Bergen PO/Neeme Järvi rec. 2013 CHANDOS CHSA5144 SACD
[84:12] [DM] I wouldn’t want to find this in my Christmas stocking;
simply dreadful.
Pyotr Il'yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) The Nutcracker
-
Liudmila Konovalova, Vladimir Shishov, Wiener Staatsoper/Paul Connelly
C MAJOR Blu-ray 718304 [102:00] [RMay]
A concept that has polarised critical opinion for decades.
Pyotr Il'yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) & Yvan TALBOT
A nutcracker -
Choreography by Bouba Landrille Tchouda,
Compagnie Malka ARTHAUS MUSIK Blu-ray 108121 [70:00]
[RMay] No doubt a substantial proportion of children will love this. As for their parents, I suspect, they will be more than slightly bemused.
4 Girls 4 Harps at Christmas rec. 2013
DISCOVERY MUSIC AND VISION DMV107 [58.37] [CF] Four talented artists, technically superb playing delivered with a wide range of attractive colours. Play it while decking the halls or the Christmas tree.
Candlelight
Carols Jacqueline Kerrod
(harp) Seraphic Fire/Patrick Dupré Quigley rec. 2013 SERAPHIC
FIRE MEDIA SFMCD14 [49:48] [DM] Lean festive fare that’s
not without nourishment; fine performances and decent sound.
Carols from King’s Ch King’s College, Cambridge/Stephen Cleobury
rec. 2013 KING’S COLLEGE DVD KGS0008 [74:06] [BW] One or more of King’s CD or DVD recordings should be high on your Christmas list.
Carols
from the Old and New Worlds - Vol. 3
Chamber Ch
Ireland/Paul Hillier rec. 2012-14 HARMONIA
MUNDI HMU807610 SACD [60:05]
[BW] Familiar music,
mostly in unfamiliar arrangements, and unfamiliar
works form an attractive offering.
Carols
from the Old and New Worlds - Vol. 3
Chamber Ch
Ireland/Paul Hillier rec. 2012-14 HARMONIA
MUNDI HMU807610 SACD [60:05]
[JQ] An excellent Christmas anthology, expertly performed and thoughtfully assembled.
Christmas a Cappella I &
II -
Musica Sacra/Indra Hughes
rec. 2001/7
ATOLL ACD501/207 [65:36 & 61:43] If the repertoire appeals, well worth considering for your Christmas listening.
Christmas Music
Christ Church Cathedral Ch, Oxford/Stephen Darlington NIMBUS NI7096 [75:42]
[JF] Singing impressive; choice of programme inspiring.
Christmas Music
Christ Church Cathedral Ch, Oxford/Stephen Darlington NIMBUS NI7096
[75:42] [BW] None of the usual Christmas fare but a very attractive compilation.
Christmas
in Naples Gaetano
VENEZIANO (1656 - 1719) Notturni,
Pastorale Alessandro SCARLATTI (1660-1725)
Sinfonias -
Jenny Hogström (soprano) Filippo Mineccia (alto)
Kevin Skelton (tenor) Marc Pantus (bass) Ens
Odyssee/Andrea Friggi rec. 2014 PAN
CLASSICS PC10307 [71:06] [JV] Veneziano's
works are well worth hearing.
On Christmas Night
Includes Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976)
A Ceremony of Carols
Charles Matthews (organ), Sally Price (harp)
Armonico Consort/Christopher Monks
rec. 2011
SIGNUM SICGD386 [69.53]
[PCG] If you want this particular programme it is hard to imagine it being better performed.
Christmas with the Shepherds The Marian Consort/Rory McCleery
DELPHIAN DCD34145 [62:55] [JQ]
A gentle, reflective and very satisfying musical celebration of Christmas with the Marian Consort.
Dormi Jesu A Caius Christmas
- Ch Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge/Geoffrey Webber
rec. 2011 DELPHIAN DCD34152 [63:28] [JQ] A lovely musical Christmas hamper.
Dormi Jesu A Caius Christmas
-
Ch Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge/Geoffrey Webber
rec. 2011
DELPHIAN DCD34152 [63.28] [GH] A super ensemble moulded to deliver a specific and warm sound.
Favourite Carols from King's Ch King's College
Cambridge/Stephen Cleobury rec. 2014
KING'S COLLEGE KGS0007 [78:11] [JQ]
A generous selection of mostly traditional seasonal fare satisfyingly performed.
Favourite Carols from King's Ch King's College, Cambridge/Stephen Cleobury rec. 2014 KING'S COLLEGE KGS0007 [78:11] [ST] What’s not to like? Worthy of a place on any Christmas shelf.
In Dulci Jubilo Christmas Organ Music
-
Norbert Düchtel (organ)
rec. 2010 TYXART TXA13027 [60:40]
[BW] Something different and soothing for Christmas.
Joy and Gladness in Abundance Ute Engelke (soprano) Elisabeth Schwanda (recorder) Ulfert Schmidt (organ)
rec. 2014 RONDEAU ROP6095 [65:49]
[JV] This disc is a rather disappointing affair.
Lux de caelo Music for Christmas
- Ch Clare College Cambridge, Dmitri Ens/Graham Ross HARMONIA MUNDI HMU907615
[68:05] An intriguing and enticing Christmas
programme that dares to be different [JQ] A very fine successor to earlier
Advent and Passiontide recordings from this choir [BW].
Lux de caelo Music for Christmas
- Ch Clare College, Cambridge; Dmitri Ens/Graham Ross
rec. 2013 HARMONIA MUNDI HMU907615 [68:05]
[ST] Plenty here to celebrate.
Nordic Winter and Christmas Songs
Gitta-Maria Sjöberg (soprano)
Dorthe Zielke (trumpet) Tobias Durholm (violin) Lindy Rosborg (organ)
DANACORD DACOCD755 [64:54] [JF] This is an attractive release that features a largely unknown repertoire, at least to listeners outside Scandinavia.
The
Promise of Ages
A Christmas Collection
- Taverner Consort & Ch/Andrew Parrott,
New London Chamber Ch & Henrietta Barnett
School Ch rec. 1998 AVIE AV2291
[62:17] [JF] Extremely
difficult to take as a whole but individually
it has a number of excellent pieces which deserve
exploration.
Sing Thee Nowell
New York Polyphony rec. 2014 BIS BIS2099 SACD [71:17] [JQ] An immaculately performed Christmas programme from New York Polyphony.
Stille Nacht RIAS Kammerchor/Uwe Gronostay rec. 1972-86 AUDITE 97.711 [74:34] [ST] Pleasant but lacking in impact for all the quality of the choral singing.
That’s What I Love About Christmas
Stephen Mougin, Jana Mougin, Annie Sellick (vocals)
RLM CD1005 [34:41]
[BMC] A nice addition to a home holiday music collection.
Transeamus English Carols and Motets - Hilliard
Ensemble rec. 2012 ECM NEW SERIES
4811106/2408 [67:42]
[JQ] The Hilliard
Ensemble’s final disc sees them finish
their recording career in fine style.
Venetian Christmas
Works by Hasse, Perotti, Torelli & Vivaldi -
Ruby Hughes (soprano) Ewa Golinska (violin), Komalé Akakpo (psaltery)
Arte dei Suonatori/Martin Gester
rec. 2013 BIS BIS2089 SACD [74:40] [JV] The connection to Christmas seems rather loose but this remains a most interesting and musically rewarding production.
Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her Christmas Organ Music
-
Michael Hartmann (organ) rec. 2012 OEHMS OC865 [71:35]
[ST] Why not give this a go for a less normal take on the Christmas CD?