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Very Few Acceptable Classical Choir and Orchestra Christmas Albums

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Posted on November 5, 2009 at 13:28:54
billeames
Audiophile

Posts: 154
Location: Seattle Area
Joined: October 31, 2002
 Hello,

Sorry about the specialized nature of this post. It is regarding classical style Christmas albums.

Between now and Christmas people will buy christmas albums, if they are not careful they will not be happy with them.

All below is in my opinion of course:

Caveat: I am not including Christmas Oratorio, and Handel Messiah in this list, I am only including christmas carols in below list).

There are SO many Christmas albums, and very few I would want.

Here are some of the good ones in my opinion: Noel Noel, Price, OSM, Dutoit (Decca/London, never made it to CD; lovely and moving album, I have LP), Many Moods of Christmas (both RCA, Telarc, have both), Fiedler White Christmas (DG I have it), We Wish You a merry Christmas Williams Philips (I have this too).

Underperforming ones in my opinion: Christmas with the Academy (no passion, somewhat boring).

Yes there are good ones with Choir acappella, and choir organ: Christmas Carols, Musica Sacra (DG discontinued); O Come All Ye Faithful (Kings College Choir Argo/Decca. The Joy of Christmas, Cathedral Choir Society of the National Cathedral, on Centaur.

Looking at my list, I have enough, and should not buy more.

Its surprising that 99% of christmas albums (in general, accapella, choir orchestra, orchestra, solo) I hear are much less than good. This whole genre seems to be vastly underperforming. People maybe buy them as gifts and don't care about quality. I think it is this: The general public is not very discriminating, too accepting of poor quality for various reasons.

Thanks

Bill
There is an "Early" Music German Christmas celebration Lp with Elly Ameling that is simply gorgeous., posted on November 8, 2009 at 09:52:43
jdaniel@jps.net
Audiophile

Posts: 4452
Location: No. California
Joined: December 16, 2003
 Called a "German Christmas" with the Collegium Aurieum. (sp) Probably on DHM CD.

Dude, there's a kajillion of them, posted on November 7, 2009 at 10:21:31
jec01
Audiophile

Posts: 193
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Joined: September 22, 2004
 With the usual caveats about mileage and availability, here are some of my favorites:

"Adeste Fidelis!" (Sony SK62688) features the incomparable Emma Kirkby, who has never made a bad record in her life.

Joel Cohen and the Boston Camerata: "A Medieval Christmas," "A Renaissance Christmas" and "A Baroque Christmas": available separately or in a boxed set (Nonesuch 79303-2).

"Carols from the Old and New Worlds" (Volumes I and II): Paul Hillier and Theatre of Voices on Harmonia Mundi.

"Christmas with the Tallis Scholars" 2 cds (Gimell CDGIM 202).

"Christmas with Chanticleer" (Teldec 8573-85555-2) features Dawn Upshaw.

Chanticleer "Sing We Christmas" (Teldec 4509-94563-2).

Anonymous 4 "On Yoolis Night" (Harmonia Mundi 907099): my wife puts this on her studio system whenever she anticipates a difficult client; it always soothes them.

Both volumes of "Comfort and Joy" with Cantus from Stereophile.

And last but by no means least, all three volumes of "A String Quartet Christmas" from our own John Marks. Marks posted on this topic below, but is apparently too ethical to push his own product. I am not so encumbered, and will tell you that these discs are beautifully recorded and performed, and belong in the collections of anyone even remotely interested in Christmas music.

Happy listening,

Jim
Thanks!!, posted on November 9, 2009 at 12:05:36
kavakidd
Audiophile

Posts: 14053
Location: Upstate NY
Joined: April 15, 2004
Contributor
  Since: April 21, 2004
 I just ordered Boston Camerata's "Renaissance Christmas". I had it on tape from a live broadcast circa 1983 and wasn't aware it was available.

Looking forward to it.

Thanks again.

"Man is the only animal that blushes - or needs to" Mark Twain
Yes there are.. I was looking for a sub category of choir and orchestra., posted on November 8, 2009 at 17:38:21
billeames
Audiophile

Posts: 154
Location: Seattle Area
Joined: October 31, 2002
 Yes, thanks for your list! I put it on my wesite for future reference. I will also sample some or all of them on amazon.com

I get excited about CD's that may not excite the reviewers as much. Its such an individual decision. I bought a CD the reviewer said go out and buy it now! It turned out to be OK, but I could not hear what he got excited about. And of course I learned to take with a grain of salt certain Fanfare reviewer(s). I now subscribe to Fanfare and International Record Review (IIR at a high price, being UK, but I like it). Thanks for the list.

Bill

Ah., posted on November 10, 2009 at 16:22:01
jec01
Audiophile

Posts: 193
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Joined: September 22, 2004
 Sorry if I misunderstood. Note, however, that "Adeste Fidelis!" and "A Baroque Christmas", mentioned in my post, both have choirs and orchestras.

Happy listening,

Jim

Actually, part of that Price/Dutoit album is/was on CD..., posted on November 6, 2009 at 18:23:52
Russell
Audiophile

Posts: 1908
Location: San Francisco, California
Joined: February 24, 2001
 About half of that album made its way onto CD in a Decca series called "The Singers". The Price issue in that series featured her late recording of Verdi scenes and arias with Mehta/Israel, and the disc was filled out with selections from her Christmas album with Dutoit. Good performances, but even better IMO is her early 60's Christmas recording with Karajan (also Decca).

Russell

RE: Very Few Acceptable Classical Choir and Orchestra Christmas Albums, posted on November 6, 2009 at 07:06:11
Pat D
Audiophile

Posts: 7558
Joined: June 20, 2000
 I can't guarantee that all these are still available:

Thys Yool, A Medieval Christmas, with the Martin Best Ensemble-Nimbus 5137

On the Way to Bethlehem, Music of the Medieval Pilgrim-Naxos 8.553132 (different)

The Mystery of Christmas, with Elora Festival Singers-Naxos 8.554179

En la fete de Noel with La Petite Bande de Montreal-Naxos 8.554435 (wonderful, mostly in French)

A Renaissance Christmas with John Nygro and The Harwood Early Music Ensemble from Chicago-Classic Digital 1001

Nowell with The Elizabethan Singers-London Weekend Classics 425 515-2

A Carnegie Hall Christmas Concert with Andre Previn-Sony SK 48235

Christmas with the Pops with Kunzel, Cincinnatie Pops Orch. Telarc CD-80226

Star of Wonder with San Francisco Choral Artists-Reference Recordings RR-21CD (kind of sweet and pretty)

Chantons Noel with Richard Verreau, tenor on Sony. (in French) I have this on LP, the recording and arrangements aren't great but what a singer!



"Probability is the very guide to life."---Cicero
RE: Very Few Acceptable Classical Choir and Orchestra Christmas Albums, posted on November 5, 2009 at 22:42:10
learsfool
Audiophile

Posts: 199
Joined: August 4, 2008
 As someone else suggested, the British tend to do a better job with this sort of thing. One nice album, if you can find it, is one that was recorded in the 80's of the annual concert that the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble used to do with the Bach Choir. The Vienna Choir Boys also did a very nice Christmas album in the 70's.

How about John Rutter's series with the Cambridge Singers?, posted on November 5, 2009 at 19:19:22
John Marks
Industry Professional

Posts: 2420
Joined: April 23, 2000
 Some of the best Christmas stuff there is.

"Christmas Night" is one of my favorites.

JM

Yes John Rutter's series with the Cambridge Singers good, posted on November 6, 2009 at 06:33:20
billeames
Audiophile

Posts: 154
Location: Seattle Area
Joined: October 31, 2002
 I agree, I got one of these for my wife, maybe it was cassette. I forgot about these series when I made my original post. Thanks for reminding me. I should get one for myself. My shelf space is quite negative at this point, but I seem to still buy CD's.

I listened to the DG Christmas carol (Musica Sacra great NYC choir) one last night, plus the National Cathedral Choir one (Centaur). Both full price at the time (early 1990's). Quite good. I should be happy. I will not buy too many more Christmas CD's. But its tempting. Another Messiah looms (Layton on Hyperion).

Bill

Oh--Kathleen Battle with Harlem kids, posted on November 6, 2009 at 06:50:04
John Marks
Industry Professional

Posts: 2420
Joined: April 23, 2000
 A great solo vocal with choir CD--forget the name of it, but I doubt she made more than one. A radiant Max Reger "Maria Wiegenlied."

You can probably pick it up for peanuts on Alibris or eBay.

JM

RE: Very Few Acceptable Classical Choir and Orchestra Christmas Albums, posted on November 5, 2009 at 16:36:26
Mali
Audiophile

Posts: 655
Location: Wyoming
Joined: June 12, 2003
Contributor
  Since: November 11, 2009
 You might like this one. Sample it at Amazon.

Nice Album. Overpriced CD's?, posted on November 5, 2009 at 16:48:03
billeames
Audiophile

Posts: 154
Location: Seattle Area
Joined: October 31, 2002
 Thanks for recommendation. I am listening to it. If I should choose to buy, I will not pay $20 to $125 for a used CD. These are the real numbers. Do these Amazon resellers think they can charge that and someone acutally pay it?

Bill

RE: Nice Album. Overpriced CD's?, posted on November 5, 2009 at 21:54:30
Mali
Audiophile

Posts: 655
Location: Wyoming
Joined: June 12, 2003
Contributor
  Since: November 11, 2009
 Yikes. I didn't look at the prices, but know that this is considered a "classic" album, esp, in the UK and one not likely to be reissued anytime soon, if ever. The arkivmusic reissue is probably your best bet, but even it is overpriced considering it's a reissue. (I generally find most of their prices too high.) I got a new original issue of this CD a year ago or so for probably $18, I believe from a UK vendor.

RE: Nice Album. Overpriced CD's?, posted on November 5, 2009 at 21:57:44
Mali
Audiophile

Posts: 655
Location: Wyoming
Joined: June 12, 2003
Contributor
  Since: November 11, 2009
 Check out the UK Amazon site. Better prices on used and new both.

RE: Very Few Acceptable Classical Choir and Orchestra Christmas Albums, posted on November 5, 2009 at 14:49:40
Kas
Audiophile

Posts: 218
Location: Eastern Massachusetts
Joined: December 5, 2006
Being Jewish, I don't buy too many Christmas albums, but the ones that I really enjoy are the Musica Sacra disc (the DG one that you mention) and Ben Heppner's "Along the Road to Bethlehem".

Other Bill

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