Editorial Review

When he was growing up, Andrea Bocelli recalls finding inspiration in a favorite recording of sacred music performed by tenor legend Franco Corelli. Bocelli--who in the meantime has come to inspire millions of fiercely loyal fans himself--returns to the genre as the guiding theme of Read more

Reviews (122)

Andrea Bocelli-Sacred Arias
Excellent listening.Voice quality and tone is superb.Brings tears to my eyes when I envision listening to this in a church setting.

An "experience" of sacred arias more than "listening" of sacred arias
I bought this CD's special edition with DVD, and I am impressed by bocelli's singing in this album. I have heard many voices singing sacred songs, and christmas songs, but very few singers can achieve the "sacred atmosphere" that bocelli devotes when he sings. He may not have a "strong" voice as opera singers, but I think singing these sacred songs, devoting the "sacred atmosphere" to the audience is much more important, the voice actually is just a tool that helps a singer to achieve the result. For real, I have heard some CD by some chorus that perform sacred arias, but they did not move me as much as this CD does, mostly not even close. Personally I like "O come all ye faithful", "silent night", all "ave maria"'s, "domine deus", "cujus animam" the most. When I listen Bocelli's singing I focus on what he tries to devote in singing more than his voice color, because in terms of voice color he surely cant be compared with pavarotti or domingo, so why compares? The way of listening him and listening real opera singers is different man. But the reason I gave only this CD four stars is that I have heard several sacred arias from this album performed by his voice teacher, the legendary tenor Franco Corelli. I tried not to compare both...but I cant, not because Bocelli sings bad, he is already excellent, just Corelli is TOO excellent that cant be described by human language (well I think even Pavarotti is not even close to Franco Corelli, but this is just my opinion). Anyway if you want to "experience" the true beauty of sacred arias, this CD is highly recommended. And this is also a very good sacred aria album for beginning listeners who want to broaden their musical taste to sacred arias.

amazing talent
worth the price the songs are breathtaking and talent is indescribable ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Choral    2. Christmas    3. Christmas Music    4. Classical    5. Classical Artists    6. Classical Crossover    7. Classical Music    8. Classical Vocals    9. Holiday    10. Italian Baroque Opera    11. Italian Romantic Opera    12. Italy    13. Mass    14. Miscellaneous    15. Miscellaneous Music    16. Motet    17. Opera    18. Oratorio    19. Requiem/Requiem Section    20. Romantic Music for Voice and Keyboard   

Reviews (8)

The Most Relaxing Classical Album In the World Eveer, Volume II
Good selection of music, poorly performed and badly arranged.Good album for a tag sale.Same comment applies for Volume I.

Great music listein to while you read in bed
I have listened to this CD for the last several years before going to sleep at night.I love classical music, and this is great music to help make my soul feel at peace and unwind after a taxing day.

A must buy for the non-snobbish classical music fan.
I bought Vol. 1 of this series and was quite satisfied, but I have to say I'm more than satisfied with this one. If you can just mellow out and enjoy some great pieces, you'll love this CD. #15 on Disc 2 is almost worth the price alone! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Chamber    2. Choral    3. Christmas Music    4. Anthem    5. Baroque Suite/Partita for Orchestra    6. Cantata    7. Cello Concerto    8. Chamber Music    9. Classical    10. Classical Collections-Composer Desc.    11. Classical Music    12. Classical Period Serenade/Cassation/Divertimento    13. Concerto    14. Concerto for Two String Instruments    15. Film    16. Film Music    17. Keyboard    18. Keyboard Music    19. Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclassified Title    20. Miscellaneous   

Editorial Review

Chip Davis's Mannheim Steamroller hasn't lost any ground in the six years since their last Yuletide offering. Read more

Reviews (88)

Christmas Extraordinaire
I am a fan of Mannheim Steamroller and had high expectations for this CD.This is not quite as good as their older Christmas Cd's. It is ok but far from what it could have been.

Doesn't Really meet the test of time
With no offense intended to Mannheim Steamroller, I just wasn't very excited about this CD.Probably the best thing on here is the Nutcracker selection, but nothing stands out as being original or a fresh look at music.The best thing I think that can be said about it came from my father, who heard it at Christmas, and said "At least it doesn't sound like all their other music."So, if you are tired of hearing the standard radio playlist of Chip Davis, this might be refreshing.On the other hand, if none of the selections from CHRISTMAS EXTRAORDINAIRE are being played, then probably none are very good (or popular).
Good, but not outstanding
I have all of the Mannheim Steamroller Christmas cd's in my collection. While I enjoyed this one, it's just not quite as good as the prior releases. It seems to lack the lively sparkle that characterizes their other cd's. The music is still nice, and it's a good addition to my collection. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative    2. Ballet    3. Choral    4. Christmas    5. Christmas / Chanukkah    6. Christmas Music    7. Holiday    8. Miscellaneous    9. Miscellaneous Music    10. Miscellaneous Vocal Music    11. Neo-Classical    12. Oratorio    13. Pop    14. Progressive Electronic    15. Romantic Ballet    16. Solo Voice(s) and Small Ensemble    17. Vocal    18. Xmas Vocal   

Reviews (27)

A Good Basic Collection
This is a good, basic collection of Christmas Music.As a general rule, Time-Life has selected what is probably the definative artist/arangement of each song.
cd reviews
this cd was very good, much recommended

Poor Quality
The only good thing about this collection is the inclusion of so many Christmas standards.I was very disappointed in the quality of the recordings, they obviously need digital inhancement. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th/21st Century Orchestral Music    2. Chamber    3. Christmas    4. Christmas / Chanukkah    5. Christmas Music    6. Holiday    7. March for Orchestra    8. Miscellaneous    9. Miscellaneous Music    10. Miscellaneous Vocal Music    11. Orchestral    12. Orchestral Pop    13. Pop    14. Show Tunes    15. Solo Voice(s) and Orchestra    16. Solo Voice(s) and Small Ensemble    17. Standards    18. Suite for Orchestra    19. Traditional Pop    20. Vocal   

Reviews (4)

Selection is not good
This tape is short and the melodies are not engaging for kids. It was waste of money.

Baby Einstein: Traveling Melodies
Hello everyone,
Saved My Sanity
My husband and I are musicians so I inwardly groaned when we were given this CD as a gift--I'd rather play the originals rather than some synthesized kiddie version.However, on a recent road trip we got desperate when our colicky son would not stop screaming.We popped this in the CD player and it calmed him down immediately.I swear, it's like aural crack for babies.We now play it at bedtime to help calm him down and it still works.You may not love this CD, but your baby will. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Collections    2. Childrens    3. Christmas Music    4. Classical Period Serenade/Cassation/Divertimento    5. Classical Period Symphony    6. Concerto    7. Concerto for Two Solo Instruments    8. Czech Romantic Opera    9. Keyboard    10. Miscellaneous    11. Miscellaneous Music    12. Music for Four Hands at One Keyboard    13. Opera    14. Orchestral    15. Polka for Orchestra    16. Pop    17. Romantic Rhapsody for Orchestra    18. Romantic Serenade/Cassation/Divertimento    19. Romantic Sonata/Sonatina for Keyboard    20. Romantic Symphony   

Editorial Review

For right-minded buyers of the reissued Read more

Features

• Soundtrack
• Special Edition

Reviews (5)

The Muppets Christmas Christmas Carol
I am a Muppets fan from WAY back! I own the DVD and watch it during every holiday season. Since I am such a big fan of the movie, I knew I would enjoy the soundtrack.
Muppet Christmas Carol soundtrack...fabulous!
I've owned the soundtrack for about 5 years now, but I paid about three times as much for an original just because I loved the music so much! When I saw that a special edition was released, I thought I might have to buy it again, but while it is a special edition, the only difference I can see is that there is different cover artwork (but there's different artwork between the original dvd release and the new release too). Whoever thought to rerelease the soundtrack is nothing short of genius.
Wonderful soundtrack a reminder why DVD is so annoying
Not to quibble with the folks who already contributed proper opinions regarding the undeniably quirky and uplifting quality of the music of "The Muppet Christmas Carol" soundtrack, but the CD is a persistent reminder of why those who witnessed the movie in the theaters are let down by the subsequent video/DVD release, which hacks into the Marley & Marley number, cuts the marvelous Prof. Bunson/Beaker musical admonition and eliminates capitalistic Sam's foundation-laying instruction to a young and impressionable Scrooge.What legal or artistic machinations lie behind these dreadful changes remain elusive (similar to the evisceration of "A Muppet Family Christmas" since its early network showings), but the worst that can be said of the terrific CD soundtrack is its ability to evoke bittersweet memories of a movie that had been just about ideal ... and is no more. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's    2. Christmas    3. Christmas Music    4. Film    5. Film Music    6. Miscellaneous    7. Pop    8. Pop/Rock    9. Soundtrack    10. Soundtracks & Film Scores   

Editorial Review

Christmas is the season for whipping out those holiday-specific standard recordings. This splendid gift by Chanticleer should top the list, for one will never tire of this a cappella choir's interpretations. With selections spanning the last five centuries of Latin, German, English, Spanish, and French festive fare, this recording exemplifies the sacrifice of the ego to the higher form of choral sound. Jacob Handl's "Mirabile Mysterium" takes you on a trip into the chromatic wonderlands, where you temporarily lose tonal balance. Victoria's eerie and dissonant "O Magnum Mysterium" treats us to rich voices swelling out of one organic whole. The phenomenal blend and perfect intonation elevate this recording above others in its category. Read more

Reviews (12)

Simply beautiful
The title and artist' name says it all - Christmas with clear (pure) singing.Glorious in all respects.

It's that time of year...for Chanticleer!
Walking the busy malls to the multichannel Muzak of every old Christmas song interpreted in hiphop, jazz, idiosyncratic 'rethinkings' by famous soloists as well as replays of Gene Autry, Bing Crosby etc., it is a relief to return home (or if fortunate, to the concert hall) and hear the more uplifting music of the season through the ages. And despite reliance on some old favorite Messiah recordings, and carols by Kings College Choir, the one CD that seems to reign supreme is this Chanticleer release SING WE CHRISTMAS from 1995!
From the mystical, magical heart of Christmastime!
Chanticleer is an audaciously talented acapella choral ensemble whose work finds its best expression in spiritual songs like these, which are stunning missives straight from heaven itself. The spirit of the season of Christmas, the promise and beauty and renewal at the heart of it, is so perfectly captured in these soaring and robust performances, each one more impossibly lovely than the last.You don't need to believe in Santa Claus or even Christmas to derive deep satisfation from this album;you need only have ears to listen and the capacity for extreme goose bumps!The hush of a snowy day, a cathedral filled with candles and voices lifted heavenwards, the abundance of genuine goodwill and loving kindness that has survived every attempt at commercializing Christmas ... these things are alive and well in this music, which will move you to your core.
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Subjects:  1. 20th/21st Century Music for Voice and Keyboard    2. Choral    3. Choral Music    4. Christmas    5. Christmas / Chanukkah    6. Christmas Music    7. Classical    8. Holiday    9. Miscellaneous    10. Miscellaneous Music    11. Miscellaneous Vocal Music    12. Motet    13. Orchestral    14. Renaissance Motet    15. Sacred Choral Music    16. Secular Choral Music with Keyboard (or Continuo)    17. Solo Voice(s) and Small Ensemble    18. Vocal    19. Vocal Music    20. Xmas Classical Vocal   

Reviews (19)

Brass performance at it"s best
Listened to this on LP 30 odd years ago. All time greats Abe Torchinsky andMason Jones, wonderful nostalgic Christmas music, make this a keeper !

LOVE -- LOVE --- LOVE IT!
I found the ring-tone for my cell phone === that's what put me on to researching the CD..
I'm sorry folks but I found it rather boring.
I managed to pass this Christmas season without listening to my usual many hours of beautiful Christmas music on my local FM Classical music station, so I decided to go out and buy a basic collection of classic Christmas music.
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Subjects:  1. Carols    2. Chamber    3. Choral    4. Christmas    5. Christmas / Chanukkah    6. Christmas Music    7. Classical    8. Classical Artists    9. Miscellaneous    10. Miscellaneous Music    11. Miscellaneous Vocal Music    12. Sacred Choral Music    13. Solo Voice(s) and Orchestra    14. Vocal   

Reviews (15)

Great Seasonal Album
This is one of the most impressive period albums I own.Wonderful for the holiday season.Will miss it during the rest of the year.

The Most Beautiful Sounds I Have Ever Heard
A fluid and seamless piece of heaven that transcends all classical and holiday music. This is an OUTSTANDING non-traditional Holiday CD!!!Many voices come together as one in these enchanting verses sung in languages other than English. It is just enough language mix to appease and intrigue the soul but not too much so that the listener does not understand the lyrics.For example, the English verse is sung then a verse in German and then back to English.Emmanuel is written this way.Other languages include French (Angels we Have Heard on High) and even Catalan which is a dialect of Spain. Beautiful and Precise
When I was a kid, we used to listen to this album every Christmas (on vinyl).We often contrasted it with a Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas album we also had, the Mormons good for rousing anthems, Robert Shaw for more intimate and moving and, I think, more beautiful evocations of the Spirit of Christmas.Read more

Subjects:  1. Choral    2. Christmas    3. Christmas / Chanukkah    4. Christmas Music    5. Classical    6. Easy Pop    7. Holiday    8. Miscellaneous    9. Miscellaneous Music    10. Miscellaneous Vocal Music    11. Piano Blues    12. Sacred Choral Music    13. Secular Choral Music with Keyboard (or Continuo)    14. Vocal    15. Xmas Classical Vocal   

Reviews (12)

The quintessential Christmas recording
This recording seems to elicit universal and heartfelt praise.Who am I to dispute that?The performance is terrific, just as described by the other Amazon reviewers, no doubt about it.
A Top List Christmas CD
I bought this cd long ago, and have enjoyed it immensely each year.It is the perfect blend of celebration and meditation. Orchestra and choir combine in four distinct groupings, and a capella arrangements complete the masterful collection.The orchestral arrangements will make the hairs on your neck stand up, and your stomach quiver with all the excitement you ever felt as a child at Christmas. Adeste Fidelis is performed as few other ensembles have ever come close. The a capella arrangements will all, without exception, be on your yearly list of must-hear holiday arrangements.Truly a top list Christmas CD, essential for every family who celebrates this feast.

The best
I own approximately 35 Christmas choral CDs - including choirs and groups such as the Cambridge Singers and the King Singers.I also own two Christmas albums with Robert Shaw and the Atlantic symphony.This performance with the Robert Shaw Chorale is old but it is still my favorite.The arrangements are magnificent, the sound is brilliant, and the choir and orchestra are precise with wonderful volume control.Buy and enjoy! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Choral    2. Christmas    3. Christmas / Chanukkah    4. Christmas Music    5. Classical    6. Easy Pop    7. Miscellaneous    8. Miscellaneous Music    9. Piano Blues    10. Sacred Choral Music    11. Texas Blues    12. Xmas Classical Vocal   

Features

• Soundtrack

Reviews (15)

Wonderful Williams
A real holiday pleasure. The movie comes alive in your mind, seriously. John Williams rocks!

Home Alone: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Great product. Service was efficent and on time. Packaging was well thought out. Well done.

Williams is brilliant!
Rarely does a family holiday film impress an audience more than John Hughes' Home Alone.And it was sheer inspiration to bring the Academy Award-winning John Williams and Leslie Bricusse together for the soundtrack.With a style reminiscent of your standard classical scherzo (a musical joke), Williams' score lends incalculable support to a film packed with one comedy-action sequence after another.Even when the dust settles, a pervading musical giggle forces you to wonder what's next.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Christmas    2. Christmas / Chanukkah    3. Christmas Music    4. Classical    5. Film    6. Film Music    7. Miscellaneous    8. Miscellaneous Music    9. Solo Voice(s) and Orchestra    10. Solo Voice(s) and Small Ensemble    11. Soundtrack    12. Soundtracks    13. Vocal   

Editorial Review

This offbeat disc of seasonal songs and carols by the Anonymous 4 will delight their fans and please everyone else. The 19 selections include traditional folk melodies and texts, some of which date back to the Middle Ages, interspersed with fitting selections by contemporary composers including John Taverner, Benjamin Britten, and Peter Maxwell Davies, whose ethereal a cappella A Calender of Kings gets its first recording.Andrew Lawrence-King, playing Irish harp, Baroque harp, and psaltery with his accustomed finesse, is a major reason for the disc's success, accompanying most of the vocals and contributing three lovely solos. The disc is crammed with highlight tracks, like the lilting Cornish Wassail song and the Irish Good people all, and haunting numbers like "Flight into Egypt," sung in Gaelic, and "Behold, here is the best morning," sung in Welsh. Excellent sonics and Harmonia Mundi's typically fine production values also help make this a Christmas disc that will give joy in July. Read more

Reviews (4)

Wolcum Yule
The recording is fine . . . it just didn't appeal to me personally

lovely and unusual Yule album
Anonymous 4 has brought us a beautiful selection of 19 traditional songs from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.These include a lesser known work by Henry VIII as well as more contemporary songs by John Tavener, Richard Bennett, Geoffrey Burgon and Benjamin Britten, and a piece commissioned for the group from Peter Davies.Andrew Lawrence-King accompanies on Irish harp, Baroque harp and psaltery.There is a short essay on the traditions and legacy of the concept of Yule, a Cetic midwinter celebration, and this and the informative liner notes are given in English, French and German, accompanied by Celtic drawings. Goose Flesh!
This is a remarkable quartet, singing with purity and style, from the haunting to the merry, medieval chant to modern settings of Celtic religious texts.Where there are arrangements, they are lovely and the instrumental pieces are simple and beautiful.This is the first time I have heard this group of women, and I am enchanted.It's a cappella at its very best: look to your laurels, King's Singers and Chanticleer, here come the ladies! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Baroque Suite/Partita for Orchestra    2. Chamber    3. Chamber Music    4. Choral    5. Choral Music    6. Christmas / Chanukkah    7. Christmas Music    8. Classical    9. Classical Artists    10. Concerto    11. Concerto Grosso    12. Concerto for Three Solo Instruments    13. Keyboard    14. Keyboard Music    15. Miscellaneous    16. Miscellaneous Music    17. Orchestral    18. Prelude and Fugue for Keyboard    19. Sacred Choral Music a cappella    20. Secular Choral Music with Keyboard (or Continuo)   

Subjects:  1. 20th/21st Century Music for Voice and Keyboard    2. Choral    3. Christmas / Chanukkah    4. Christmas Music    5. Classical    6. Concerto    7. German/Austrian Romantic Opera    8. Miscellaneous    9. Miscellaneous Music    10. Miscellaneous Vocal Music    11. Opera    12. Oratorio    13. Romantic Music for Voice and Keyboard    14. Solo Voice(s) and Orchestra    15. Vocal    16. Vocal Music    17. Xmas Vocal   

Reviews (4)

Christmas music done in Ormady's rich "Philadelphia Sound"
"Joy to the World" has Eugene Ormandy with the Philadelphia Orchestra and Chorus providing a rich selection of Christmas songs, both classical and traditional, arranged by Arthur Harris.It is the former that are most impressive, although there are fewer of them, starting with Mendelssohn's "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" and Tchaikovsky's "Waltz of the Flowers" from "The Nutcracker," then ending with Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desire," and the "Pastoral Symphony" and "Hallelujan Chorus" from Handel's "Messiah."
A Timeless Christmas Classic
I'm a lover of traditional Christmas music and I've acquired about 20 CDs of it.There's nothing my family likes better in December than putting on some good Christmas music and getting in the mood for the season, hearing once again the old favorites you've known since childhood.Of all the Christmas music CDs I've tried, I have two desert-island favorites, the two I always reach for first.This is one of them.I think it's one of the greatest recordings of traditional Christmas music ever made.The arrangements (by Arthur Harris) are joyous, beautiful, and soul-stirring; the performances are heartfelt and magnificent.If you can listen to this CD and not feel filled by the Christmas spirit, you must be (a) named Ebeneezer Scrooge, or (b) deaf.This one is a timeless Christmas classic, not to be missed.Warmest recommendation.

Joy to the World Indeed
At one point, the Philadelphia Orchestra switched recording labels from Columbia to RCA. Since the Columbia Christmas recording was so popular, RCA decided to have the orchestra record a new LP that is now a compact disk. The style of this recording is very different from the Columbia recording. The arrangements are new and the chorus plays a central role. The album contains popular pieces such as Sleigh Ride and classical pieces such as The Waltz of the Flowers from The Nutcracker and the Pastoral Symphony from Messiah. The quality of the RCA recording, like the Columbia is excellent, and fans of the Philadelphia Orchestra and its conductor, Eugene Ormandy will not be disappointed. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th/21st Century Orchestral Music    2. Ballet    3. Cantata    4. Choral    5. Christmas / Chanukkah    6. Christmas Music    7. Classical    8. Miscellaneous    9. Miscellaneous Music    10. Miscellaneous Vocal Music    11. Oratorio    12. Orchestral    13. Orchestral Pop    14. Romantic Ballet    15. Vocal    16. Xmas Classical Vocal   

Reviews (27)

One of the greatest C.D.'s ever!!
I wasn't into christmas that much because of all the mad rush at christmas, but since I bought this c.d. everything changed. I love christmas now and I am still playing that c.d. and it is already January. this is a great C.D. It is my favorite. I wish I would have owned it years ago. I just bought it this year.

Christmas Is...A Percy Faith Classic!
It's been about 40 years since this Christmas album by Percy Faith was released. To this day it's a pleasure to listen to with its rich instrumental selections and voices. The title tune says it all! You will enjoy this for many Christmases to come!

Good Songs But They Should Have Digitally Remastered Them! The Sound Is Just A Little Off!
I too had the cassette tape of this Percy Faith Christmas album and updated to this CD and I love all of the songs and my favorite is We Need a Little Christmas. I do have one complaint and that is that the sound doesn't seem to have been remastered and seems kind of low. It's as though they didn't digitally remaster the original mono recordings. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Christmas    2. Christmas / Chanukkah    3. Christmas Music    4. Easy Pop    5. Holiday    6. Miscellaneous    7. Miscellaneous Music    8. Miscellaneous Vocal Music    9. Music Theater    10. Musical Theater    11. Orchestral Pop    12. Pop    13. Solo Voice(s) and Small Ensemble    14. Traditional Pop    15. Vocal    16. Xmas Vocal   

Editorial Review

Resplendent in voice and manner, José Carreras, Placido Domingo,and Luciano Pavarotti deliver 21 songs of traditional sacred music and secularnumbers in a remarkable 1999 live recording from the opulent Viennese concerthall (Konzerthaus), with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and a renowned choir. The Three Tenors are practically as famous as the faces of Mount Rushmore and inspire perhaps even more awe and adulation around the world than the four presidents. The performances--whether alone, in tandem, or simply as the threesome that has made them collectively famous--are generally impeccable for their passion, nuance, and sheer tour de force vocal artistry. Reaching often into the classical realm for such works as the traditional German carol "Susani," Strauss's and Brahms's "Wiegenlied," plus traditional Polish and Spanish pieces, the trio also visits Pavarotti's "Ave Maria, dolce Maria" (cowritten with Vittoriano Benvenuti), and "Un nuevo siglo," written by Domingo's son. Only John Lennon and Yoko Ono's "Happy Christmas/War Is Over" doesn't quite work in this grand setting. Read more

Reviews (21)

Wonderfully Different & Addicting! And All Your Friends Will Be Calling HOO-HOO!
First, let me state I don't listen to opera singers that much; thus, don't expect a hypercritical review here. (Really, is there ANY field of music that has more hypercritics than opera?) I got this CD simply because Columbia House had it on sale for $2.99, and I wanted some new Christmas CDs.
Wonderful and funny compilation
The Three Tenors are, of course, wonderful to listen to.This is also a funny CD.When they sing the more modern songs (Happy Christmas by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, for example) they have trouble keeping up with the pace of the song.They almost sound like they're tripping over the syllables, because as opera singers they are more accustomed to long, drawn out vowels, not fast ones.This doesn't hurt the song at all, it makes it more interesting to listen to.It's a great CD.I would recommend this as an addition to any collection of Christmas music.

A historical meeting...
Although several labels already had Christmas albums of the three tenors in their catalogue, the three maestros never actually trioed on these releases. When Pl�cido Domingo and the "Christmas in Vienna" team started preparing the eighth concert in the series (six predecessors were captured by Sony, and one, titled "Celebration of Christmas" issued by Erato-Warner), they made a monumental decision: Re-uniting three of the greatest voices of the current music business.
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Subjects:  1. Christmas    2. Christmas / Chanukkah    3. Christmas Music    4. Classical    5. Classical Crossover    6. Miscellaneous    7. Miscellaneous Music    8. Miscellaneous Vocal Music    9. Opera    10. Romantic Music for Voice and Keyboard    11. Solo Voice(s) and Orchestra    12. Solo Voice(s) and Small Ensemble    13. Vocal    14. Vocal Music    15. Xmas Classical Vocal   

Editorial Review

Initially released in 1979, this album built on the success of the legendary Read more

Reviews (9)

traditional, and comfortingly so...
In a world where new is better and change occurs at an ever-increasing rate, it seems logical that seasonal music would be included in the rush toward mass marketing and commercial airplay.It is amazing, but not surprising, that "carols" which extol the virtues of an electrically-illuminated ungulant, or which humourously recall the tragic events surrounding the collision of an elderly woman and another ruminating creature of the forest should be featured so prominently in the playlists of the popular culture.
Blissful
As many have mentioned here, this is a simply beautiful cd.The selections are some you may not have heard before, but they rapidly become old familiar favorites.Everything is perfect, from the blissful arrangements to the choir's and orchestra's soothing timbres to the enveloping emotion the performances convey.The flow of the first five tracks just completely sucks you in - Up! Good Christian Folk and Listen, Gabriel's Message, Donkey Carol, and Wexford Carol are wonderful back to back.Mary's Lullaby is, as others have described this disc, abosolutely Heavenly.I, as well, am thankful to the other reviewers whose words encouraged me to give this disc a chance.It is undoubtedly a holiday favorite I listen to repeatedly; often, I even go right back to the beginning and play it again.I'll definitely be looking for more similar discs this year to round out my collection.

A wonderful gifit to share with your family and friends ...
After listening to this album once, I immediately ordered several copies to give as gifts.This beautiful disc conveys the joyful mystery of the Christmas season without a hint of commercialism.It is pure and simple, and quite soothing in the face of the chaos that the holiday has become. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Choral    2. Choral Music    3. Christmas    4. Christmas / Chanukkah    5. Christmas Music    6. Classical    7. Keyboard    8. Miscellaneous    9. Miscellaneous Music    10. Miscellaneous Vocal Music    11. Romantic Music for Voice and Keyboard    12. Vocal    13. Xmas Classical Vocal   

Reviews (10)

The Greatest Christmas Album
I have enjoyed this recording since it first came out on LP in the early 1960's.Our family played it every year, and always on Christmas morning when we got up to open presents.I did without it for years because our LP was so worn and scratched, so I was delighted when it was reissued on CD.You will love this recording!!!

Excellent Christmas Album
This is a sensational recording made in the early 1960s.My question has been about its sequel, "A Christmas Tree":Where is it?Sony/Columbia need to remaster it and release it.Arthur Harris did the incredible and masterful arrangements and Ormandy executed with great performances of the carols.

A Glorious Sound Indeed
I remember reading that THE GLORIOUS SOUND OF CHRISTMAS with Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra was one of the best selling, if not the best selling classical album of all time. If this is true, it is easy to understand why. The arrangements on this album of classic Christmas carols are handled with pomp and dignity by this world class orchestra. The Temple University Choir joins the orchestra for some pieces. The album has beautiful renditions of many great carols. Some of the best include the arrangement of Ave Maria, O Sanctissima, and O Holy Night. The familiar sounds of this album have been favorites of many people for years now, and will certainly be loved in the years to come. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Chamber    2. Choral    3. Christmas    4. Christmas / Chanukkah    5. Christmas Music    6. Classical    7. Holiday    8. Miscellaneous    9. Miscellaneous Music    10. Orchestral Pop    11. Romantic Music for Voice and Keyboard    12. Sacred Choral Music    13. Solo Voice(s) and Orchestra    14. Vocal    15. Xmas Classical Vocal   

Reviews (8)

A most incredible, beautiful, and moving recording
I first became aware of Hodie when I performed the work in high school. While it is true that Vaughn-Williams does use a variety of styles, this is much more than a compendium of musical approaches. Each style is well chosen to provide an appropriate context for the words in a way matched by few composers - intimate in "The Oxen", hushed and reverential in "No sad thought his soul affright", and imposing and even majesterial in "The March of the Three Kings". I can't imagine how anyone could listen to the Epilogue (especially as performed here) with it's quoting of the beginning of St. John's gospel without being utterly undone.
An old friend
It is always a wonderful thing to find a beloved recording transfered to CD. My old LP is still on my shelves and has been there since 1973, though the recording dates from 1965.It is a fine performance of an unjustly neglected Christmas work. Can't go wrong with Hodie
The other reviewers have it right in giving this disc five stars, at least for Hodie. First the bad news: the Fantasia is given here in a slightly bloodless version for baritone, chorus, strings, and organ, which can't quite match the original. Read more

Subjects:  1. Christmas / Chanukkah    2. Christmas Music    3. Classical    4. Miscellaneous    5. Xmas Classical Vocal