Christmas Adagios

Gerald Finley (Performer), Adolphe Adam (Composer), Franz [Vienna] Schubert (Composer), Harold Darke (Composer), Christmas Traditional (Composer), William James Kirkpatrick (Composer), Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer), Hector Berlioz (Composer), Cesar Franck (Composer), Johannes Brahms (Composer), Antonio Vivaldi (Composer), Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (Composer), Giovanni Gabrieli (Composer), Pavel Chesnokov (Composer), Evghenie Humulescu (Composer), Henry John Gauntlett (Composer), Henry Walford Davies (Composer), Franz Xaver Gruber (Composer), Robert Cowper (Composer), Peter Cornelius (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Gerald Finley
• Composer: Adolphe Adam, Franz [Vienna] Schubert, Harold Darke, Christmas Traditional, William James Kirkpatrick, et al.
• Audio CD (October 9, 2001)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B00005NY7D
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,011 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #4 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Vocal Non-Opera > Songs & Lieder > Folk Songs
  • #5 in Music > Miscellaneous > Wedding Music
  • #6 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Renaissance (c.1450-1600) > Composers

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Serious but not solemn sacred classical works, December 4, 2002

By 

Neal C. Reynolds (Indianapolis, Indiana) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Christmas Adagios (Audio CD)

This set of two CDs will appeal to those who are drawn to the #1 Christmas Album and, in fact, has some of the same cuts on it. However while I felt the other album had a tendency to get overly solemn and almost dreary at times, this overall has a lighter, more listenable quality to it. In fact, this could have some appeal to those who don't generally go for classical music, because there is a relaxing quality to the selection with little which is excessively operatic. There are operatic voices here such as Luciano Pavarotti, Kiri Te Kanawa, Placido Domingo and Leontyne Price, but the deliveries are low key and melodious.

If you have any taste at all for the classical sound of Christmas music, this is most highly recommended.

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 180 Minutes of Blessed Seasonal Music, December 7, 2001

By 

rodboomboom (Dearborn, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Christmas Adagios (Audio CD)

The spectacular pristine CD cover photo graphically portrays the richness and beauty of this Christmas collection. "Over 2 1/2 hours of peaceful seasonal music." The photo is of a shining white church in a pastoral setting with snow, lighted tree, stream and bridge. This is relaxing music!

Carol favorites (e.g. O holy night) to baroque favorites (selections from Bach's Christmas Oratorio) to offerings performed by such as Academy & Chorus of ST. Martin in the Fields, Bach Choir, Pavarotti, King's College Choir, Leontyne Price, Marilyn Horne, and Vienna Boys Choir.

What a treat and bargain, so well produced and collaborated! Well worth adding to one's collection and playing as it is this holiday season by the reviewer.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A classical music lover's tranquil Christmas, November 1, 2004

By 

Robin Currier - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Christmas Adagios (Audio CD)

A Fascinating compilation of classical Christmas favorites. With 45 selections, you certainly get your money's worth!

And boy is this calming, relaxing music! A rather odd mix, however, of different recording qualities, which makes me think that some of these recordings are quite old. I wonder if Decca simply went through their catalog of classical music and just grabbed whatever was slow and had something to do with Christmas.

However, some of my very favorites are on these CDs, so I guess it doesn't matter what Decca's method was. Some of the recordings are quite nice.

The first recording of Leontyne Price, "O Holy Night," just doesn't fit our modern tastes for sopranos as she sounds a bit out of control and with a "vibrato you could drive truck through," as we say in my choral group. Perhaps this recording was made when she was past her prime?

However, the recordings by the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields are marvelous. In particular, Berlioz' "Shepherd's Farewell," is superb.

We are also treated to the Bach Choir, the Choir of King's College, Renata Tebaldi, Marilyn Horne, Vienna Boys Choir, Monteverdi Choir, and Pavarotti.

In addition to great orchestral pieces by Vivaldi and Bach (Pastoral Sinfonia from the Christmas Oratorio), we also have wonderful carols and hymns such as "Es Ist Ein Ros Entsprungen," Stille Nacht," "Once in David's Royal City," and "In the Bleak Midwinter."

While wonderful pieces, there are several selection that are puzzling as Christmas selections: "Laudate Dominum" by Mozart, "The Lamb" by Tavener, and "Panis Angelicus" by Cesar Franck.

The CD ends with an inspired rendition of "White Christmas" by Irvin Berlin performed by Kiri Te Kanawa, whose warm soprano certainly does it justice, although it is the only non-classical piece on the CD.