Customer Reviews

A Christmas Festival

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

In Boston, Christmas music is synonymous with The Boston Pops, and for many people, Christmas music is synonymous with its legendary conductor, Arthur Fielder. The album contains many Pops favorites including Leroy Anderson's arrangement of Christmas carols and his well known Sleigh Ride. We actually hear the authentic rendition of Sleigh Ride on this recording since the Pops made Anderson's music famous. The recording includes classical favorites such as music from the opera Hansel and Gretel, Mozart's Sleigh Ride, a highlight from The Nutcracker, and Fantasia on Greensleves. Newer works include Al Hirt's Toy Trumpet. The recording concludes with the Pops timeless rendition of Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.

As soon as the music of this recording begins, the listener is transported to Boston's Symphony Hall. So take a break from the hectic holiday season and enjoy the sound of the Boston Pops!

Pops fame of Fiedler and Boston Pops is well illustrated in this Christmas collection.

Well done recording balanced with religious and secular offerings. Especially enjoy the versions of "Carol of the Bells" and "What Child Is This?"

Worthwhile addition to play to provide variety of sung and instrumental holiday cheer.

Arthur Fiedler has created a timeless classic album with the Boston Pops. All the Christmas standards are here, all in instrumental form (which is hard to find these days). Even if you aren't a classical music fan you will find these renditions exciting and fitting for any Christmas occasion. The songs will draw pleasant memories of your youth at Christmas time. Especially unique is the whimsical "sleigh ride" with the clip clop sounds of horses hooves, a whip snapping, sleigh bells ringing, and for the finale, the neighing of a horse (portrayed by a trumpet of course).

Arthur Fieldler takes you to "A Christmas Festival" where he will lead you on a "Sleigh Ride" to a "Winter Wonderland" to celebrate an absolutely beautiful "White Christmas" with the Boston Pops Orchestra and Chorus.

Make it a "Silent Night" and listen to some of the classic Christmas carols of all-time - "The Nutcracker: Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy," "What Child Is This?" and a host of heavenly chorus singing a "Christmas Medley" of "Here We Come A-Caroling," "O Christmas Tree" and "I Saw Three Ships."

This is one my favorite Christmas music of all-time. The music of Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Orchestra has been a part of our very musical household when I was growing up. Likewise, this recording takes me back to my cherished memories of Christmases in the past. This is Christmas music at its best. The arrangements are perfectly done, the orchestration is superb, the choice of material is truly impeccable, and the chorus is outstanding.

Merrily recommended for your Holiday listen and let your ears capture its magic.

I love this disc. When I was a kid my parents owned this one on a cassette tape and we played it until it wore out. From the first amazing notes of 'Joy To the World' ("Christams Fetival" is a fantastic medley of favorite carols) - straight through to 'Santa Claus Is Coming to Town' this is a perfect instrumental offering of Holiday music. Excellent background music for the dinner hour or opening the presents on Christmas morning. If your folks had this one on vinyl or cassette it will take you right back home for the holidays. Assuming you want to go there.....I know I'm starting to sound like an infomercial (But wait - There's More!) but no kidding it is also a perfect gift for those folks that seem to have everything.

This album was released on compact disc in October of 1990 but it was released on vinyl records sometime between 1969 to 1972. I grew up listening to it most years until I started on my own path. Of course in my younger days the appreciation for Christmas orchestra music was not there. Only rediscovered it on amazon.com in 1994. It's great to play low as background music on Christmas day while opening gifts or while friends and relatives are talking about. The music has a whimsical flare which really brings out the Christmas spirit. Highly recommended for initiating cheer and maintaining calm in the household.

As far as I'm concerned this is a "must have" for any Christmas music collection. I also own two other Boston Pops Christmas CD's conducted by John Williams and Keith Lockart which are newer and also great but this one from Artur Fiedler is the "Master". Over an hour of pure classic holiday pleasure. Christmas music like fine wine only improves with age.

This is a great classic Christmas album. It is wonderful to have playing in the background while you are opening presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. It is soothing and relaxing. I Love It!!!

Love it and my whole family aalso loves it from 6 years old to 71 years old!

Our whole family enjoyed this CD very much. It was the first CD we played on the 1st of December as the family tradition has been to play the first Christmas CD in the early hours before sunrise. I especially liked the range of music from tradiitonal favourites to more contemporary sounds.Each piece was unique. Truly a musical feast!