Customer Reviews

Christmas With Julie Andrews

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I don't mean to be cynical, but the editorial review on this CD was a hoot. Does the editorial reviewer actually listen to Miss Andrews singing Christmas carols for GRIT?! He sounds like one of those folks who simply can't accept that vocal beauty and clarity are perfectly appropriate and preferrable in many musical genres--including musicals, which now seem to be full of people who can belt out a tune, but can't actually sing it with any sensitivity. This is a lovely CD; try also her Greatest Christmas Songs and her Christmas Treasure, even more beautiful if possible--taken from the early Firestone LP's.

I tend to think that Julie Andrews would be the ideal person to stand up and sing Christmas carols at a church service on Christmas Eve, and I suspect that "Christmas With Julie Andrews" is a large part of the reason why. There is a combination of power and grace that makes "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" and "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" sound like they should be should be filling up a great cathedral like Westminster Abbey, and you do not doubt for a second that Andrews could do it. This makes it all the more impressive when she tones down the power but retains the grace in songs like "Away in the Manger," "O Little Town of Bethlehem," and "Silent Night, Holy Night." As with her other holiday albums, this 1982 release presents not only these favorites, but a strong mix of lesser-known traditional songs including "In the Black Midwinter," "The Holy Boy," and "Patapan." For me the treat is "I Wonder as I Wander," a song that I associate with Mary Travers singing on the Peter, Paul & Mary's 1988 "Holiday Celebration Album." The differences in the voices are striking, but both interpretations are beautiful. Granted, these are not exactly the sort of Christmas albums where you feel compelled to sing along, but if you really want your seasonal spirits to soar then the glorious voice of Julie Andrews is most likely to get you up among the rafters.

This is an exceptionally beautiful Christmas album. Julie gives some of her best performaces ever on these haunting songs. It surrounds you in incredible Christmas and winter scenes. The material and arrangements are tops. If you love Christmas make this CD a priority.

Since I was a little girl and my mother and I collected the Firestone albums (they cost $1.00!), I have absolutely loved to hear Julie Andrews sing Christmas carols. Her crystal clear soprano is the perfect accompaniment to the classic, traditional songs, lending an air of timeless authenticity that cannot be surpassed. My particular favorite on this CD is "In the Bleak Mid Winter", a soulful, melancholy song that captures the stark, gray, frigid beauty of winter. I would recommend this CD to anyone that is a serious collector of quality Christmas recordings and to those that are just starting that journey.
S.Fletcher Edgewater, NJ

Julie Andrews second Christmas album (her first was "Christmas Treasure," released in the 1960s), "Christmas with Julie Andrews" showcases Andrews' interpretations of familiar and less-familiar seasonal tunes. While this album does not convey the lyrical warmth and rich orchestration so evident on "Treasure," this is not neccesarily a bad thing. "Christmas" offers up instead a crystalline interpretation shadowed with just the slightest touch of melencholy. The effect is wholly different than "Treasure," but equally welcome. There is, for example, the initially-lilting melody of "The Holy Boy," where Andrews hits a beautiful (though minor-keyed) high note midway through that sends shivers down one's spine. This less-familiar song, along with her choice of different melodies for holiday standards, jar the listener a bit at first, but only because the typical melodies are so often assumed to follow the titles. After repeated listening, however, one grows accustomed to and fond of the interpretations, as they represent Andrews' gentle yet ultimately transcendent way with a melody, any melody. When this album ends, one feels as though they have just walked a winter forest as the evening sun has illuminated the snow crystals on the bare tree branches. If this visual presentation doesn't leave you breathless, then this collection of music certainly will!

Julie Andrews' voice is just a treasure. It is instantly soothing and emotionally evocative. This Christmas collection is one of the best Christmas albums I own.

This is a lovely, enchanting Christmas album featuring Julie Andrews singing both traditional and obscure carols. Highlights include "The Holy Boy," "O Little Town of Bethlehem," and "I Wonder As I Wander." All of the songs have beautiful orchestra arrangements and some also feature a choir. In "O Little Town of Bethlehem," the choir sings the traditional melody while Julie sings an entirely different melody, which adds new dimension to this classic carol. In "I Wonder As I Wander," Julie sings both the lead and harmony on overlaid vocal tracks, which gives a haunting effect. This reminds me of a similar technique used on Barbra Streisand's Broadway Album in "The King And I" medley. One song that seems somewhat out of place is "The Secret of Christmas" since all the other selections refer to the spiritual meaning of the holiday and this is the only secular song.

The reason I gave this album four stars instead of five is because I think her "Sounds of Christmas" album she made for Hallmark in 1990 is superior. That album features a perfect mix of sacred and secular songs and overall is a bit more upbeat than "Christmas With Julie Andrews." However, this album is still very enjoyable -- Julie's voice is always a pleasure to listen to and will give you a touch of Christmas spirit anytime throughout the year!

No one surpasses Julie Andrews for singing talent. Her crystal clear voice and generally beautiful singing bring new meaning and feeling to these beautiful, age old Christmas carols. Her choice of songs in this gorgeous album include unknown traditional carols, such as In the Bleak Midwinter, Amid the Winter Snow, and Patapan. This wonderful choice of a mixture of traditional hymns and even more traditional carols are the most beautiful ones to add new meaning to Christmas and all it stands for.

By the mid 70s, Julie had been famous for the Christmas editions of her television show. It was on the first of these that some of the arramgements (and songs) on this album were used (as well as some arrangements from her earlier Andre Previn record from the mid 60s). Whilst there have been complaints about the ''overproduced'' aspects of the arrangements by Ian Fraser - a slightly over-bright and overly ambient recording style - they are very effective and produce a clear style that suits Julie's voice. It is evident that she appreciates an orchestration and arrangement that she can have a "dialogue with (a similar relationship existed between her and Andre Previn in the "Christmas Treasure" album from the 60s. Moreover they are effective in transmitting a sense of drama and pensiveness and passion - and in the case of ''In The Bleak MidWinter'' - chilling coldness. Julie's interpretations are quite remarkable. Her version of the little known ''See Amid The Winter Snow'' (popular with English choirs) is stirring and heart wrenching as is her version of ''in The Bleak Midwinter'' (also a British favourite). Her version of the German carol ''Rocking'' is an exquisite evocative lullaby. However a dramatic stand-out is her version of ''I Wonder As I Wonder'' --- it is shattering and is the only version that surpasses the Barbra Streisand version from the mid 60s. Her ''Hark The Herald Angels Sing'' is equally dramatic (though the orchestra could have been toned down a little here) In this album she uses the American melodies to ''It Came Upon A Midnight Clear'', ''O Little Town of Bethlehem'', 'What Child Is This?', ''Hark! The Herald Angels Sing' and ''Away in a Manger'' (in her earlier Christmas album she used British melodies). Once again her diction intonation, phrasing, breath control and sheer musicality are matchless.

Julie Andrews released three Christmas albums: this one, and one from RCA, the other from Hallmark, which is hard to find. This one is very beautiful disc and very enjoyable. I love it and hear it every year. Her silver-toned voice is suited well to these Christmas songs. It's sad that this one is hard to find now. If you want to add new Christmas disc to your library, this one is worth adding.