Customer Reviews

Classical Kids Christmas

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Classical Kids, has for a number of years now, provided some of the finest productions in introducing children of all ages--from four to 90--to classical music. I've been broadcasting all of Classical Kids' released on the radio for some time, and always to great enthusiasm from families, judging from phone calls and letters I receive asking for more.

With Classical Kids' previous release, "Song of the Unicorn," it was hard to imagine what creator/writer Susan Hammond might come up with next in her forays of digging into the lives of composers such as Bach, Vivaldi, Handel, Mozart, and Tchaikovsky and making the stories come alive to young listeners. It is, after all, the younger folk of today who will guide the future of great music. It's up to us to see that they get the best.

All of this is said in praise of the latest release from Classical Kids, "A Classical Kids Christmas," an ingenious idea from Susan Hammond, and one that seems to emerge to the world at a time when we truly need the beauty, charm, and inspiration that is contained in the disc's 47 minutes. The Christmas story is told over a background of wonderfully performed traditional carols and music featuring soloists, choirs, and instrumentalists of the highest caliber. One will occasionally find a piece that is not familiar--such as the Polish Lullaby, stunningly sung by Mary Bella, whose voice pours forth in a cathedral of grand magnificence. The High Park Choirs of Toronto, along with the instrumentalists, are in top form.

What amazes me about Susan Hammond's creativity, and what makes her work so magnetic, is the fact that she provides such a variety of music, from Medieval chants to music by Handel and Vivaldi to Tchaikovsky and Brahms, and many others. Hammond was responsible for most of the arrangements and adaptations contained on this disc, and credit is due to Errol Gay for some outstanding choral arranging. The disc is charged with energy that, at once, becomes infectious.

All one needs to do is to paint an image in the mind of an entire town pouring down Main Street, all feeling the joys of the Christmas season, taking in the festive decorations. It is great fun to discover the Medieval myths of how the robin got its red breast! But more, the choices of music, the effectiveness of the actors ... indeed, the entire way this is assembled makes it one of the finest discs of its kind that I have encountered.

Packaging and sound--with an added bonus of a Christmas tree ornament inside the jewel case--are first class. I noted that Manta Eastern Sound under Gary Gray was responsible for the recording, which is impeccably clean and clear.

If I have but one negative, it is the fact that I must wait until Christmastime each year to broadcast this recording. You can be sure it will be heard much more frequently than this by yours truly. As a classical music broadcast, however, this is precisely the kind of recording I would consider broadcasting.

"A Classical Kids Christmas" is highly recommended. It is a great stocking stuffer and will give to children the true meaning of Christmas interspersed with some of the greatest music they will hear.

This release is like a gift to Classical Kids' many fans, and for that, I thank them!

Lance G. Hill
Classical Program Director
Montrose Broadcasting Corporation

Classical Kids' Christmas is one of the most reverent experiences it has ever been my pleasure to hear.It is not just for kids, but for everyone who cherishes the essentially intimate, family-oriented and community-based nature of the Christmas celebration. Noble in concept, deceptively artless and understated in its expert execution, it recaptures the magic and wonder of those earliest Christmases we all recall when we compare what we did then with what we do these days. Classical Kids Christmas should become a part of every child's fondly remembered Christmas traditions.

A CLASSICAL KIDS CHRISTMAS is a Symphony of Stories for all ages. This truly beautiful interweaving of traditional yuletide songs with stories and legends from around the world which illustrate each song is a CD that will become your family favorite for December for many years. The music, performed by some of the best artists in the world, is magnificent, and each voice chosen to tell one of the stories and legends is perfect for the spirit of that story. The CD is a magnificent treasure. Be sure to order many for your friends and family.

As a fan of some of the other Classical Kids products, and having read so many glowing reviews, I was really looking forward to listing to this album with my kids. Unfortunately, after forcing ourselves to listen to fully 90% of it (hoping all the while that it might get better), we realized we couldn't stand another moment of it. I gave it away, hoping my friend and her children would enjoy it more. But no. "It's not just you..." she said...

The problems:
Totally incoherent and disconnected story line. There seems to have been some attempt at a narrative background that would pull all of the little elements together. Except that the narrative itself makes no sense and leaps around wildly. It's not clever, creative, funny, heartwarming or any of the other things it *could* have been. It's just, well, stupid.

*Partial* songs and poems -- a fragment here, a chorus there, a stanza standing alone... It annoyed me wildly to begin to enjoy a piece just about the time it faded out for the next fragment to begin (perhaps after another inane bit of narration).

Weak children's voices. Neither my children nor I enjoy listening to warbly children lisp through a song. Perhaps some might find it endearing, but as my ten-year-old said, "Were they not able to hire professional singers?" (There are some adult voices, and the music overall isn't terrible... I'll grant that this objection is largely a matter of taste.)

The positives:
These mostly come down to *potential*. Overall, I liked the *selections* of songs and poems included in the CD. There's a nice mix of familiar old favorites and some lovely traditional songs and verses that are somewhat less well known. The music itself isn't terrible (if one can get past the stylistic choice to use mediocre child singers and narrators for much of the CD), but the frustration factor of hearing only disjointed *pieces* of songs made it difficult for me to enjoy.

...
My children and I really had looked forward to listening to this CD. We have enjoyed Mr. Beethoven Lives Upstairs, and Vivaldi's Ring of Mystery from Classical Kids. My kids were introduced to The Magic Flute through the Mozart's Magic Fantasy, and went on to become great fans of the Met's recent English-language production (dir. Julie Taymor) in part because of that introduction.

But I simply can't recommend this CD at all. (And my 10yo son is the one who begged me to write this review, "Mom, you have to *warn* people!")... I wish I had my $15 back...

Story line is interspersed with a nice variety of classic christmas songs and poems in a setting that enhances the meaning and understanding of the words!!! It addresses both the Santa and Christ of christmas and keeps the focus of the holiday giving to others rather than self gain. Nicely balanced in topic, theme, style, and well done! Truly a classic tradition for all to enjoy from young to old!!! A MUST for every home for the holidays as this is not just for kids!!!

This is a great CD for not just teaching the beautiful Christmas music, but it also teaches the history of the different Christmas traditions. There is a strong focus on the birth of Jesus, but also includes the story of Saint Nicholas, as well as others. My kiddos, who are 3 and 5 loved it. I plan to pull it out again next year.

A Classical Kids Christmas is a wonderful CD. My husband and I both enjoy it, the little stories and the songs and music are well put together. A good choice for little ones as well as adult. A real Christmas find. I would recommend to everyone who loves Christmas music whether in the background or to cozy up with some hot chocolate and candlelight and just listen to the sounds, wonderful fun.

I put this CD in my car when I carpool for hockey or scouts, the children immediately quiet down to listen to the story and music, its amazing! All the Classical Kids CD's are like this. My kids especially like the Vivaldi, Bach and Beethoven stories.

I like this CD just fine but it was not what I expected or really what I wanted. I was looking for an all instrumental Christmas CD for my Autistic son. He does not particularly like the Christmas narration or the singing. I will make sure to read the description more closely next time.