Customer Reviews

Festival of Christmas Carols

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

 

 

Colin Davis and the LSO are in top form in this 1979 digitally remastered
program of some of the most beloved Christmas Carols. The arrangements go
from the sublime(ie. Silent Night)to the bombastic(ie. Patapan), though nothing is over done. The LSO sound shines with occassional selections(six)including the John Alldis Choir. The tracks are attractively strung close together giving the 18 carols the flow of a symphonic suite. This is tops at the cheap price asked. My only reservation for a fifth star is the relatively short 47min. timing, by today's CD standards.

This collection of carols is a wonderful collection at a reasonable price. Classical music fans will know that in general, a recording by Sir Colin Davis and the London Symphony Orchestra is a guarantee of quality, and this collection would certainly be in this category. Most of the works are orchestral arrangements in suite form. Some tracks are accompanied by the John Alldis Choir which gives the collection variety. The arrangements are somewhat standard, but there are some interesting aspects to the recording as well. It makes excellent background music for holiday preparation, gift wrapping, addressing Christmas cards or would be relaxing when stuck in a traffic jam outside a mall (or I suppose something soothing to listen to in the car on the ride home after dealing with crowds in a mall). However it is listened to, it certainly will get a person in a holiday mood.

Enjoy!

Since my teenage years I can not imagine a christmas without this music. The songs are beautifully arranged with a good balance between royal big orchestrations and intimate small settings. Although the orchestrations are classical they come with a large contemporary, one might even say filmish twist, which makes them fresh and draws everything above dusty traditional sounds. The recording is from 1979/1980 which has the advantage that it is not as sharp and 'clean' as we often hear today. This gives it a wonderful nostalgic quality. However, this is also a matter of taste. Some carols are performed with and some without the choir: a nice alternation. The choir has a warm sound and you can actually hear the words they sing most of the time. A real festival of carols with what I would name an ultimate positive feeling.

I wore the first one out because we played it so often over the years! I can not imagine not having this CD, and Thanks to Amazon, I was able to find again! This is just an wonderful CD, I love the London Symphony and that chorus! They include all of my favorites too!