Customer Reviews

Hallmark Presents Christmas with Tony Bennett and the London Symphony Orchestra

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

 

 

"Fill your home with the sounds of the season."

1. O Christmas Tree
2. O Little Town of Bethlehem (featuring Tony Bennett)
3. Coventry Carol
4. Deck the Halls (featuring Tony Bennett)
5. The First Noel
6. The Christmas Song (featuring Tony Bennett)
7. Good King Wenceslas
8. Silent Night (featuring Tony Bennett)
9. Angels We Have heard On High
10. Have Youself a Merry Little Christmas (featuring Tony Bennett)
11. Here We Come A-Wassailing
12. O Come, All Ye Faithful (featuring Tony Bennett)

Total Time: 41 minutes
Recorded in London in 2002, LSO conducted by Don Jackson
Tony Bennett's tracks orchestrated by Robert Farnon (who was arranger/conductor on Tony's "Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album", 1968). Liner notes include Tony's reminiscences about Christmas.

As can be seen from the track listing, this album is comprised of six instrumentals performed by the LSO and six vocals by Tony (performing with the LSO and chorus). The instrumentals are just fine, pleasant and traditional, but I can't for the life of me imagine why Tony didn't sing on all 12 tracks; it would have made the album a much more satisfying listen for Tony's fans, as the LSO instrumentals are of the kind to be found on hundreds of Christmas records and Tony's classic voice and singing are to be found on only three ("Snowfall", this, and "Swingin' Christmas"). So ultimately not in the category of the best Christmas records because of the so-close-but-so-far-away element, but indispensable for the 6 vocal tracks to be added to your Tony Bennett Christmas compilation.

Tony sounds great here, of course, his voice perfectly seasoned and his singing more firmly controlled than on "Snowfall"; he's one of the few who really did get better with age. His versions of "Silent Night" and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" are standouts, Tony pulling out the dramatic stops at the songs' climaxes for especially heartstring-pulling performances. Great stuff.

Tony and christmas what a great pair, one of the best crooners doing christmas music...
I rate this CD a 5 of 5 stars!!

This cd came welll package and sealed from fabric(as decribe). The Item arrive in lees than a week. I will buy from this seller again.