Customer Reviews

Joy to the World

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Joan Sutherland's JOY TO THE WORLD, a Decca re-release that was recorded in the 1960's is one of the greatest operatic Christmas collections available. Sutherland is in her vocal glory and this collection has wonderful examples of her vocal talents. In my opinion, her "O Holy Night" is one of the greatest recordings of this carol available. Her feeling in "What Child is this?" is moving. She shows off her embellishments in "The Twelve Days of Christmas" (what prima donna does not do the same?) and she handles "O Divine Redeemer" beautifully. What I appreciate most about this collection is that it is not about Joan Sutherland. Sutherland, like her contemporaries Loentyne Price and Renata Tebaldi presents a beautiful collection of Christmas carols and musical gems that demonstrate her many gifts but allow the music to take center stage. The New Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Sutherland's husband Richard Bonynge accompanies Sutherland beautifully and the Ambrosian Singers add variety to the collection as well.

Buy this recording as a gift and you'll find the recipient will consider you a friend for life that is if you can resist parting with it.

Enjoy!

A record reviewer once noted that they should play Joan Sutherland's Christmas album from the church belfries instead of ringing the chimes on Christmas morning. How true! The much used (now) Douglas Gamley orchestral arrangements are used here - syrupy and excessive to purists but absolutely gorgeous to me - and they go hand in glove with Dame Joan's glorious vocalism. Oh, sure, don't look for pristine diction here (this WAS an early record after all) but where else can you hear trills like this? Decca was right to reissue this one (and for the second time on CD). Now Decca, how about a COMPLETE reissue of the COMMAND PERFORMANCES on CD? That set is better than drugs!

So pleased to find this C D . when I first bought this "album' some 20 years ago it was titled The Joy of Christmas. Thank goodnes it has been reissued . The only change is the title. it's wonderful, a real treasure

Joan outdoes herself on this one. I bought the Mono LP back in the day, and wore it out. Now it is available on MP3 download. Fresh as ever!

Christmas is not Christmas without this one!

Wonderful but to set matters straight the complete Command Performance 2 LP set is NOT on these 6 CDS ; it appears the entire 2nd LP is missing (songs by Arditi, Tosti, Bishop, Balfe and Wallace among others) and also the Pagliacci aria from LP 1 of the LP set is missing as well. The Command Performance set should be reissued.