Christmas Adagios

Gerald Finley (Performer), Adolphe Adam (Composer), Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer), Irving Berlin (Composer), Hector Berlioz (Composer), Johannes Brahms (Composer), Benjamin Britten (Composer), Pavel Chesnokov (Composer), Arcangelo Corelli (Composer), Peter Cornelius (Composer), Robert Cowper (Composer), Harold Darke (Composer), Henry Walford Davies (Composer), Cesar Franck (Composer), Giovanni Gabrieli (Composer), Henry John Gauntlett (Composer), Charles Gounod (Composer), Franz Xaver Gruber (Composer), Evghenie Humulescu (Composer), William James Kirkpatrick (Composer)

Product Details

• Performer: Gerald Finley
• Composer: Adolphe Adam, Johann Sebastian Bach, Irving Berlin, Hector Berlioz, Johannes Brahms, et al.
• Audio CD (October 9, 2001)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B00005NY7D
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #89,878 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 180 Minutes of Blessed Seasonal Music, December 7, 2001

By	rodboomboom (Dearborn, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

The spectacular pristine CD cover photo graphically portrays the richness and beauty of this Christmas collection. "Over 2 1/2 hours of peaceful seasonal music." The photo is of a shining white church in a pastoral setting with snow, lighted tree, stream and bridge. This is relaxing music!

Carol favorites (e.g. O holy night) to baroque favorites (selections from Bach's Christmas Oratorio) to offerings performed by such as Academy & Chorus of ST. Martin in the Fields, Bach Choir, Pavarotti, King's College Choir, Leontyne Price, Marilyn Horne, and Vienna Boys Choir.

What a treat and bargain, so well produced and collaborated! Well worth adding to one's collection and playing as it is this holiday season by the reviewer.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Serious but not solemn sacred classical works, December 4, 2002

By	Neal C. Reynolds (Indianapolis, Indiana) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This set of two CDs will appeal to those who are drawn to the #1 Christmas Album and, in fact, has some of the same cuts on it. However while I felt the other album had a tendency to get overly solemn and almost dreary at times, this overall has a lighter, more listenable quality to it. In fact, this could have some appeal to those who don't generally go for classical music, because there is a relaxing quality to the selection with little which is excessively operatic. There are operatic voices here such as Luciano Pavarotti, Kiri Te Kanawa, Placido Domingo and Leontyne Price, but the deliveries are low key and melodious.

If you have any taste at all for the classical sound of Christmas music, this is most highly recommended.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful, December 22, 2004

By	Pococat (Baltimore. MD USA) - See all my reviews

Many, many classic recordings of favorite christmas carols and pieces. I must say that the reviewer who said that Leontyne Price's vibrato was "too wide" should have his ears examined. Leontyne Price recorded her classic Christmas album (which, by the way, any lover of Christmas music or anyone who wants to hear pristine singing, should own) in the 1960's when she was in her absolute prime. A fast spinning vibrato is indicative of a NATURAL, healthy sounding voice, which is quite the opposite of what most uninformed choral conductors ask for these days OK, I'll get off my soap box now!