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Wow. I was really shocked at the musicianship of players - then of course it IS the Moscow Symphony Orchestra. The arrangements are completely new for me, a refreshing change considering the number of orchestral Christmas Music albums I have.
If there is anything negative about the release, it's the sound engineering, and then that complaint is from a "purist" view. Listening on IEMs, I must have counted 20 different mics in the sessions, producing an overall multi-channel-mono sense, especially during the sound decays, very little "air" around the instrument sections.
This is just a quibble, I love the artistry of the players and the conductor, and especially the new arrangements of traditional Christmas works.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2017
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Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2018
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Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2009
The information on the tracks, as well as that downloaded from CDDB/Gracenote database, wasn't quite complete in listing the medley info. Here's the full info from the back of the CD case, as well as timings from the actual tracks in iTunes:
1. Joy To The World Medley 3:32
2. Away In A Manger 3:04
3. Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isabella Medley (Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isabella / The Coventry Carol) 3:25
4. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen 2:39
5. What Child Is This? 3:30
6. Sing We Now Of Christmas Medley (Sing We Now of Christmas / In The Bleak Midwinter) 3:55
7. Gesu Bambino 6:32
8. I Wonder As I Wander 3:15
9. Deck The Halls Medley (Deck the Halls / O Little Town of Bethlehem / Good Christian Men Rejoice) 3:33
10. Maltese Winter 6:07
11. Do You Hear What I Hear? 2:13
12. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel 3:57
13. Good King Wenceslas Medley (Good King Wenceslas / The Holly and The Ivy / Angels We Have Heard On High) 3:32
14. The Little Drummer Boy 3:26
15. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear Medley (It Came Upon A Midnight Clear / Silent Night / Hark the Herald Angels Sing) 3:33
16. O Holy Night 4:07 17. We Wish You A Merry Christmas 1:56
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Christmas music in a Grandiose Style
By Spudly McGruff on October 18, 2009
Christmas Fantastique is a Christmas "original soundtrack" album without a movie, and it's too bad, because it would be a movie worth seeing. I was hesitant to pay so much for a Christmas CD I had little knowledge of beyond the other reviews here, but I did, and I'm really happy I did. This sweeping and respectful Christmas disc is perfect for relaxing into the holiday spirit. The recording is spectacularly solid and uplifting, completely instrumental, and has that "magical" feel to it. It reminds me just a little bit of the Trans-Siberian orchestra [[ASIN:B0002ZDVGS The Lost Christmas Eve]] CD, but not quite the same. This one is more "traditional". A very unique disc to play for the holidays, and I highly recommend it.By Spudly McGruff on October 18, 2009
The information on the tracks, as well as that downloaded from CDDB/Gracenote database, wasn't quite complete in listing the medley info. Here's the full info from the back of the CD case, as well as timings from the actual tracks in iTunes:
1. Joy To The World Medley 3:32
2. Away In A Manger 3:04
3. Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isabella Medley (Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isabella / The Coventry Carol) 3:25
4. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen 2:39
5. What Child Is This? 3:30
6. Sing We Now Of Christmas Medley (Sing We Now of Christmas / In The Bleak Midwinter) 3:55
7. Gesu Bambino 6:32
8. I Wonder As I Wander 3:15
9. Deck The Halls Medley (Deck the Halls / O Little Town of Bethlehem / Good Christian Men Rejoice) 3:33
10. Maltese Winter 6:07
11. Do You Hear What I Hear? 2:13
12. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel 3:57
13. Good King Wenceslas Medley (Good King Wenceslas / The Holly and The Ivy / Angels We Have Heard On High) 3:32
14. The Little Drummer Boy 3:26
15. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear Medley (It Came Upon A Midnight Clear / Silent Night / Hark the Herald Angels Sing) 3:33
16. O Holy Night 4:07 17. We Wish You A Merry Christmas 1:56
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Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2012
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Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2014
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Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2016
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