The Very Best of Christmas CD 1

The Very Best of Christmas CD 1 최고의 크리스마스 CD 1 Various Artist (2006 NAXOS) 1. Joy to the World (theme by Handel) 　 Album Title: The Very Best of Christmas Composer: Leroy Anderson, Johann Sebastian Bach, Hector Berlioz, Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Arcangelo Corelli, Harold Darke, Franz Xaver Gruber, George Frideric Handel, Franz Joseph Haydn, Gustav Holst, Franz Liszt, Felix Mendelssohn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Sergey Prokofiev, Nikolay Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov, John Rutter, John Tavener, Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, Antonio Vivaldi, Traditional Lyricist: Hector Berlioz, Bible - New Testament, Robert Herrick, Text Mass, Josef Mohr, Christina Rossetti, Gottfried van Swieten, Valentin Thilo, Traditional, Isaac Watts, Charles Wesley, George Ratcliffe Woodward Conductor: Andrew Sackett, Christopher Robinson, Donald Hunt, Geza Oberfrank, Grace Rossiter, Igor Golovschin, Jaroslav Krcek, Kevin Mallon, Michael Halasz, Morten Schuldt-Jensen, Noel Edison, Norman Scribner, ondrej Lenard, Richard Hayman, Stephen Gunzenhauser, Theodore Kuchar Performer: Various Artists                 Stephan MacLeod (bass-baritone)                 J. ReillyLewis (organ)                 Michael Bloss (organ)                 Raymond Johnston (organ)                 Eteri Andjaparidze (piano)                 John Evanson (piano)                 Sibylla Rubens (soprano)                 Andreas Karasiak (tenor)                 Philip Langridge (tenor)                 Robert Stringer (treble)                 Takako Nishizaki (violin) Choir: Tewkesbury Abbey Choir          Worcester Cathedral Choir          St. John's College Choir, Cambridge          Washington Choral Arts Society          Elora Festival Singers          Finchley Children's Music Group          Gewandhaus Chamber Choir Ensemble: Aradia Ensemble, Scholars Baroque Ensemble Orchestra: Washington Choral Arts Society Orchestra                 Leipzig Chamber Orchestra                 Budapest Failoni Chamber Orchestra                 Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra                 Ukraine National Symphony Orchestra                 Capella Istropolitana                 Moscow Symphony Orchestra                 Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra                 Richard Hayman Symphony Orchestra Audio CD (September 18, 2006) SPARS Code: DDD Mono/Stereo: Stereo Number of Discs: 2 Label: Naxos Copyright: (C) 2006 Naxos Rights International Total Length: 2:13:26 Period: 20th Century, Baroque (1600-1750), Classical (1750-1830), Contemporary, Romantic Genres: Classical, Music, Holiday, Christmas: Classical, Ballet; Choral - Sacred; Choral - Secular; Concertos; Instrumental; Orchestral Styles: Choral Beethoven Quintet for P.O.C.H.B E flat Op16 English C.Orche 1 Disc 1 : L'histoire de Noël 1. Joy to the World (theme by Handel)   (1:38)    Composer   George Frideric Händel (1685-1759)    Lyricist   Isaac Watts    Conductor   Donald Hunt    Choir   Worcester Cathedral Choir 2. Festgesang, MWV D4, "Gutenberg-Kantate": No. 2. (adap. W.H. Cummings as Hark! The Herald Angels Sing)   (3:03)    Composer   Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)    Lyricist   Charles Wesley    Conductor   Donald Hunt    Choir   Worcester Cathedral Choir 3-4. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56, Part I (excerpts)   (10:10)    Composer   George Frideric Händel (1685-1759)    Lyricist   Bible - New Testament    Ensemble   Scholars Baroque Ensemble 3. Recitative and Aria: Behold, a virgin shall conceive… O Thou that tellest good tidings to Zion (Alto, Chorus)   (6:00) 4. For unto us a child is born (Chorus)   (4:08) 5. Messe de Minuit pour Noël, for 5 voices, chorus, and orchestra, instruments & continuo, H. 9: Gloria   (4:35)    Composer   Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1643-1704)    Lyricist   Mass Text    Conductor   Kevin Mallon    Ensemble   Aradia Ensemble    Recording date   06 January 2003 6. Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht (Silent Night), GWV 145   (3:12)    Composer   Franz Xaver Grüber (1787–1863)    Lyricist   Josef Mohr    Conductor   Noel Edison    Performer   Michael Bloss (organ)    Choir   Elora Festival Singers 7. O Jesulein süss, o Jesulein mild, sacred song for voice & continuo (Schemelli Gesangbuch No. 203), BWV 493 (BC F234)   (3:09)    Composer   Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)    Lyricist   Valentin Thilo    Conductor   Norman Scribner    Choir   Washington Choral Arts Society    Orchestra   Washington Choral Arts Society Orchestra 8. Noël basque : L'Ange Gabriel (d'après le noël basque "Birjina gaztettobat zegoen"): The Angel Gabriel From Heaven Came, The (Birjina gaztettobat zegoen, Basque carol)   (2:32)    Composer   Christmas Traditional    Arranger   Grace Rossiter    Conductor   Grace Rossiter    Choir   Finchley Children's Music Group    Recording date   7 - 8 April 2004 9. The First Nowell (English)   (5:02)    Composer   Christmas Traditional    Arranger   David Willcocks    Lyricist   Traditional    Conductor   Andrew Sackett    Choir   Tewkesbury Abbey Choir    Recording date   1 and 7 February 1994 10. Le chœur des bergers (L'enfance du Christ, oratorio for soprano, 2 tenors, baritone, 3 basses, chorus & orchetsra, L' ("Trilogie sacrée") H. 130)...Part 2: La Fuite en Egypte, H.128, Op. 25: 8. Adieu des bergers à la sainte famille: Il s'en va loin de la terre (The shepherds' farewell)   (5:25)    Composer   Hector Berlioz (1803-1869)    Lyricist   Hector Berlioz    Conductor   Andrew Sackett    Choir   Tewkesbury Abbey Choir 11. In the Bleak Midwinter (carol)   (5:02)    Composer   Harold Darke (1888-1976)    Lyricist   Christina Rossetti    Conductor   Noel Edison    Performer   Michael Bloss (organ)    Choir   Elora Festival Singers 12. Old English Carols (4), for chorus & piano, Op. 20b, H. 82: 1. A Babe is Born   (2:22)    Composer   Gustav Holst (1874-1934)    Conductor   Grace Rossiter    Performer   John Evanson (piano)    Choir   Finchley Children's Music Group    Recording date   07 - 08 April 2004 13. Ding, Dong! Merrily on High (French)   (2:14)    Composer   Christmas Traditional    Lyricist   George Ratcliffe Woodward    Arranger   David Willcocks    Conductor   Noel Edison    Performer   Michael Bloss (organ)    Choir   Elora Festival Singers 14. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (English)   (3:31)    Composer   Christmas Traditional    Lyricist   Traditional    Arranger   David Willcocks    Conductor   Andrew Sackett    Choir   Tewkesbury Abbey Choir 15. God is with Us: (A Christmas Proclamation), for chorus & organ   (5:28)    Composer   Sir John Tavener (né en 1945)    Lyricist   Anonymous    Conductor   Christopher Robinson    Choir   St. John's College Choir, Cambridge    Recording date   11 - 13 July 2000 16. Sussex Carol (on Christmas Night")   (2:08)    Composer   Christmas Traditional    Arranger   G. Rossiter    Conductor   Grace Rossiter    Performer   Philip Langridge (tenor)    Choir   Finchley Children's Music Group    Recording date   7 - 8 April 2004 17. Wassail Song ("Here We Come A-Wassailing"), carol   (3:58)    Composer   Christmas Traditional    Lyricist   Traditional    Arranger   John Rutter    Conductor   Norman Scribner    Choir   Washington Choral Arts Society    Orchestra   Washington Choral Arts Society Orchestra 18. The Holly and the Ivy (English)   (2:22)    Composer   Christmas Traditional    Lyricist   Traditional    Arranger   Henry Walford Davies / J. Rutter    Conductor   Grace Rossiter    Performer   John Evanson (piano)    Choir   Finchley Children's Music Group 19. What Sweeter Music, for chorus   (5:05)    Composer   John Rutter (né en 1945)    Lyricist   Robert Herrick    Conductor   Noel Edison    Performer   Michael Bloss (organ)    Choir   Elora Festival Singers    Recording date   14-15 July 2009 20. O Come, All Ye Faithful (Adeste fidelis)   (3:46)    Composer   Traditional / John Francis Wade (1710-1786)    Lyricist   Traditional    Arranger   David Willcocks    Conductor   Donald Hunt    Performer   Raymond Johnston (organ)                       Robert Stringer (treble)    Choir   Worcester Cathedral Choir 　 Review Naxos' 2006 double-disc compilation, The Very Best of Christmas, presents an agreeable and balanced assortment of holiday favorites, with vocal and choral numbers assigned to the first disc and instrumental and orchestral pieces on the second. The roster of choral performers includes the Worcester Cathedral Choir, the Scholars Baroque Ensemble, the Tewkesbury Abbey Choir, the Elora Festival Singers, and the Choral Arts Society of Washington, among others; the list of orchestral performances by the Leipzig Radio Chamber Orchestra, the Moscow Symphony Orchestra, Capella Istropolitana, and the Slovak Philaharmonic Orchestra, to name a few, is representative of some of Naxos' leading ensembles from 1987 to 2004. The carols, hymns, and other choral works have a decidedly reverent tone, not only because they are the most often performed in church settings, but also because the ensembles are frequently accompanied by organ. In contrast, the instrumental selections on the second half of the program have a secular feeling, since they are largely excerpts from ballets, concertos, and other concert music associated with the Christmas season. Even though the recordings cover a wide time period and were made in numerous venues, the tracks have been mixed for consistency of tone and evenness of dynamic levels, so if the album is played in the background at holiday gatherings, volume adjustments are unnecessary. by Blair Sanderson