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Christmas Choral Classics
Crouch End Festival Chorus, Temple, Bateman
Christmas Choral Classics
Genres: Special Interest, Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (21) - Disc #1

The singers in the Crouch End Festival Chorus have dipped their vocal chords into both core classical works (Benjamin Britten, Philip Glass) and more pop-oriented projects (Cinema Choral Classics). For better and worse, t...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Crouch End Festival Chorus, Temple, Bateman
Title: Christmas Choral Classics
Members Wishing: 1
Total Copies: 0
Label: Silva America
Original Release Date: 1/1/2000
Re-Release Date: 10/10/2000
Genres: Special Interest, Classical
Styles: Holiday & Wedding, Opera & Classical Vocal
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 738572602628, 2605000012695

Synopsis

Amazon.com
The singers in the Crouch End Festival Chorus have dipped their vocal chords into both core classical works (Benjamin Britten, Philip Glass) and more pop-oriented projects (Cinema Choral Classics). For better and worse, this disc of Christmas music falls into the latter camp. Here, on 20 tracks, the ensemble, joined by the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, performs some of the most popular carols of all time--"It's the Most Wonderful Time of Year," "Winter Wonderland," "Jingle Bells," and more. Conductor Paul Bateman's arrangements don't allow for any choral solos, so each of these works is given largely the same treatment. You get light orchestrations, fine singing, and nice sound to boot. There are technically better CDs of holiday music with better singing and more interesting arrangements, but few are this delightful or infectious. --Jason Verlinde

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CD Reviews

"Essential & Ultimate Holiday album for the entire family"
J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 11/11/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Twenty one favorite Christmas Carols and songs performed by the world renown Crouch End Festival Chorus (conductor - David Temple) and The city of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra (conductor Paul Bateman) for an unforgettable Holiday Season for the entire family.Two of the most respected musical institutions bring together arrangements and orchestrations by Paul Bateman and Jeremy Marchant ~ harmonized by Charles Wood, David Wilcocks and Simon Fricker with brilliant editing ~ featuring Dolby Surround Sound and HDCD mastering for the connoisseurs listening pleasure.Entire album is a stand out with "HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS", a Martin & Blaine tune that Judy Garland sang in "Meet Me in St. Louis", has become an every year classic ~ "GAUDETE", a traditional carol blends eternal happiness, keeping with the season ~ "DING DONG MERRILY ON HIGH", listen as the chorus receive a wonderful workout and they love it ~ "MARY'S BOY CHILD", the big Harry Belafonte hit that always reminds us why we celebrate Christmas ~ "HAPPY XMAS (WAR IS OVER)", the Lennon/Ono tune will tell you like it is ~ but my favorite and highlight is track eleven "WALKING IN THE AIR (from The Snowman), composed for an animated short film, of a boy and his Snowman friend who suddenly comes to life, they travel through the air like magic to the North Pole, meeting Santa and all his friends as they make Christmas all over the world possible, beautiful cue and very haunting mesmerizing theme.Hats off to James Fitzpatrick (producer), Reynold da silva (album concept), Paul Bateman and Rickie Clark (assoc. producers) and Silva America for making every Christmas special with this incredible album...gotta love it!Total Time: 61:17 on 21 Tracks ~ Silva America 6026 ~ (10/10/2000)"
Excellent Christmas Music
Jim Grigsby | Indianapolis, IN USA (but I am a Southener !) | 02/09/2010
(4 out of 5 stars)

"Overall, a very good production. A good listener will be able to tell that orchestra and chorus were recorded in different sessions and locations. Acoustics are good, diction is understandable, good overall harmonious choir. There were several songs that I really liked, but most of them are alright; very full sound - good engineering. This is NOT a really blockbuster classical orchestral / choral show off album - say -like the Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra were so good at."