Search - Northern Lights Orchestra :: What If Mozart Wrote "White Christmas"

Excellent music, but please be aware...

Eric M. Prescott | Cape Cod, MA USA | 11/28/2009

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I was excited to see what I thought was a new "What If (insert composer here) Wrote" Christmas cd. While the music is excellent, purchasers should be aware that a fair number of the selections sound like they were directly lifted from a 1986 RCA/Victor release by the Hampton String Quartet called "What If Mozart Wrote 'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas'". I find this a bit disappointing. The supposed artist of this "new" cd is the Northern Lights Orchestra; I'm not sure if they redid the music, but it sure sounds exactly like the HSQ recording I already own. Perhaps the HSQ changed its name? Whatever the case may be, the music is great; I could only rate it 2 stars, though, based on the fact that it's not all new material."

A must have Christmas record

Masako | Greenwich, CT. | 12/05/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have owned and loved the String Quartet recordings for many years and think that this recording blows the quartet stuff out of the water. I've bought copies for stocking stuffers this year. This sounds like this is the way it was meant to be. It's so grand and glorious. This is a must have record. Going to play it during Christmas Dinner."

Improvement on the original

N. Colson | Auburn, WA USA | 12/24/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"
I found the following helpful review at [...] regarding the original production of these arrangements with a string quartet and the more recent orchestral recording, which had apparently been the original vision:



Your all-time favorite Christmas Songs as if composed by the most famous of classical composers!

From the magical land of the Midnight Sun and Father Christmas comes The Northern Lights Orchestra playing the most popular Christmas songs as if Mozart, Beethoven, Debussy or Brahms had composed them for string orchestra. Conducted by the Finnish conductor Petri Juutilanen, this joyful recording captures the season's spirit.



"This started in 1986," said Warren Schatz, the man behind the project, "when I produced the `What if Mozart Wrote Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas' record. It was released in 25 countries and stayed in the catalog for over 23 years. Originally I envisioned it as an orchestral project but had to settle for a string quartet due to budget constrictions. After 23 years I can finally realize this project the way that I conceived it!"



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