CD-Charts Position 101

.

Pavarotti and Friends, Vol.2

CD-Charts > Music > Christmas Music
from: Decca

Release Date October 05, 2000

CD-Charts Position 102
Average Rating:

.

The Three Tenors Christmas

CD-Charts > Music > Christmas Music
by: Luciano Pavarotti, Carreras, Domingo

Release Date December 03, 2001
The Three Tenors are on top form here with all their usual pomp. Cantique de Noel as the opening carol is perfect. Few carols are as reverently uplifting and this sets the tone perfectly. The CD provides a lovely contrast to the more well known popular Christmas song collections and adds a sparkle to the decorations when listening.

CD-Charts Position 103
Average Rating:

.

Jack - T-Shirt Black (M)

CD-Charts > Music > Christmas Music
by: Nightmare Before Christmas

Release Date August 16, 2007
The Three Tenors are on top form here with all their usual pomp. Cantique de Noel as the opening carol is perfect. Few carols are as reverently uplifting and this sets the tone perfectly. The CD provides a lovely contrast to the more well known popular Christmas song collections and adds a sparkle to the decorations when listening.

CD-Charts Position 104
Average Rating:

.

Amarantine: Special Christmas Edition

CD-Charts > Music > Christmas Music
by: Enya

Release Date November 13, 2006
I admit it, I am a massive fan of Enya, from the moment I heard Orinoco Flow. I have all her albums, singles and compilations. In my book, she was the start of New Age music. So, I admit to being biased! Her albums take a while to make and the wait is difficult to take. However, when she releases an album, she delivers a 4 or 5 star album.

I agree with the sentiments from Paul of the Netherworld, my fellow reviewer from Brighton who, in his review of the CD single of Amarantine, spoke about other music which exists and tends to dominate the charts.

In the desert, there is always an oasis, and in today's predominantly arid music scene, here is that oasis - another lovely Enya album. The title track is quite similar to ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 105
Average Rating:

.

Morningtown Ride to Christmas [Australian Import]

CD-Charts > Music > Christmas Music
by: The Seekers

Release Date November 12, 2001
The Seekers recorded this Christmas album in June 2001, but the songs sound exactly as you would expect a Seekers Christmas album to sound. There have been a few changes of line-up down the years (even including a different lady also called Judith), but the line-up here includes at least three of the original members - Judith Durham, Keith Potger and Bruce Woodley. The fourth member is Athol Guy - I confess I can't remember whether he was the original fourth member or not.

Morningtown ride (to Christmas) is - as you would expect - an adaptation of one of their big hits of the sixties, but they haven't changed it much.

Once in Royal David's city is a lovely carol, which is very popular in Britain (and maybe Australia). The ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 106
Average Rating:

.

Handel: Messiah

CD-Charts > Music > Christmas Music
from: Double Decca

Release Date September 18, 1995
The singers in this recording deliver beautiful performances, both the soloists and the chorus - good phrasing, diction, and ensemble singing. However, I didn't realize before buying this CD that, as the liner notes say, "Neville Mariner's recording is based on the first London performance of 1743, and several numbers are markedly different from the more familiar later versions." Some pieces are sung by different voice parts, and others include bars of music that Handel cut or changed later. The most disappointing part for me was "But who may abide," (sung by bass instead of alto) which lacks the prestissimo "refiner's fire" section that most of us are used to (and which I really enjoy!) This would certainly be ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 107
Average Rating:

.

Carols from King's

CD-Charts > Music > Christmas Music
from: EMI Classics

Release Date November 17, 1997
Having just heard the CD, I am warmed by the quality of ALL the tracks, the singing is beautiful and sung so professionally.
If you are looking for a traditional Carol CD, then I would definately recommend this one,

CD-Charts Position 108
Average Rating:

.

Britten - Sacred and Profane

CD-Charts > Music > Christmas Music
from: Hyperion

Release Date February 26, 2001
Having just heard the CD, I am warmed by the quality of ALL the tracks, the singing is beautiful and sung so professionally.
If you are looking for a traditional Carol CD, then I would definately recommend this one,

CD-Charts Position 109
Average Rating:

.

Christmas Crooners: 50 Yuletide Classics from a Golden Age

CD-Charts > Music > Christmas Music
by: Various Artists

Release Date October 10, 2005
I would disregard the first review of this CD and skip straight to the second. This CD is wonderful. For those that want a more traditional, classic Christmas this is the one to get. Sit by a roaring fireside under the twinkling lights of the christmas tree, mulled wine in one hand, mince pie in the other and this music playing in the background. Truly magical!

My favourites on the 2 CD's (bargain!) are Dean Martin's "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas", Louis Armstrong's "Zat you Santa Claus" and Frank Sinatra's "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas".

The quality of the music is as good as you can get when the recordings are so old. It's not crackly and inaudible however, just full of charm.

You ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 110
Average Rating:

.

Ave Maria

CD-Charts > Music > Christmas Music
by: Henry Purcell, Franz Schubert

Release Date January 17, 1985
Dame Kiri's voice shines in these beautiful sacred pieces, and as her biographer David Fingleton, in his excellent liner notes for this CD points out, that going back to her youth and first voice teacher, who was a Sister of Mercy, church music has always been a part of her repertoire, even though she is mostly noted as an operatic soprano.
Favorites include Gounod's exquisite "O Divine Redeemer" ("Repentir"), the two Mozart pieces, "Laudate Dominum" (from "Vesperae solennes de confessore" KV 339), and "Ave Verum" KV 618, and the luminous performance of Schubert's popular "Ave Maria".

Track # 11, Purcell's "Trumpet Time", is a trumpet solo by Crispian Steele-Perkins, and there is also a good and jolly trumpet on track # 11, Handel's ... Read More: