A Christmas Caroll from Westminster Abbey
Robert Quinney (organ)
The Choir of Westminster Abbey, James O’Donnell
Awards:
-
Presto Recording of the Week, 8th December 2008
An ambitious and superbly sung programme, sympathetically framed within the choir's spaciously atmospheric home acoustic.
A Christmas Caroll from Westminster Abbey
Robert Quinney (organ)
The Choir of Westminster Abbey, James O’Donnell
Purchase product
Awards:
-
Presto Recording of the Week, 8th December 2008
An ambitious and superbly sung programme, sympathetically framed within the choir's spaciously atmospheric home acoustic.
About
The first of this month’s ‘double bill’ from Westminster presents a delightful and unusual selection of music for Christmas from the Abbey Choir. It encompasses all the diverse themes of Christmas which have inspired composers across the ages: light shining in darkness; the tenderness of mother and child; the fulfilment of promise; and the warm merriment of corporate celebration.
An excellent selection of contemporary carols features the composers Jonathan Dove and Bob Chilcott among others. The richness of twentieth-century church music is illustrated in works by Poulenc, Walton, Mathias and Leighton, and by the heartbreakingly lovely piece The little road to Bethlehem by Michael Head. Skilful arrangements of the traditional carols Silent night, In dulci jubilo and I saw three ships, complete this attractive seasonal release.
Contents and tracklist
- William Fairbairn (treble), Cameron Roberts (treble), Daniel Parr (treble), Mark Dobell (tenor)
- Westminster Abbey Choir
- James O’Donnell
- Julian Empett (bass), Robert Quinney (organ)
- Westminster Abbey Choir
- James O’Donnell
- Benedict Kearns (treble), Cameron Roberts (treble)
- Westminster Abbey Choir
- James O’Donnell
- Benedict Kearns (treble), Robert Quinney (organ)
- Westminster Abbey Choir
- James O’Donnell
- Benedict Kearns (treble), Nicholas Trapp (treble), Cameron Roberts (treble), William Fairbairn (treble), Maxim Del Mar (treble)
- Westminster Abbey Choir
- James O’Donnell
Spotlight on this release
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Top new Christmas recommendations
8th Dec 2008
Honegger’s Cantate de Noël, A Christmas Festival from John Rutter, and a superb anthology of twentieth-century carols from The Choir of Westminster Abbey.
Awards and reviews
-
Presto Recording of the Week8th December 2008
December 2008
An ambitious and superbly sung programme, sympathetically framed within the choir's spaciously atmospheric home acoustic.
The Christmas Eve carol service at Westminster Abbey is one of the most warming events in the festive calendar, and this CD captures the atmosphere beautifully … The singing is a constant delight
