"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."