The Most Fabulous Classical Christmas Album Ever!

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Don't judge The Most Fabulous Classical Christmas Album Ever! by the iconoclastic pink poodles on the cover; this is a much more nostalgic celebration than the image suggests. The recordings span the years 1956-1986, with 28 tracks occupying 77 minutes. Pieces such as "In dulci jubilo" (performed by the Vienna Boys Choir) and "The Holly and the Ivy" are very much in the European tradition. However, the majority of the album has an unmistakable American feel--even the arrangements of European hymns and carols have a very distinctive sensibility, a sound familiar from old Hollywood Christmas TV specials that celebrated all-American wholesomeness without a trace of irony. There is such innocent exuberance to Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra's "Joy to the World" it could have come right out of an MGM version of A Christmas Carol, as could the Robert Shaw Chorale's "Deck the Halls," while at any moment in the Boston Pops Orchestra's "Sleigh Ride" one expects Bing Crosby to step from behind the curtain and start crooning. It's simply impossible not to smile happily as full-blown, luxuriously appointed orchestral and choral versions of virtually every famous tune ever associated with the season of goodwill parades through the room. Fabulous? Absolutely. --Gary S. Dalkin

Tracks:

Sleigh Ride - Boston Pops Orchestra
Deck The Halls - Robert Shaw Chorale
The First Noel - The Canadian Brass
In Dulci Jubilo/Good Christian Men, Rejoice - Hans Gillesberger
Carol Of The Bells - Arthus Fiedler & His Chorus
Jingle Bells - Morton Gould
The Holly And The Ivy - Emily Mitchell
Fantasia On 'I Saw Three Ships' - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
O Christmas Tree - Mario Lanza
God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen - Robert Shaw Chorale
Angels We Have Heard On High - Robert Shaw Chorale
Joy To The World - The Philadelphia Orchestra & Chorus
The Little Drummer Boy - Arthus Fiedler & His Chorus & Orchestra
O Come All Ye Faithful/Adeste Fidelis - Sergio Franchi
Silent Night - Eugene Ormandy
The Angel Choir And The Trumpeter - The Canadian Brass & Children's Chor
I Wonder As I Wander - Leontyne Price
Messiah: Come Unto Him - Benita Valente
Ave Maria - Helmuth Froschauer
Ding Dong! Merrily On High - Osian Ellis
Silver Bells - The Philadelphia Orchestra
What Child Is This! - Eugene Ormandy
Good King Wenceslas - Morton Gould
White Christmas - Boston Pops Orchestra
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - The Canadian Brass
O Holy Night - Mario Lanza
We Wish You A Merry Christmas - Eugene Ormandy
Messiah: Hallelujah Chor - Robert Arnold

Amazon.com

Don't judge The Most Fabulous Classical Christmas Album Ever! by the iconoclastic pink poodles on the cover; this is a much more nostalgic celebration than the image suggests. The recordings span the years 1956-1986, with 28 tracks occupying 77 minutes. Pieces such as "In dulci jubilo" (performed by the Vienna Boys Choir) and "The Holly and the Ivy" are very much in the European tradition. However, the majority of the album has an unmistakable American feel--even the arrangements of European hymns and carols have a very distinctive sensibility, a sound familiar from old Hollywood Christmas TV specials that celebrated all-American wholesomeness without a trace of irony. There is such innocent exuberance to Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra's "Joy to the World" it could have come right out of an MGM version of A Christmas Carol, as could the Robert Shaw Chorale's "Deck the Halls," while at any moment in the Boston Pops Orchestra's "Sleigh Ride" one expects Bing Crosby to step from behind the curtain and start crooning. It's simply impossible not to smile happily as full-blown, luxuriously appointed orchestral and choral versions of virtually every famous tune ever associated with the season of goodwill parades through the room. Fabulous? Absolutely. --Gary S. Dalkin

Customer Reviews:

All Your Christmas Favorites on One CD.......2002-12-25

I am very happy with this CD. I received it as an early Christmas present and it put me right in the mood for the holidays. It is a classical Christmas album, so expect an operatic quality to it - think orchestra concert or Christmas Eve church services. The Sleigh Ride is excellent... also good are Carol of the Bells, God Rest You Merry Gentlemen, Joy To The World, We Wish You a Merry Christmas and the Hallelujah Chorus at the end. I do think that I Wonder as I Wander (one of my favorites), performed by Leontyne Price, is a little over the top. Her voice sounds great - it's just not to my taste.
With 28 songs and 77 minutes of total play time, you can hardly go wrong with this little beauty.
A good buy!

What a Fun Collection!.......2002-11-10

This CD really brings back memories of growing up in the 60s, where the Boston Pops on TV were an annual Christmas treat. It's the nostalgia value that makes the CD so great. Just remember that the recordings are old, so don't expect modern-day digital perfection!

Doesn't live up to the title.......2001-12-05

I was disappointed in the album. It lists many acclaimed performers and ensembles, but the recordings are old. The sound quality is quite poor, and the arrangements and performing styles are very dated. Particularly annoying are the renditions by Mario Lanza and Sergio Franchi, who seem concerned only with showing off their powerful voices and not at all connected with the message these carols convey. This will go to the bottom of my Christmas CD collection.

Doesn't live up to the title.......2001-12-05

Wow!!.......2000-10-28

I'm not going home for the holidays this year. To kill the homesickness I ordered "The Most Fabulous Classical Christmas Album Ever!" - and believe me, I'm not at all disappointed!

This CD is packed with 28 traditional Christmas Carols. It almost takes you back to those magical times when you were a kid on Christmas Eve night, waiting for Santa to make his annual appearance!

The sound quality is superb - which is quite impressive when you consider that a number of the tracks on the CD were actually recorded in the 1950's and '60s.

There is also a really good introduction in the CD case insert which tells how these carols were really recorded during the summer, so they could be released in time for Christmas. It also tells a humorous story of how Irving Berlin has to record White Christmas in the middle of an LA heatwave!!

If you're looking for a CD to get you into the Christmas spirit when opening your gifts on Christmas day, or something to drown out the usual family arguments at the Christmas dinner table, then order The Most Fabulous Classical Christmas Album Ever!

You really won't regret it!

Music Review: