Monday, 12/5:
Snowflakes: A Classical Christmas
Trondheim Symphony Orchestra
Torodd Wigum, conductor
Cantus Women's Choir
Oystein Baadsvik, tuba
Bis 1885
Traditional yet surprising, "Snowflakes: A Classical Christmas" combines the lush, warm sound of the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra with a women's choir and talented tuba player Øystein Baadsvik. The ever-versatile Baadsvik takes on several roles in this recording: often, his tuba's singing the melody, but he also backs up the choir with swirling countermelody in "God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen" and "O Come All Ye Faithful". Norwegian women's choir Cantus simply shines, both in almost-acappella tunes like "Eatnemen Vuelie", modeled on a Sami joik (and opens with drum-like noises on the tuba!) and singing traditional Christmas songs with the full orchestra. Fans of this extremely talented tuba player might recognize "Fnugg", a piece by Baadsvik re-tooled (and re-named "Snofnugg", or "Snowflakes") for this recording to include some funky singing with the original digeridoo-inspired solo tuba.
Tuesday, 12/6:
Bach: Christmas Cantatas
La Petite Bande and soloists
Sigiswald Kuijken, director
Accent 25314
La Petite Bande and director Sigiswald Kuijken have been recording the cantatas of Johann Sebastian Bach over the course of several years, and this disc of cantatas for the Christmas season is the fourteenth disc in the series. Bach scholars will appreciate the copious liner notes and meticulous detail that illustrate the group's effort to authentic period-instrument performance, but all listeners will delight in the delicate sound of the small ensemble in these reverent and joyful cantatas.
Wednesday, 12/7:
A Steinway Christmas Album
Jeffrey Biegel, piano
Steinway & Sons 30005
Here's a fun collection of Christmas piano music, played effortlessly by Jeffrey Biegel, with clever arrangements that will surprise listeners.
Thursday, 12/8:
Sing Noel: A European Christmas Revels
Revels
Revels Records 2011
The latest collection of music from Boston's Christmas Revels players and friends brings lots of international flavor to your holiday celebrations. Arabic rhythms, Spanish carols, and French chants mingle in a well-planned program of familiar tunes like "Riu, riu, chiu" and "Patapan", and cheery songs with children's choir will have you singing and dancing.
Friday, 12/9:
Another Night Before Christmas
RTE Concert Orchestra/Royal Ballet Sinfonia
Gavin Sutherland, conductor
Naxos 572744
This collection of charming orchestral arrangements of familiar carols and hymns and new jolly melodies by British composers is just plain fun. British actor Simon Callow narrates two new Christmas tales: Bryan Kelly's "Scrooge", an abbreviated version of the Dickens holiday classic; and Philip Lane's "Another Night Before Christmas", a musical setting of an adorable poem by Carol Ann Duffy about a child who's not snug in her bed, but waiting behind the couch to see if Santa's real. The music on this disc is big and celebratory, sure to bring plenty of holiday cheer.
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