Chicago A Cappella—Songs from around the world (Cedille) The world-class vocal ensemble Chicago a cappella does Christmas choral music fans a real service by daring to create a program entirely of contemporary (primarily within the last 20 or so years) works that defy the usual and predictable holiday concert choices that guarantee instant audience familiarity and gratification. The composers and arrangers obviously approached such common texts as “What sweeter music”, “Il est Né, le Divin Enfant”, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”, “Noël nouvelet”, “I wonder as I wander”, “Lo Yisa Goy”, and “The Huron Carol” with an idea to say something that hadn’t already been said. And they do–splendidly. The nine singers of Chicago a cappella are absolutely right-on in every respect, and the sound is ideal. This is an unqualified success, a holiday treat, a musical bounty that will both challenge and enliven your Christmastime listening. Highly recommended! [Read full review here.]
Pigs Could Fly (Naxos) Here’s an essential recording for fans of music for treble choir—and for listeners who may never have experienced the highest standard of children’s choir singing and repertoire. The excellent program is varied and very sophisticated while offering the exuberance and spirit we expect from young singers in music perfectly suited to their voices and to the child’s particular love of all things funny, frightful, and fanciful, conveyed by beautiful tunes and engaging rhythms. The music here is absolutely first class, worthy of a choir as well-tuned, technically assured, charismatic, and well-rehearsed as the New London Children’s Choir, who bring us more than an hour of uplifting, often unusual, and always memorable singing. [Read full review here.]
Leroy Anderson: Sleigh Ride (Naxos) It’s hard not to like Leroy Anderson, a skilled orchestral craftsman with a rich supply of clever ideas, an ingratiating musical imagination, and, thank heaven, a sense of humor. The selections featured here, billed as a “collection of Leroy Anderson’s holiday music”, are taken from Naxos’ excellent multi-volume series devoted to Anderson’s orchestral works, and it’s impossible to listen to pieces such as Sleigh Ride or Bugler’s Holiday without a smile and feeling just a bit lighter of spirit. Leonard Slatkin is an absolute expert in this repertoire, and he leads his British orchestra with consummately entertaining style, all of it most favorably recorded. A top choice for the holidays—or anytime! [Read full review here.]
