With selections ranging from Praetorius to Britten, plus all-time favourites by J.S. Bach (The Christmas Oratorio) and Handel (Messiah), this album brings together some of the most beautiful and justly famous musical settings of the Nativity story. Festive or intimate, exuberant or elegiac, these highlights from iconic recordings in harmonia mundi’s voluminous catalogue are an ideal sampling of the Christmas magic across epochs and styles!
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH [1685-1750] · SIDE A Christmas Oratorio BWV 248: 1. Chor Jauchzet, frohlocket (7'31) · Es ist ein Ros entsprungen (3'01) · Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! (3'57) BENJAMIN BRITTEN [1913-1976] · A Ceremony of Carols Op. 28 (1942, rev. 1943): There is no rose Version for mixed choir and harp arranged by Julius Harrison (2'27) CHARLES GOUNOD [1818-1893] · Chantez Noël CG 184a (avec choeur), Montez à Dieu, chants d'allégresse ! (5'37) GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL [1685-1759] · SIDE B Messiah HWV 56: Hallelujah! (3'35) ARCANGELO CORELLI [1653-1713] · Concerto grosso op. 6 no. 8 in G minor "fatto per la notte di Natale": Largo. Pastorale (3'02) TRADITIONAL · We wish you a merry Christmas (1'34) GUSTAV HOLST [1874-1934] · In the bleak midwinter (3'54) HECTOR BERLIOZ [1803-1869] · L'Enfance du Christ, op. 25: L'adieu des bergers à la Sainte Famille (4'30)
