Album

Featuring an all-star lineup on 15 lavishly produced tracks, Deutsche Grammophon's We Wish You a Merry Christmas is a big-hearted tribute to the holiday season that is sure to please many fans of vocal music. With a program that ranges from Renaissance motets to modern songs and carols, and with a roster that includes the world's most famous opera singers, choirs, early music ensembles, and symphony orchestras, this album has as much variety as can be squeezed into 54 minutes. Of course, it takes a listener of wide tastes to appreciate everything, since the styles include the grand antiphonal choral music of Michael Praetorius, Baroque string writing in the Christmas Concerto by Giuseppe Torelli, the Romantic lyricism of the Bach/Gounod "Ave Maria," and the modern pop standard in Irving Berlin's "White Christmas," with many other musical flavors and fashions in between. The performances are even more varied—including the golden voices of Anne Sofie von Otter, Roberto Alagna, José Carreras, Bryn Terfel, Luciano Pavarotti, and Plácido Domingo—and the instrumental warmth of violinist/conductor André Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra, the rich tone of the Berlin Philharmonic under Herbert von Karajan, and the glorious sounds of the Gabrieli Consort and Players under Paul McCreesh are just a few of the artists presented on this 2007 extravaganza. No doubt some will find fault with the volume levels, which seem quite loud and boosted on most of the tracks and which may make home listening a little uncomfortable. But for those who plan their Christmas parties in a big way, this spectacular CD may be the perfect accompaniment.

© Blair Sanderson, All Music Guide

CD 1
Roberto Alagna Composer Gentil Père Noël Work Smithills School Junior Choir Chorus/Choir, London Oratory School Schola Chorus/Choir (Children), Robin Smith Conductor, Roberto Alagna Tenor, New London Children's Choir Chorus/Choir, London Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Choir of St. John's Chorus/Choir
1	Gentil Père Noël	2:33			$0.99
Michael Praetorius Composer In dulci jubilo (from Polyhymnia caduceatrix) Work Mark Le Brocq Tenor, Susan Hemington Jones Soprano, Tessa Bonner Soprano, Kristian Olesen Chorus/Choir Director, Congregational Choir of Roskilde Cathedral Chorus/Choir, Gabrieli Consort and Players Ensemble, Finn Evald Chorus/Choir Director, Paul McCreesh Conductor
2	In dulci jubilo (from Polyhymnia caduceatrix)	5:23			$0.99
Irving Berlin Composer White Christmas (from 'Holiday Inn') Work Bryn Terfel Baritone, Philharmonia Orchestra of London Orchestra, Paul Daniel Conductor
3	White Christmas (from 'Holiday Inn')	4:57			$0.99
Franz Xaver Grüber Composer Silent Night (Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht) Work Strauss Orchestra Vienna Orchestra, André Rieu Violin
4	Silent Night (Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht)	3:45			$0.99
John Francis Wade Composer O Come, All Ye Faithful (Adeste fidelis) Work London Voices Chorus/Choir, Luciano Pavarotti Tenor, Kurt Adler Conductor, National Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
5	O Come, All Ye Faithful (Adeste fidelis; arr. voice, chorus and orchestra)	3:33			$0.99
Gustaf Nordquist Composer Nu är advent, for voice & piano Work Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
6	Nu är advent, for voice & piano	2:14			$0.99
Giuseppe Torelli Composer Concerto, in forma di Pastorale per il Santissimo Natale, for 2 violins, cello and continuo in G-, Op.8, No.6 Work Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
7	1.Grave. Vivace	3:48			$0.99
Ariel Ramírez Composer Misa Criolla, for tenor, piano, chorus and orchestra Work Bilbao Choir Chorus/Choir, Bilbao Choral Society Chorus/Choir, José Carreras Tenor, Jose Luis Ocejo Conductor
8	4.Sanctus (carnaval cochabambino)	2:15			$0.99
Charles Gounod Composer Ave Maria (Adaptation of Bach's Prelude in C, BWV846) Work Plácido Domingo Tenor, Marcello Viotti Conductor, Giuseppe Verdi Orchestra Milan Orchestra
9	Ave Maria (Adaptation of Bach's Prelude in C, BWV846)	2:42			$0.99
Michael Praetorius Composer Es ist ein Ros entsprungen (Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming) Work Georg Ratzinger Conductor
10	Es ist ein Ros entsprungen (Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming)	2:40			$0.99
Jester Hairston Composer Mary's Little Boy Child, song Work Bryn Terfel Baritone, Malcolm Martineau Piano
11	Mary's Little Boy Child, song	3:35			$0.99
Ottorino Respighi Composer Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite No.3, P.172 Work Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
12	3.Siciliana	3:21			$0.99
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Christmas Oratorio (6 Cantatas, from Christmas to Epiphany), BWV248...Oratorio 1: Jauchzet, frohlocket! Auf, preiset die Tage (Christmas Day), BWV248, No.1 Work Monteverdi Choir Chorus/Choir, English Baroque Soloists Chamber Orchestra, John Eliot Gardiner Conductor
13	1.Chorus: Jauchzet, frohlocket! Auf, preiset die Tage	7:40			$1.49
Christmas Traditional Composer Ding Dong! Merrily on High (French) Work Simon Preston Conductor, Westminster Abbey Choir Chorus/Choir
14	Ding Dong! Merrily on High (French)	2:00			$0.99
Various Composers Composer Sleigh Ride Medley: Jingle Bells (Pierpont) / Deck the Hall / Sleigh Ride (Anderson) Work Smithills School Junior Choir Chorus/Choir, London Oratory School Schola Chorus/Choir (Children), Roberto Alagna Tenor, Robin Smith Conductor, New London Children's Choir Chorus/Choir, London Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Choir of St. John's Chorus/Choir
15	Sleigh Ride Medley: Jingle Bells (Pierpont) / Deck the Hall / Sleigh Ride (Anderson)	2:55			$0.99