Album

The Cambridge Singers, founded and conducted by John Rutter, is joined here by the Farnham Youth Choir and the Royal Philharmonic in a collection of Christmas music that includes an assortment of traditional and newly written carols, folk songs, and orchestral holiday pieces. The CD would be of interest to anyone looking for an album of upbeat Christmas fare, who's open to some unfamiliar but highly appealing new selections. The most familiar carols, "O come, all ye faithful," and "Hark! the herald angels sing," are presented in attractive arrangements by Rutter and David Willcocks. Rutter is also responsible for most of the arrangements and orchestrations on the CD. Among the new pieces, Rutter's "Ave Maria," Bob Chilcott's "The Shepherd's Carol," and John David's "Born on a New Day" are especially attractive. Delius' orchestral Sleigh Ride is a fun foray into obscure repertoire, but Nigel Hess' A Christmas Overture, a medley of traditional carols, is of little interest. The performances are splendid—the singing throughout is fresh, spontaneous, spirited, and unmannered—and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra plays with polish, but also with a sense of fun. Sopranos Elin Manahan Thomas and Clara Sanabras and mezzo-soprano Melanie Marshall offer lovely solo versions of several of the carols. The sound is warm and clean.

© Stephen Eddins, Rovi

CD 1
John Francis Wade Composer O Come, All Ye Faithful (Adeste fidelis) Work Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, John Rutter Conductor, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Farnham Youth Choir Chorus/Choir
1	O Come, All Ye Faithful (Adeste fidelis)	4:09			$0.99
Christmas Traditional Composer Gaudete Christus est natus (Piae Cantiones 1582) Work Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, John Rutter Conductor, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Farnham Youth Choir Chorus/Choir
2	Gaudete Christus est natus (Piae Cantiones 1582)	1:49			$0.99
Bob Chilcott Composer The Shepherd's Carol, for chorus Work Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, John Rutter Conductor, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Farnham Youth Choir Chorus/Choir
3	The Shepherd's Carol, for chorus	2:44			$0.99
Christmas Traditional Composer Nos galan (New Year's Eve), carol (Welsh) Work Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, John Rutter Conductor, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Farnham Youth Choir Chorus/Choir, Elin Manahan Thomas Soprano
4	Nos galan (New Year's Eve), carol (Welsh)	1:57			$0.99
Christmas Traditional Composer I Wonder As I Wander (American) Work Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, John Rutter Conductor, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Andrew Williams Viola, Melanie Marshall Mezzo-Soprano, Farnham Youth Choir Chorus/Choir
5	I Wonder As I Wander (American)	3:43			$0.99
John Rutter Composer Ave Maria Work Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, John Rutter Conductor, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Farnham Youth Choir Chorus/Choir
6	Ave Maria	3:02			$0.99
Christmas Traditional Composer Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day (English) Work Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, John Rutter Conductor, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Farnham Youth Choir Chorus/Choir
7	Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day (English)	2:50			$0.99
John Rutter Composer Rejoice and Be Merry Work Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, John Rutter Conductor, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Farnham Youth Choir Chorus/Choir
8	Rejoice and Be Merry	2:36			$0.99
Catalan Traditional Composer El Noi de la Mare, carol Work Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, John Rutter Conductor, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Farnham Youth Choir Chorus/Choir, Clara Sanabras Soprano
9	El Noi de la Mare, carol	3:14			$0.99
Nigel Hess Composer A Christmas Overture, for orchestra Work John Rutter Conductor, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
10	A Christmas Overture, for orchestra	7:23			$1.49
John David Composer Born on a New Day (after You Are A New Day) Work Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, John Rutter Conductor, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Farnham Youth Choir Chorus/Choir
11	Born on a New Day (after You Are A New Day)	2:43			$0.99
John Rutter Composer Magical Kingdom, for children's chorus and orchestra Work Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, John Rutter Conductor, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Farnham Youth Choir Chorus/Choir
12	Magical Kingdom, for children's chorus and orchestra	3:28			$0.99
Jester Hairston Composer Mary's Little Boy Child, song Work Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, John Rutter Conductor, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Melanie Marshall Mezzo-Soprano, Farnham Youth Choir Chorus/Choir
13	Mary's Little Boy Child, song	4:24			$0.99
Christmas Traditional Composer Esta noche nace un Niño (Spanish) Work Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, John Rutter Conductor, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Farnham Youth Choir Chorus/Choir, Clara Sanabras Soprano
14	Esta noche nace un Niño (Spanish)	2:02			$0.99
Frederick Delius Composer 3 Small Tone Poems, RTvi/7 Work Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, John Rutter Conductor, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Farnham Youth Choir Chorus/Choir
15	2.Winter Night (Sleigh Ride)	5:44			$0.99
Christmas Traditional Composer De Virgin Mary had a baby boy Work Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, John Rutter Conductor, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Melanie Marshall Mezzo-Soprano, Farnham Youth Choir Chorus/Choir
16	De Virgin Mary had a baby boy	4:08			$0.99
John Rutter Composer New Year Work Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, John Rutter Conductor, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Farnham Youth Choir Chorus/Choir
17	New Year	4:17			$0.99
John Rutter Composer I Wish You Christmas, for children's chorus, mixed chorus and orchestra Work Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, John Rutter Conductor, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Farnham Youth Choir Chorus/Choir
18	I Wish You Christmas, for children's chorus, mixed chorus and orchestra	4:26			$0.99
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Composer Hark! the Herald Angels Sing (adapted by W. H. Cummings) Work Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, John Rutter Conductor, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Farnham Youth Choir Chorus/Choir
19	Hark! the Herald Angels Sing (adapted by W. H. Cummings)	4:05			$0.99
Hugh Martin / Ralph Blane Composer Meet Me In St. Louis, film score Work Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, John Rutter Conductor, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Melanie Marshall Mezzo-Soprano, Farnham Youth Choir Chorus/Choir, John Anderson Oboe
20	Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas	3:01			$0.99