Vaughan Williams: Christmas Music Choir Christmas Chandos

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RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

(1872-1958)

premiere recording of the arrangement for strings and organ

Fantasia on Christmas Carols

12:19

premiere recording

On Christmas Night

28:08

A Masque adapted from Dickens' A Christmas Carol

Prelude. God rest you merry - Allegro agitato -

1:51

Marley's Ghost. Allegro moderato e pesante

1:42

The Spirit of Christmas. Lento -

0:49

Fezziwig's Christmas Party. Molto moderato -

2:15

Fezziwig's Parlour: Scene 2. Allegro -

4:16

Morris jig. Allegro molto -

1:42

The Triumph. Allegro moderato -

2:07

Roger de Coverley -

1:02

10.

Midnight. Lento -

1:44

11.

A procession. Lento -

2:45

12.

Victorian Drawing Room. Andante sostenuto -

0:56

13.

Bob Cratchit's Christmas Party -

1:27

14.

Bob Cratchit's Toast. Lento -

0:31

15.

Black Nag. Allegro -

1:35

16.

Procession of the Nativity. Lento

3:20

The First Nowell

29:09

A Nativity Play

17.

Prelude. God rest you merry and The truth from above

4:55

Baritone solo and Chorus

18.

Angelus ad Virginem

1:34

Soprano solo

19.

The Salutation Carol

2:04

Chorus

20.

The Cherry Tree Carol: Part One

1:55

Chorus

21.

The Cherry Tree Carol: Part Two

1:32

Soprano solo

22.

Joseph and Mary

2:39

Baritone solo and Chorus

23.

'In Bethlehem City' (A Virgin most pure)

2:35

Women's Chorus

24.

The Sussex Carol

1:20

Baritone solo and Chorus

25.

'Tidings true there be come new' (The Salutation Carol)

1:07

Tenors and Basses

26.

How brightly shone the morning star

3:19

Chorus

27.

[Interlude]

0:56

Orchestra

28.

The First Nowell

5:06

Soprano, Baritone and Chorus

69:36

Solo: Sarah Fox soprano

Solo: Roderick Williams baritone

Choral: Joyful Company of Singers

Orchestra: City of London Sinfonia

Conductor: Richard Hickox

5 & 5 December 2005

The late Richard Hickox leads a beautiful performance of all three works. Indeed, his Fantasia on Christmas Carols I think the best I’ve heard. Sarah Fox is sweet-voiced in both On Christmas Night and The First Nowell. Roderick Williams (or maybe Simon Keenlyside) may well be my favorite baritone right now. He possesses a beautiful voice which he uses intelligently. His breath control seems to know no limit and allows him to phrase anywhere he wants and to subtly color his line. The choir and orchestra are thoroughly professional, but it’s the ensemble and the music that become the stars. Highly recommended. Steve Schwartz

ClassicalNet.com

On home ground here, Richard Hickox obtains excellent performances from his own City of London Sinfonia, the fresh-voiced Joyful Company of Singers, and two fine soloists, Good sound too.

BBC Music Magazine

Hickox makes an eloquent case for the score, which is handsomely played by the City of London Sinfonia. As for Vaughan Williams’s nativity play ‘The First Nowell’, it almost combines innocence and knowingness as any good Nativity play should.

International Record Review

An absolute joy for everyone

The Organ

This is safe Richard Hickox territory and he obtains idiomatic and enjoyable performances. Splendid recorded sound.

Sunday Times

Hickox is well supported throughout by the Soprano Sarah Fox, the Joyful Company of Singers and the orchestra he founded, the City of London Sinfonia. Special Praise must go to the mellifluous baritone soloist Roderick Williams, who has made some excellent recordings lately but none better than this. The Chandos sound is exemplary.

Daily Mail

Editor’s Choice There’s no better way to get into the Christmas spirit than with this enchanting disc, which contains some delightful rarities. OK, so there are the requisite number of carols, but nothing ever sounds hackneyed from Vaughan Williams. With glowing playing and singing under the baton of Richard Hickox, there’s plenty for the head as well as the Christmas hearth.

Gramophone

Love Vaughan Williams, and how wonderful to have an entire disc of classical Christmas music!!

M Fiacco

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