Soprano Lise Davidsen Takes Listeners to Norway in Christmas from Norway on Decca

 

Soprano Lise Davidsen Takes Listeners to Norway in Christmas from Norway on Decca

Christmas From Norway, Lise Davidsen
Decca US

Releases Nov. 10, 2023

Lise Davidsen, the most in-demand soprano in the world right now, announces the release of her new album, ‘Christmas From Norway’ via Decca Classics on 10 November 2023. Hailed as “The living, breathing meteor of the current opera world” (The i Paper), Lise’s forthcoming album presents a delightful and personally-selected collection of traditional Norwegian Christmas music and classic festive favourites, spreading the warm glow of the Scandinavian Christmas spirit. Reflecting on the project, the soprano expresses her long-standing desire to create this album. Lise says, “For Scandinavians, Christmas serves as a beacon of light in the midst of a lengthy winter. Perhaps that is why we embrace it so wholeheartedly.”

‘Christmas From Norway’ is an album particularly close to Lise’s heart – the holiday season not only being the singer’s favourite time of the year but also embodying her vision for music: breaking barriers and making it accessible to all without losing the craft. “Christmas is how I got into music” she recalls. “We listened to all kinds of music: choral music, popular music, and Norwegian songs.” A time when everyone can feel welcome to experience the beauty of classical music, even if they do not understand it fully at first, as she confessed “I’ve been in that situation myself a million times, wondering what’s going on… I’ve fallen asleep. I’ve not understood things. Classical music is for everyone, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to understand right away”. 

For this album, the soprano draws inspiration from the classic albums of iconic predecessors on Decca Classics, such as Kirsten Flagstad and Birgit Nilsson. The album features beautiful arrangements drawn from the label’s archive, originally made for such legendary singers as Luciano Pavarotti, Leontyne Price, and Renée Fleming.

1. O Helga Natt - Arr. Gamley and Hazel, 

2. No. 1 Weihnachten - E. Humperdinck, Weihnachtslieder, Arr. Mackerras

3. Silent Night - Arr. Cullen

4. Jul, Jul, stralande jul - Arr. Eggen

5. Deilig er Jorden - Arr. Eggen

6. Mitt hjerte alltid vanker - arr. Eggen

7. Julvisa, Op. 1 No. 4 - Arr. Eggen

8. X. Jesu bleibet meine freunde - Herz und Mund und Tat und Laben, Cantata 147arr. Hazel

9. No. 52 Maria Wiegenlied - Max Reger, Schlichte Weisen, Op. 76

10. Ave Maria, CG 89a (after J.S. Bach: Prelude in C Major, BWV 846), Arr. Sabatini

11. No. 25 Schlafendes Jesus - Hugo Wolf, Morike-Lieder

12. The First Noel - arr. Henderson

13. O Come All Ye Faithful - Arr. Gamley and Hazell

14. O Holy Night - Arr. Gamley and Hazel

https://www.deccaclassics.com/en/catalogue/products/christmas-from-norway-lise-davidsen-13116

Disclaimer: Regarding the photos and descriptions used above, we do not know whom the owners of these are, and infringement is not intended. Photos and descriptions are used for educational purposes only. We will gladly oblige any take down under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Photos and descriptions are used under the allowance made for "fair use" under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 for the purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. We will oblige any takedown request of any photo on this blog in compliance with the DMCA.

The Tabernacle Choir & Orchestra at Temple Square Gives us "Season of Light" with Lea Salonga and Sir David Suchet

 

Season of Light: Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square, with Lea Salonga and Sir. David Suchet. Mack Wilberg and Ryan Murphy, conductors.

The traditional time-honored stories and beloved tales associated with Christmas are indispensable to the celebrations. 

"Good King Wenceslas," for example, or Dickens's A Christmas Carol, Clement Clarke Moore's "A Visit from Saint Nicolas," Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker, Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Match Girl," O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi," and even a New York Sun newspaper column addressed to a concerned young girl named Virginia. 

Each of these Christmas stories personifies a reminder that this is a time of joy, hope, compassion, mercy, and love. But the greatest Christmas story of all, the one most central to the season, is the story of a Holy Child born in a humble manger. 

That Nativity story begins the ultimate expression of love-a divine love extended to all who ever lived-and is the reason for our eternal hope.

Lavishly decorated with books of all sizes, the stage in the 21,000-seat Conference Center in Salt Lake City became a "library" for The Tabernacle Choir's celebration of these myriad Christmas stories. There were tales told through music, dance, and narrative of excited shepherds on the hills outside of Bethlehem, of heroism during wartime, of sleigh rides and caroling, of the challenges of new motherhood, and of faith in a Savior who would redeem the whole world.

The Choir's special guests at this concert, famed actress and singer Lea Salonga and renowned star of television and film Sir David Suchet, joined in the storytelling and shared their own personal accounts of the truths celebrated at Christmas. With the Choir, Orchestra, and Bells at Temple Square, the Gabriel Trumpet Ensemble, and dancers from the local community, all joined together to proclaim a joyful "Noel!" at the good news of Christ's birth.

1. When shepherds saw the light - Traditional, Arr. Mack Wilberg

2. The Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Music and Text: Eddie Pola and George Wyle, Arrr. Michael Davis

3. Payapang Daigdig - music - Felipe de Leon, text Brigido Batungbakal and Eduardo de Leon, Arr. M. Wilberg

4. And then shall your light break forth (from Elijah) - F. Mendelssohn

5. Ding Dong! Merrily on High - Arr. Ryan Murphy

6. Christmas Together Medley - Arr. Ryan Murphy

    Sleigh Ride - L. Anderson

    I'll be home for Christmas - Walter Kent

    O Holy Night - Adolphe Charles Adam

7. Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming - Kolner Gesangbuch. Arr. M. Wilberg

8. Hosanna in excelsis (Based on Canon in D) - J. Pachelbel, Arr. Mack Wilberg

9. Here we come a-caroling - Arr. Mack Wilberg

10. On Christmas Night ("Sussex Carol") - Arr. Richard Elliott (with themes by Camile Saint-Saens)

11. The Christmas Story - music Mack Wilberg

13. Rocking Carol - traditional Czech, Arr. M. Wilberg

14. Angels from the Realms of Glory - arr. M. Wilberg

Disclaimer: Regarding the photos and descriptions used above, we do not know whom the owners of these are, and infringement is not intended. Photos and descriptions are used for educational purposes only. We will gladly oblige any take down under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Photos and descriptions are used under the allowance made for "fair use" under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 for the purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. We will oblige any takedown request of any photo on this blog in compliance with the DMCA.

In A Winter Breviary, St. Martin's Voices gives premiere recordings of big-name contemporary composers

 

In A Winter Breviary, St. Martin's Voices gives premiere recordings of big-name contemporary composers

A Winter Breviary, St. Martins's Voices, Andrew Earis

In this, their debut recording with Resonus Classics, St Martin's Voices presents a selection of contemporary choral works for the Christmas season. With settings of poetry from the fifteenth century to the present day, these new carols explore themes of winter snowscapes, the anticipation and contemplation of Advent, the Christmas story as seen by the women at its heart, and the joy of coming in from the cold to celebrate together.

In a programme made entirely of premiere recordings, this album features works by Cecilia McDowall, Roderick Williams and Lucy Walker, among others. The album also boasts a major new carol suite by Bob Chilcott, with libretto by Georgia Way entitled Mary, Mother, which was premiered by the ensemble in 2022.

Olivia Sparkhall (b.1976)
1. All and some

Cecilia McDowall (b.1951)
2. There is no rose

Reena Esmail (b.1983)
A Winter Breviary
3. We Look For You
(Evensong – Raag Hamsadhwani)
4. The Year’s Midnight
(Matins – Raag Malkauns)
5. The Unexpected Early Hour
(Lauds – Raag Ahir Bhairav)

Sarah MacDonald (b.1968)
The Manger is Empty
6. Like the snow in winter
7. As among broken glass
8. The manger is empty

Nils Greenhow (b.1989)
9. Advent Calendar

Thomas Hewitt Jones (b.1984)
10. Love is the Answer

Lucy Walker (b.1998)
The Christmas Life
11. The Christmas Life
12. We shall walk
13. The Angels’ Song

Yshani Perinpanayagam (b.1983)
14. When God made Eve

Roderick Williams (b.1965)
15. Queen Elizabeth’s Winchester
Carol (The Royal Carol)

Bob Chilcott (b.1955)
Mary, Mother
16. A child in Galilee
17. Carpentry Carol
18. After the angel
19. Walking Carol
20. Dear heart
21. Hymn

https://www.resonusclassics.com/products/a-winter-breviary-music-for-christmas

Disclaimer: Regarding the photos and descriptions used above, we do not know whom the owners of these are, and infringement is not intended. Photos and descriptions are used for educational purposes only. We will gladly oblige any take down under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Photos and descriptions are used under the allowance made for "fair use" under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 for the purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. We will oblige any takedown request of any photo on this blog in compliance with the DMCA.

Ensemble Correspondances gives us Charpentier illustrious Messe de Minuit /Midnight Mass for Christmas

 

Ensemble Correspondances gives us Charpentier illustrious Messe de Minuit /Midnight Mass for Christmas

Marc-Antoine Charpentier: Messe de Minuit

In Nativitatem H.416 & 421, etc.

Ensemble Correspondances, Sébastien Daucé

Label's Description:

Marc-Antoine Charpentier was the French composer of the Grand Siècle who left the largest number of works specifically related to Christmas. Here, going beyond the famous Messe de Minuit, listeners will be all the more enchanted by his histoires sacrées (brief oratorios) and Noëls pour les instruments when they are presented by the composer’s most fervent advocates.

Sébastien de Brossard (1655-1730) ·Elevatio O miraculum! 

Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1643-1704) 

    ·In Nativitatem Domini Canticum H. 416 

        Præludium. "Usquequo avertis faciem tuam" · 

        Nuit - Réveil des Bergers. "Cæli aperti sunt" 

In Nativitate Domini N[ost]ri Jesu Christi Canticum H. 421 

Messe de Minuit H. 9 : Kyrie 

Joseph est bien marié (Noël sur les instruments H.534) 

Messe de Minuit H. 9 : Gloria 

Alma Redemptoris Mater H. 44 

Messe de Minuit H. 9 : Credo

Laissez paître vos bêtes (Noël sur les instruments H. 534) 

Messe de Minuit H. 9 : Sanctus 

Messe de Minuit H. 9 : Agnus Dei 

Te Deum H. 147

https://www.harmoniamundi.com/en/albums/charpentier-messe-de-minuit/

Disclaimer: Regarding the photos and descriptions used above, we do not know whom the owners of these are, and infringement is not intended. Photos and descriptions are used for educational purposes only. We will gladly oblige any take down under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Photos and descriptions are used under the allowance made for "fair use" under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 for the purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. We will oblige any takedown request of any photo on this blog in compliance with the DMCA.

Chineke! Orchestra tackles Ellington/Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite

The Nutcracker Suite

Chineke! Orchestra, Andrew Grams
Decca Classics (digital only)
Release: 27 October 2023

Chineke! Orchestra releases a toe-tapping rendition of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker Suite, arranged and released in the 1960s by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. The work takes themes from Tchaikovsky's beloved 1892 festive ballet with a jazz twist.

1. I. Overture

2. II. Toot Toot Tootie Toot (Dance of the Reed-Pipes)

3. III. Dance of the Floreadores (Waltz of the Flowers)

4. IV. Sugar Rum Cherry (Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy)

5. V. Peanut Brittle Brigade (March)

Decca

Disclaimer: Regarding the photos and descriptions used above, we do not know whom the owners of these are, and infringement is not intended. Photos and descriptions are used for educational purposes only. We will gladly oblige any take down under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Photos and descriptions are used under the allowance made for "fair use" under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 for the purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. We will oblige any takedown request of any photo on this blog in compliance with the DMCA.

Rerelease of of Robert Shaw 1976 Christmas Concert

 

A Christmas Concert with Robert Shaw

Louise Seidel, soprano; Atlanta Symphony Chorus, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra / Robert Shaw
Vox VOX-NX-3027CD
Release: 27 October 2023

The art of the Christmas carol extends back to the Middle Ages, producing a richly varied tradition that continues to the present day. 

This programme highlights the evolution of Christmas music: from early monastic carols such as the original plainchant of O come, O come, Emmanuel; through the beautiful sixteenth-century melodies Lo, how a rose e'er blooming and the Coventry Carol; to the mighty splendours of later eras as exemplified by J S Bach, Vivaldi and Berlioz, with Handel's Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah reigning supreme. 

This classic VOX recording featuring the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Robert Shaw was originally issued on the 2-LP set Nativity in 1976. The Elite Recordings for VOX by legendary producers Marc Aubort and Joanna Nickrenz are considered by audiophiles to be amongst the finest sounding examples of orchestral recordings.

1. O come, O come, Emmanuel - Traditional

2. So Blest a Sight - Traditional

3. Dormi, Jesu! Mater ridet

4. Lo, how a rose e'er blooming - Traditional

5. Coventry Carol - Traditional

6. Break forth, O wondrous morning light - J.S. Bach

7. Jesus, guide my beginning (from Christmas Oratorio)

8. Dona nomis pacem - Bach (from Mass in B minor)

9. The Shepherd's Farwell - Berlioz (from L'Enfance du Christ)

10. Adeste Fideles - Wade

11. Gloria in excelsis Deo (from Gloria in D major) - Vivaldi

12.Et in terra pax (from Gloria in D major) - A. Vivaldi

13. And there were shepherds (from Christmas Oratorio) - J.S. Bach

14. Farandole - Bizet (from L'Arlesienne Suite No. 2) 

15. There is a Rose in Flower - Brahms

16. Introduction, March and Shepherd's Dance (from Amahl and the Night Visitors) - Menotti

17. The Adoration of the Magi - Respighi (from Trittico botticelliano)

18. I. Allegro non molto ("Winter" from The Four Seasons) - Vivaldi

19. II. Largo ("Winter" from The Four Seasons) - Vivaldi

20.  Hallelujah (from Messiah) - Handel

Disclaimer: Regarding the photos and descriptions used above, we do not know whom the owners of these are, and infringement is not intended. Photos and descriptions are used for educational purposes only. We will gladly oblige any take down under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Photos and descriptions are used under the allowance made for "fair use" under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 for the purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. We will oblige any takedown request of any photo on this blog in compliance with the DMCA.

New London Choral Sinfonia Recording of Stephen Hough Music Contains Christmas Carols and Song Cycle

 

New London Choral Sinfonia Recording of Stephen Hough Music Contains Christmas Carols and Song Cycle

This album will include several Christmas works.

9.  Ding Dong Merrily on High

December
10.  Advent Calendar
11.  Hark, the Herald Angels Sing
12.  Silent Night
13.  The Gate of the Year

Three Marian Hymns
14.  O Sanctissima
15.  Salve Regina
16.  Ave Maria

Label: Orchid Classics

https://www.orchidclassics.com/releases/orc100256-lcs-hough/

Disclaimer: Regarding the photos and descriptions used above, we do not know whom the owners of these are, and infringement is not intended. Photos and descriptions are used for educational purposes only. We will gladly oblige any take down under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Photos and descriptions are used under the allowance made for "fair use" under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 for the purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. We will oblige any takedown request of any photo on this blog in compliance with the DMCA.