Immerse yourself in the enchanting sounds of the holiday season with "Christmas Classics 2024" by Johann Sebastian Bach, released on December 25, 2024, under Warner Classics. This exquisite collection of classical and classical piano pieces is a celebration of timeless Christmas music, spanning a rich tapestry of traditional carols, sacred choral works, and instrumental masterpieces.
The album features a diverse array of compositions, including beloved works by Bach himself, such as selections from the Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio) and the profound "Erbarme Dich" from the St. Matthew Passion. Alongside Bach's contributions, the album showcases pieces by other renowned composers like Handel, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and Britten, offering a comprehensive journey through the festive season's most cherished melodies.
From the joyous "Ding Dong, Merrily on High" and the serene "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" to the majestic "Hallelujah" chorus from Handel's Messiah and the delicate "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" from Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker, this album is a treasure trove of musical delights. The inclusion of traditional carols like "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and "Adeste Fideles" adds a touch of nostalgia, while the intricate compositions of Charpentier, Corelli, and Debussy bring depth and sophistication to the collection.
With a duration of two hours and five minutes, "Christmas Classics 2024" is a perfect companion for the holiday season, whether you're looking to create a festive atmosphere at home or seeking a moment of quiet reflection. The album's blend of vocal and instrumental pieces, performed by some of the most celebrated artists in the classical music world, ensures a rich and varied listening experience that captures the essence of Christmas.
Celebrate the magic of the season with this timeless collection, a testament to the enduring power of classical music to evoke the spirit of Christmas.
Traditional: Ding Dong, Merrily on HighLondon Brass
Satie: Menus propos enfantins: No. 3, Valse du chocolat aux amandesAldo Ciccolini
Traditional: Watchman of ZionJoel Cohen, Boston Camerata, Anne Azéma
Charpentier: Messe de minuit pour noël, H. 9: III. Kyrie eleisonLes Arts Florissants, William Christie
Tournemire: L'orgue mystique, Cycle de Noël, Op. 55: Office No. 4 "De Dominica infra Octavam Nativitatis": III. ÉlévationBernard Foccroulle
Traditional: Go, Tell It on the Mountain (Arr. Pasatieri)Thomas Hampson
Charpentier: Noëls sur les instruments, H. 534: No. 6, Une jeune pucelleLes Arts Florissants, William Christie
Corelli: Concerto grosso in G Minor, Op. 6 No. 8 "Fatto per la notte di Natale": I. Vivace - GraveGiovanni Antonini, Il Giardino Armonico
Traditional: We Wish You a Merry Christmas (Arr. Cullen)Kiri Te Kanawa, Coventry Cathedral Choir, Jouko Harjanne, Lichfield Cathedral Choir, Michael George
Traditional: A Christmas HymnJoel Cohen, Boston Camerata, Brown University Chorus, Schola Cantorum of Boston
Britten: A Ceremony of Carols, Op. 28: II. Wolcum Yole!Choir of King's College, Cambridge, David Willcocks, Osian Ellis
Charpentier: Messe de minuit pour noël, H. 9: I. Kyrie eleisonLes Arts Florissants, William Christie
Tournemire: L'orgue mystique, Cycle de Noël, Op. 55: Office No. 4 "De Dominica infra Octavam Nativitatis": I. Prélude à l'introïtBernard Foccroulle
Manfredini: Concerto grosso in C Major, Op. 3 No. 12 "Con una pastorale per il Santissimo Natale': II. LargoGiovanni Antonini, Il Giardino Armonico
Britten: A Ceremony of Carols, Op. 28: IV. (b) BalulalowChoir of King's College, Cambridge, David Willcocks, Osian Ellis
Bach, JS: Weihnachtsoratorium, BWV 248, Pt. 3: No. 24, Chor. "Herrscher des Himmels, erhöre das Lallen"Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Ton Koopman, Amsterdam Baroque Choir
Traditional: El noi de la mare (Arr. Llobet for Guitar)Thibaut García
Handel: Joy to the WorldJoel Cohen, Boston Camerata, Brown University Chorus, Schola Cantorum of Boston
Bach, JS: Weihnachtsoratorium, BWV 248, Pt. 3: No. 24, Chor. "Herrscher des Himmels, erhöre das Lallen" (Reprise)Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Ton Koopman, Amsterdam Baroque Choir
Debussy: Noël des enfants qui n'ont plus de maison, CD 147, L. 139Jean-Paul Kreder, Ensemble vocal Jean-Paul-Kreder, Françoise Petit
Dandrieu: Livre de noëls: No. 17, Noël de Saintonge "Nos bergers"Marie-Claire Alain
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker, Op. 71, Act 1: No. 2, MarchSir Simon Rattle, Berliner Philharmoniker
Trad: O du fröhliche! O du selige!Andrew Parrott, Jennifer Ward Clarke, Taverner Choir, Taverner Players
Mozart: Great Mass in C Minor, K. 427: V. Domine DeusLouis Langrée, Le Concert d'Astrée, Natalie Dessay, Véronique Gens, Yves Castagnet
Corelli: Concerto grosso in G Minor, Op. 6 No. 8 "Fatto per la notte di Natale": III. Adagio - Allegro - AdagioGiovanni Antonini, Il Giardino Armonico
Joubert: There is No RoseEdward Higginbottom, Choir of New College, Oxford
Charpentier: In nativitatem Domini canticum, H. 416: I. Prélude. "Usquequo avertis faciem tuam"Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Jean-Yves Ravoux
Wade: Adeste fidelesEdward Higginbottom, Choir of New College, Oxford
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker, Op. 71, Act 2: No. 14c, Pas de deux. Variation II "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy"Sir Simon Rattle, Berliner Philharmoniker
Schütz: Geistliche Chormusik, Op. 11: No. 16, Ein Kind ist uns geboren, SWV 384Louis Devos, Schola Cantorum Bruxelliensis
The Little Drummer BoyThomas Hampson
Charpentier: Messe de minuit pour noël, H. 9: IX. Agnus DeiLes Arts Florissants, William Christie