100 CHRISTMAS MASTERWORKS (5 CDS)

100 of the greatest Christmas Masterworks in a handsome 5 CD Capbox presented in festive red and hot-foiled gold.

Each generously-filled CD has a different theme, including Arias & Songs, Carols, Instrumental, Choral Music and Popular Tunes/The Nutcracker An impressive roll-call of performers including:

Singers: Cecilia Bartoli, Bryn Terfel, Fritz Wunderlich, Renée Fleming, Anna Netrebko, Anne Sofie von Otter, Jessye Norman, Rolando Villazon, Luciano Pavarotti, Kiri Te Kanawa, Dame Joan Sutherland

Choirs: Choir of King’s College Cambridge, The Monteverdi Choir, Choir of Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral Choir, The Sistein Chapel Choir, The Bach Choir, Dresdner Kreuzchor, St Thomas Choir of Leipzig, Gabrieli, Voces8 and more. Conductors: Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Trevor Pinnock, Claudio Abbado, Sir David Willcocks, Paul McCreesh, Karl Richter, Mstislav Rostropovich.


CD 1: 100 Christmas Masterworks

Michael Praetorius (1571 - 1621)
1. In dulci jubilo (Arr. Fritz Neumeyer (1900-1983)) 2:37
Fritz Wunderlich, Hermann Prey, Wolfgang Neininger, Robert Bodenröder, Hans Georg Renner, Dietmar Keller, Helmut Böcker, Wolfgang Stert, Fritz Neumeyer


George Frideric Handel (1685 - 1759)
Messiah, HWV 56
Pt. 1
2. "Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter Of Zion"
4:49
Arleen Augér, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock


Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791)
Vesperae solennes de confessore in C Major, K. 339
3. 5. Laudate Dominum omnes gentes
4:28
Rachel Harnisch, Kay Johannsen, Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado, Schwedischer Rundfunkchor


Peter Cornelius (1824 - 1874)
Christmas Carols, Op.8
4. 3. Die Könige
2:36
Bryn Terfel, Malcolm Martineau


Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750)
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248
Part One - For The First Day Of Christmas
5. No.8 Aria (Baß): "Großer Herr, o starker König"
4:24
Olaf Bär, Crispian Steele-Perkins, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner


Anonymous
6. Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day (Arrangement: Svante Henryson)
1:47
Anne Sofie von Otter, Stockholm Chamber Brass, Markus Leoson


César Franck (1822 - 1890)
7. Panis Angelicus
3:38
Plácido Domingo, Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi, Marcello Viotti


George Frideric Handel (1685 - 1759)
Samson, HWV 57
Act 3
8. Air: "Let the bright Seraphim"
3:17
Sheila Armstrong, Münchener Bach-Orchester, Karl Richter


Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750)
Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, Cantata BWV 147
9. 10. Jesu bleibet meine freunde (Arr. Chris Hazell)
2:47
Renée Fleming, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Andreas Delfs


Pérotin
10. "Beata viscera Mariae Virginis"
3:49
Cecilia Bartoli, Sistine Chapel Choir, Massimo Palombella


Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897)
11. Geistliches Wiegenlied, Op.91, No.2
6:11
Jessye Norman, Daniel Barenboim, Wolfram Christ


Anonymous
12. O Jesulein süss (Arrangement: Annette Isserlis)
4:07
Anne Sofie von Otter, Ulf Forsberg, Ulrika Jansson, Torbjörn Helander, Ole Karlsson


George Frideric Handel (1685 - 1759)
Serse, HWV 40
Performance Edtion by King's Music
Act 1
13. "Ombra mai fu"
2:41
Rolando Villazón, Gabrieli Players, Paul McCreesh


Messiah, HWV 56
Pt. 1
14. "Ev'ry Valley shall be exalted"
3:34
Howard Crook, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock


Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791)
Exsultate, jubilate, K.165
Original Version 1773
15. 4. Alleluia
2:35
Barbara Bonney, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock


Gustav Holst (1874 - 1934)
16. In The Bleak Midwinter - arranged by Mack Wilberg
4:02
Bryn Terfel, Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera, Tecwyn Evans


Giuseppe Verdi (1813 - 1901)
Otello
Act 4
17. Ave Maria, piena di grazia
4:53
Anna Netrebko, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Claudio Abbado


Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750)
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248
Part One - For The First Day Of Christmas
18. No.4 Aria (Alto): " Bereite dich, Zion"
5:06
Anne Sofie von Otter, Anthony Robson, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner
Total Playing Time 1:07:21


CD 2: 100 Christmas Masterworks

Henry John Gauntlett (1805 - 1876)
1. Once In Royal David's City 3:12
St. Paul's Cathedral Choir, Nathaniel Morley, Simon Johnson, Andrew Carwood
John Francis Wade (1711 - 1786), David Willcocks (1919 - 2015)
2. O Come All Ye Faithful 3:57
St. Paul's Cathedral Choir, Simon Johnson, Andrew Carwood
Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847)
3. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Arr. David Willcocks (1919-))
2:22
Christopher Herrick, Simon Preston, The Choir Of Westminster Abbey


Gustav Holst (1874 - 1934)
4. In The Bleak Midwinter 4:44
St. Paul's Cathedral Choir, Andrew Carwood


Anonymous
5. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
3:04
The Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Andrew Davis, David Willcocks


6. I Saw Three Ships (Arr.John Rutter)
2:14
Choir of Clare College, Cambridge, Orchestra of Clare College, Cambridge, John Rutter


Michael Praetorius (1571 - 1621)
7. Es ist ein' Ros' entsprungen (Speierisches Gesangbuch, Köln, 1599)
4:15
Dresdner Kreuzchor, Matthias Jung


Traditional
8. Still, weil's Kindlein schlafen will 0:49
Brass Ensemble of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra


Anonymous
9. The first Nowell (Arr. David Willcocks (1919-)) 4:48
The Choir of King's College, Cambridge, David Willcocks


Zoltán Kodály (1882 - 1967)
10. Adventi ének (Veni, Veni Emmanuel)
3:54
Dresdner Kreuzchor


Anonymous
Up! Good Christen folk, and listen
11. Arr. G.R. Woodward 1:22
The Choir Of Westminster Abbey, Simon Preston


12. Gaudete 1:40
St. Paul's Cathedral Choir, Andrew Carwood
Franz Xaver Gruber


13. Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht (Arr. Donald Fraser)
3:35
Dresdner Kreuzchor
Traditional


14. Ther is no rose of swych vertu 4:57
Gabrieli Consort, Paul McCreesh
The Holly and the Ivy


15. Arr. H. Walford Davies (1869-1941) 3:33
The Choir Of Westminster Abbey, Simon Preston
Anonymous


16. God rest ye merry, gentlemen (Arr. D. Willcocks)
2:58
The Bach Choir, The Philip Jones Brass Ensemble, David Corkhill, John Scott, David Willcocks


Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976)
17. A Shepherd's Carol 5:00
The Choir Of Westminster Abbey, Simon Preston


Heinrich Kaminski (1886 - 1946)
18. Maria durch ein Dornwald ging
2:08
Dresdner Kreuzchor


Anonymous
19. Ding Dong! Merrily on High (Arr. Charles Wood (1866-1926))
2:00
Simon Preston, The Choir Of Westminster Abbey


Max Reger (1873 - 1916)
8 geistliche Gesänge, Op.138
20. 4. Unser lieben Frauen Traum
2:13
Thomanerchor Leipzig, Georg Christoph Biller


Traditional
21. Birjina gaztettobat zegoen (Basque) 2:31
Gabrieli Consort, Paul McCreesh


Elizabeth Poston (1905 - 1987)
22. Jesus Christ the Apple Tree 2:54
The Choir Of Westminster Abbey, Simon Preston


Max Reger (1873 - 1916)
8 geistliche Gesänge, Op.138
23. 3. Nachtlied
2:48
Thomanerchor Leipzig, Georg Christoph Biller


Total Playing Time 1:10:58


CD 3: 100 Christmas Masterworks

Jean-Joseph Mouret (1682 - 1738)
Sinfonies de Fanfare in D major
arr. Friedrich Held
1. 1. Rondeau (1st movement of Suite No.1)
1:57
Hannes Läubin, Wolfgang Läubin, Bernhard Läubin, Norbert Schmitt, Simon Preston


Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750)
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248
Part Two - For The Second Day Of Christmas
2. No.10 Sinfonia
5:17
English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner


Arcangelo Corelli (1653 - 1713)
Concerto Grosso in G Minor, Op. 6, No. 8, MC 6.8 "Fatto per la Notte di Natale"
3. 1. Vivace - Grave. Arcate, sostenuto e come stà
1:30
4. 2. Allegro
2:01
5. 3. Adagio - Allegro - Adagio
3:19
6. 4. Vivace
1:00
7. 5. Allegro
2:05
8. 6. Pastorale: Largo
4:07


George Frideric Handel (1685 - 1759)
Messiah, HWV 56
Pt. 1
9. Pifa (Pastoral Symphony)
1:12


Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750)
Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major, BWV 1068
10. 2. Air
4:51
The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock


Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1634 - 1704)
In nativitatem Domini canticum, H. 416
11. Nuit
4:41
Les Musiciens du Louvre, Marc Minkowski


Antonio Vivaldi (1678 - 1741)
Violin Concerto in F Minor, Op. 8, No. 4, RV 297 "L'inverno"
12. 1. Allegro non molto
3:41
13. 2. Largo
1:30
14. 3. Allegro
3:26
Gidon Kremer, Leslie Pearson, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado


Giovanni Gabrieli (1553 - 1612)
15. Canzon noni toni a 12, C 183
3:26
Gabrieli Players, Paul McCreesh


Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750)
Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, Cantata BWV 147
16. Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring (Arr. Guillermo Figueroa)
3:22
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra


Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1634 - 1704)
Noëls sur les instruments, H 531, 534
17. 1. Vous qui désirez sans fin
2:10
18. 2. A la venue de Noël
0:59
19. 3. Or nous dites, Marie
2:21
20. 4. Où s'en vont ces gais bergers?
1:30
The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock


Samuel Scheidt (1587 - 1654)
Cantiones Sacre (1620)
Eingerichtet für Blechbläser von Hans-Dieter Schwarz
21. Nr. 15 - "In dulci jubilo"
3:47
Brass Ensemble of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Total Playing Time 58:12


CD 4: 100 Christmas Masterworks

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750)
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248
Part One - For The First Day Of Christmas
1. No.1 Chorus: "Jauchzet, frohlocket"
7:42
The Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner


George Frideric Handel (1685 - 1759)
Messiah, HWV 56
Pt. 1
2. "For Unto Us A Child Is Born" 4:06
The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock, The English Concert Choir


Michael Praetorius (1571 - 1621)
Polyhymnia Caduceatrix et Panegyrica
3. 34. In dulci jubilo
5:23
Susan Hemington Jones, Tessa Bonner, Mark le Brocq, Paul McCreesh, Gabrieli Consort, Boy's Choir Of Roskilde Cathedral


Herbert Howells (1892 - 1983)
4. A spotless Rose
3:37
Gabrieli Consort, Paul McCreesh


Anton Bruckner (1824 - 1896)
5. Virga Jesse (Motet)
4:19
Dresdner Kreuzchor


John Tavener (1944 - 2013)
6. The Lamb
3:36
The Choir of the Temple Church, Stephen Layton


Judith Bingham (1952 - )
7. The Darkness Is No Darkness
4:27
Voces8


Heinrich Schütz (1585 - 1672)
Historia von der Geburt Jesu Christi, SWV435
Version ARCHIV-Recording
8. Beschluss: Dank sagen wir alle Gott...
2:10
Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Players, Paul McCreesh, Boy's Choir Of Roskilde Cathedral, Kristian Olesen, Finn Evald


George Frideric Handel (1685 - 1759)
Messiah, HWV 56
Pt. 2
9. "Hallelujah"
4:00
The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock, The English Concert Choir


Orlande de Lassus (1532 - 1594)
10. Resonet in Laudibus à 5
4:15
Alexander Blachly, Pomerium


Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525 - 1594)
11. Motet "Hodie Christus natus est"
3:22
Sistine Chapel Choir, Massimo Palombella


Francis Poulenc (1899 - 1963)
Quatre motets pour le temps de Noël
12. Quem vidistis pastores
3:21
Dresdner Kreuzchor, Matthias Jung


John Tavener (1944 - 2013)
13. God is with us (A Christmas Proclamation)
5:44
Andrew Rupp, The Choir of the Temple Church, The Holst Singers, Ian Le Grice, Stephen Layton


Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750)
Magnificat in D Major, BWV 243
14. Chorus: "Magnificat"
3:03
Münchener Bach-Orchester, Karl Richter, Münchener Bach-Chor


Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976)
Ceremony of Carols, Op.28
15. As dew in Aprille
1:08
The Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Rachel Masters, Stephen Cleobury


Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750)
"Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland", BWV 62
16. 1. Chorus "Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland" (Choir)
4:30
English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner, The Monteverdi Choir


Michael Praetorius (1571 - 1621)
17. Communion motet: "Uns ist ein Kindlein heut geborn" - Musae Sioniae VI
2:13
Sarah Pendlebury, Hannelore Devaere, Paul McCreesh, Gabrieli Consort


Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976)
18. A Hymn to the Virgin
2:43
Dresdner Kreuzchor
Total Playing Time 1:09:39


CD 5: 100 Christmas Masterworks

Irving Berlin (1888 - 1989)
1. White Christmas (Orchestrated by Robert Russell Bennett (+1988))
4:59
Bryn Terfel, Philharmonia Orchestra, Paul Daniel


Anonymous
2. Il est né le divin enfant (Arrangement: Annette Isserlis)
1:25
Anne Sofie von Otter, Ulf Forsberg, Markus Leoson


Adolphe Charles Adam (1803 - 1856)
3. O Holy Night
4:13
Luciano Pavarotti, The National Philharmonic Orchestra, Kurt Herbert Adler


John Rutter (1945 - )
4. Shepherd's Pipe Carol - adapted by Chris Hazell
2:56
Bryn Terfel, Côrdydd, Sioned James, Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera, Tecwyn Evans


Franz Schubert (1797 - 1828)
5. "Ellens Gesang III", D839 (Arr. Ion Marin)
5:38
Cheryl Studer, London Symphony Orchestra, Ion Marin


Felix Bernard (1897 - 1944)
6. Winter Wonderland (Arr. David Cullen (1941-))
3:50
Kiri Te Kanawa, London Voices, Philharmonia Orchestra, Carl Davis


Mykola Leontovych (1877 - 1921)
7. Carol Of The Bells 1:26
St. Paul's Cathedral Choir, Andrew Carwood


Anonymous
8. Deck the hall with boughs of Holly (Arr. Douglas Gamley (1924-1998))
1:17
Joan Sutherland, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Richard Bonynge


Traditional
9. Joy to the World (arranged by Patrick Kerber)
2:27
Los Romeros


Jester Hairston (1901 - 2000)
10. Mary's Boy Child - arranged by David Cullen & Chris Hazell 3:32
Bryn Terfel, Côrdydd, Sioned James, Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera, Tecwyn Evans


Hugh Martin (1914 - ), Ralph Blane (1914 - 1995)
11. Have yourself a merry little Christmas (Arrangement: Svante Henryson)
3:14
Anne Sofie von Otter, Göran Danielsson, Mogens Rasmussen, Leif Henrickson, Markus Leoson


Charles Gounod (1818 - 1893), Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750)
12. Ave Maria, CG 89a: arr. from Bach's Prelude No.1 BWV 846 (Arr. Mischa Maisky)
5:27
Mischa Maisky, Pavel Gililov


Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840 - 1893)
Nutcracker Suite, Op.71a, TH.35
13. 1. Miniature Overture
3:03
14. 2a. March
2:26
15. 2b. Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy
2:06
16. 2c. Russian Dance (Trepak)
1:10
17. 2d. Arabian Dance (Coffee)
3:46
18. 2e. Chinese Dance (Tea)
1:14
19. 2f. Dance of the Reed-Pipes (Mirlitons)
2:35
20. 3. Waltz Of The Flowers
6:45
Berliner Philharmoniker, Mstislav Rostropovich
Total Playing Time 1:03:29