Customer Rating:  
Summary: More "mainstream" Christmas fare
Comment: I have all of Rutter's Christmas CD's and have admired the Cambridge Singers for years. This Christmas compilation does not meet the same standard as Rutter's earlier holiday collections. Although his arrangements are varied and interesting, it appears that Rutter, sucked into the mainstream of secular-style Christmas music, has sold out in order to reach a wider audience. With full-vibrato-ed voices, the women soloists sound more like pop singers. The purity and clarity of tone he strove to achieve in the 80'sand 90's have been disregarded in favor of a more glitzy, thin sound. I hope that someday he will return to the more elegant and ethereal quality of choral music that he is so capable of producing.
Customer Rating:
Summary: I first heard it on NPR the day it was released
Comment: It was electrifying yet awe inspiring, as if it was composed for this history making year we have had with a fresh immediacy, the effect being as I imagine the angels had appearing to the shepherds unaware, and I had when I first heard of the dark horse candidate Obama's rise. I knew I had to have this John Rutter Christmas music on hearing an excerpt on NPR, and before the piece had finished, I rang our church's choir master and told him to turn it on. The phone rang as soon as it was over, and I simply answered it saying, "Wasn't that sublime!?!" Our children's choir in Charleston, SC at St. Philips studies choral music every 3 yrs at Canterbury Cathedral in England, and God willing, we will go this summer. Rutter's music is the best.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A wonderful new CD !!!!!!!
Comment: This new CD is stunning with wonderful music from various composers. some new to me, and, a wonderful new John Rutter composition. This orchestral and choral recording just adds the richness and beautfy to all of the music offered. I have been a church organist for many years and have had the wonderful opportunity of playing Mr. Rutter's music, as well as other wonderful choral anthems of other British composers. I highly recommend this to all viewers!!!
Carroll L. Heath
Customer Rating:
Summary: Cause For Celebration
Comment: It's not surprising that when my local classical FM station (WMHT in Schenectady, NY in case you want to check out the online streaming version) was doing their annual fundraiser this December, they offered copies of John Rutter's new holiday release A CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL as one of its incentive gifts for pledges of $100. When it comes to choral singing, John Rutter's Cambridge Singers are pretty much the gold standard.
What actually was a surprise was learning that this is the new first holiday themed release Rutter has released in over TWENTY years. His Christmas recordings have been radio staples and personal favorites of my own for such a long time, that I hadn't even been thinking how long it had been since a new one had actually appeared.
On this release, the Cambridge Singers are joined by The Farnham Youth Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, making for a varied and often lively program. Almost any British choral society could easily get away with limiting their selection to the vast storehouse of classic English carols, and while Rutter is not hesitant to offer up same, his selection of the lesser known (at--I suspect--least to an American audience) "Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day," demonstrates great originality and resourcefulness even on that front. But Rutter's wide ranging sensibility incorporates many more traditions here: the Welsh carol "Nos Galan" is better known in the English speaking world as "Deck The Halls" but Rutter restores the original Welsh text (actually a New Year's carol), which is sung beautifully by Elin Manahan Thomas.
Carols from the world over (with Spanish, Catalan, Caribbean songs numbering among the standouts) fill out most of the rest of the program, along with several John Rutter compositions ("New Year," "I Wish You Christmas"--and a gorgeous "new setting" of "Ave Maria"--that are almost certainly destined to become choral group standards--and perhaps, just plain ol' standards).
The release of Rutter's A CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL has made holiday shopping quite a bit easier this year. I KNOW what I'm getting everyone on my list for Christmas.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A Collection Well Worth The Wait
Comment: While Christmas music is not the only specialty of John Rutter and the Cambridge Singers, it seems that he and this musical ensemble have an affinity for the music of the holiday season. This is evident in his newest release A CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL.
Seasoned fans of earlier releases, as well as people new to Rutter and the Cambridge Singers will find much to enjoy in A CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL. For new listeners, the beauty will be astounding. For longtime fans, it has everything that made his earlier releases with both Clare College and the Cambridge Singers quality recordings but offers something different too. One noticeable difference in this collection from earlier releases is the accompaniment of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra which gives the orchestral arrangements a more fulsome sound. The majestic sound of the orchestra enhances the vocal beauty of the Cambridge Singers. The collection is enhanced as well by the addition of the Farnham Youth Choir and soloists Elin Manahan Thomas, Clara Sanabras, and Melanie Marshall. Most of the arrangements are by Rutter and he brings the music to life with the musicians at his disposal. The collection includes traditional carols, orchestral pieces including Delius' "Sleigh Ride" which differs from the better known compositions of Mozart and Anderson. The collection has a variety of titles and styles ranging from the traditional "Hark The Herald Angels Sing" to contemporary favorites such as "Mary's Boy Child" to the original such as the Caribbean "The Virgin Mary Had A Baby Boy." We also have some compositions by Rutter himself with serenity and beauty that make any Rutter collection worthwhile. My personal favorite in this collection is "New Year" which wonderfully combines the secular and spiritual aspects of Christmas in a way that reminds us of the beauty of this time of year.
A CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL manages to offer something new while at the same time remaining true to what has worked for John Rutter since his early days at Clare College. For those waiting for a new Rutter release, this collection is well worth the wait and no doubt, it will be beloved for years to come.
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