An inspiring sequence of Christmas music ancient and modern, culminating in Britten’s virtuosic choral masterpiece, A Boy Was Born: Paul McCreesh leads the Gabrieli Consort (joined by the Trebles of Copenhagen Royal Chapel Choir) in this evocative and contrasting collection of festive works that samples works from the 12th century to the present day.

Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610 was dedicated to Pope Paul V, and remains one of the great sacred masterpieces of the Baroque era. Monteverdi’s score features a stylistic variety uncommon to that time, grand choral and instrumental, solo motets, two settings of the Magnificat, duets and trios, and more than anything a sense of theater, which hearkens to the composition of Monteverdi’s operas which were being written around the same time. This new recording features authentic instrumentation, and is wonderfully interpreted by the Ensemble San Felice.

This mid-price collection of traditional songs (formerly 'The Lark in the Clear Air) includes John Rutter's widely-performed cycles 'A Sprig of Thyme' and 'Five Traditional Songs', alongside Vaughan Williams' 'Five English Folk Songs' and arrangements by other composers. Now with Rutter's arrangement of 'Searching for Lambs', never before released on CD.

Naxos, the world's leading classical music group, supports the Alzheimer's Association with the release of the Purple Classics series. Each release in this new series of 10 recordings features approximately 2 hours of classical music on 2 CDs. For every CD sold through June 23, 2017, Naxos will donate $.50 to the Alzheimer's Association, with a minimum donation of $25,000,to advance their efforts in Alzheimer's care, support and research.