TENET Vocal Artists, NYC’s prëeminent early music ensemble, releases a Christmas disc of music spanning medieval to modern day repertoire. TENET’s pristine, one-on-a-part singing lends itself well to both well-known and rarely heard songs and carols featured in this recording. New compositions and fresh arrangements make "Love Enfolds Thee Round" a stand-out among holiday recordings, Each member of the ensemble is well featured, creating an intimate sound-world to celebrate the holiday season. Preëminent New York City-based early music ensemble TENET Vocal Artists has won acclaim for its innovative programming, virtuosic singing and command of repertoire that spans the Middle Ages to the present day. Highlights of recent seasons include performances of J.S. Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, St. John Passion, Christ-mas Oratorio and motets, Handel’s Messiah, a three-year cycle of Carlo Gesualdo’s Tenebrae Responsories, music by, for, and about 17th century Italian women, and programs exploring medieval repertoire. TENET's highly praised Green Mountain Project gave performances of Claudio Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610 and other Vespers for a decade, culminating in a finale performance in Venice, Italy in January 2020. TENET Vocal Artists performs at Carnegie Hall, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Caramoor, Columbia University, Yale University, and numerous venues in and around New York. Further afield, TENET Vocal Artists has appeared at the Festival Casals de Puerto Rico, Berkshire Bach Festival, Connecticut Early Music Festival, Costa Rica International Music Festival, Montreal Baroque Festival, and at venues throughout the United States, Latin America and Europe.

Crouch End Festival Chorus presents two Britten classics: Saint Nicolas and A Ceremony of Carols. Full of vibrancy and drama, Saint Nicolas is performed alongside the fabulous BBC Concert Orchestra and features tenor Mark Le Brocq as well as Coldfall Primary School Choir, members of Hertfordshire Chorus and Hannah Brine Choirs. The ever-popular A Ceremony of Carols is performed with harpist Sally Pryce, with both works conducted by David Temple. A Ceremony of Carols (1942/3) and Saint Nicolas (1948) are the earliest works that Benjamin Britten composed for public performance primarily for boys’ voices. These performances, recorded here at London’s All Saint’s Church and Alexandra Palace Theatre, truly show how glorious these two pieces of music are, and why they have remained so popular.

REVIEW:

This album stands out, for it might be considered an authentic performance. The main choir, gallery choir, boy soloists, and duo pianists here are all amateurs, and they bring a sense of discovery to the work and its narrative quality that's different from professional choir performances. The Ceremony of Carols has the requisite bright innocence, and the boy soloists in Saint Nicolas are top-notch. Conductor David Temple deserves special notice here, fusing the members of four separate choirs into a seamless whole. The engineering in the recently restored and acoustically ideal Alexandra Palace Theater is a bonus on top of this fine slice of the English choral tradition.

– AllMusicGuide.com (James Manheim)

Gothic Voices’ reputation for the originality of its programming is cemented with its first recording of medieval Christmas music, in which Julian Podger reimagines a fifteenth-century carol evening. Mirroring the modern practice of performing mostly music from the preceding centuries alongside some contemporary repertoire, the programme includes late medieval English carols, chant, mono-and polyphonic songs and motets for the Advent and Christmas season, focusing on Mary, her Annunciation and the birth of Jesus. Larger-scale festive motets and mass movements by English late medieval celebrities John Dunstaple and Leonel Power also feature. The ‘evening’ concludes with a summons to wake up to the significance of Christmas, with the conductus callResonet, intonetintroducing the carols Nowell synge we bothe al and som and Nowell: Owt of your slepe and the great Christmas chant Puer natus est nobis, arranged here into a joyful finale. This recording has been widely anticipated since a performance of this repertoire in December 2016 was chosen by BBC Music Magazine as its number one unmissable Christmas event.

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REVIEW:

It seems extraordinary that this should be Gothic Voices’ first Christmas-themed album; nevertheless, it has been worth the wait to hear these wellknown works performed by this ensemble. Their textures are always buoyant: listen for the fourth verse, which describes the Virgin’s swollen womb, where they use an atmospheric vocalised drone.

– Gramophone

The Metamorphoses were composed at the beginning of the Christian era by the Latin poet Ovid, just before his relegation on the shores of the Black Sea. This collection consists of a multitude of short stories inspired by mythologies, epics and tragedies both Greek and Roman: A world-book, in turn uplifting, gallant and burlesque whose voice is inspired by Michel Vuillermoz, member of the Com�die-Fran�aise, reveals the spirit and the flavors of the work. Fr�meaux & Associ�s and Les Belles Lettres offer, for the first time in audio books, an ideal library of the great literary texts of Greek and Latin Antiquity. Whether one has read these works or always dreamed of doing so, this collection brings to the fore texts that are still current, served by faithful translations and by the interpretation of the greatest French-language actors. 9782844681423 FRAS8142.2 39428936 .00 32.99 .43 FREMEAUX & ASSOC. FR COMPACT DISCS POP SPOKEN / COMEDY / RADIO SHOWS BOX SETS (AUDIO / VIDEO ONLY) 10/04/2019 https://mediacdn.aent-m.com/prod-img/500/52/3718752-2509800.jpg 11 4 Y ROTH / ROYER DIVERGENTE 2 This release is the second installment in Veronica Roth's renowned Divergent series. Abandoning a city with fire and blood, Tris is on the run. Thanks to her faculties, she managed to escape from the Erudite's program, which manipulated and launched the Bold soldiers to attack the Altruists. In three days, Tris lost her faction, his friends, his parents. With her brother, Caleb, and her boyfriend, Tobias, she has to find allies among the other factions. Marine Royer reads the book in French. 9782844689238 FRAS8923.2 39428998 .00 32.99 .37 FREMEAUX & ASSOC. FR COMPACT DISCS POP SPOKEN / COMEDY / RADIO SHOWS 10/04/2019 https://mediacdn.aent-m.com/prod-img/500/58/3718758-2509802.jpg 6 2 N TIDINGS OF COMFORT & JOY / VARIOUS TIDINGS OF COMFORT & JOY / VARIOUS This recording provides a glimpse of the festive and intimate sounds with which the season of Christmas is celebrated at the Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta, Georgia. Included are first international commercial recordings of works by Craig Phillips, Charles Beaudrot, Frank Boles, Stephen Paulus, and Howard Helvey. Dale Adelmann was named Canon for Music at the Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta, in 2009, having served previously as director of music for All Saints' Beverly Hills; the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus; St. Paul's Cathedral, Buffalo; and the Gentlemen of St. John's College, Cambridge. He is one of America's leading interpreters of the Anglican-Episcopal choral tradition. Reviewers hailed his book on the revival of Anglican choral worship as essential reading" for Anglican church historians and musicians alike. In 2018 he was made a Fellow of the Royal School of Church Music in recognition of his scholarly and practical contributions to Anglican music.

Christmas with Bach: Gerhard L�ffler, the organist at the Church of St. James in Hamburg, has selected this title for his MDG debut. And to it we may add: "And with Arp Schnitger." After all, Schnitger's masterpiece of organ design in St. James is not only the largest instrument by this Northern German organ builder, whose death three hundred years ago is being commemorated in 2019, but also has what qualifies as the most important extant original pipework from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. With these resources it very much makes it's presence felt in the music and interpretation. And when captured in magnificent three-dimensional sound on this Super Audio album, it is guaranteed to spread the Christmas spirit throughout the year.

Sir John Eliot Gardiner's personal curation of Easter Choral music inspired by his family's annual Easter Play at his home in Springhead, Dorset. A companion to the Monteverdi Choir's 1998 recording Once as I remember, which told the story of the Springhead Christmas Play. Structured around a series of tableaux, narrating through a combination of the different Gospel accounts, it is a dramatic retelling of the Resurrection story, employing disparate musical styles and frequent shifts of focus and perspective, all held together by the creative vision of a Dorset mother and her son. He writes: "This personal selection of music for Easter from the 11th to the 20th centuries tells the story of the Resurrection and Christ's appearances to his disciples. It is based on my experience of compiling and directing the music for a mimed Easter play, performed in village churches in Dorset every year between 1963 and 1984, the brainchild of my mother, Marabel Gardiner, to whose memory this recording is dedicated."

Autumn and winter bring months of cold and darkness to the North. This is why we have always so warmly embraced the Christmas season in our part of the world. For we celebrate not only the Christian festival, we also celebrate the turning of the sun and the promise of longer, lighter days to come. "Ljos" celebrates this very light — the light that shines at the darkest time, bringing warmth and hope. Fauna present a wonderful selection of Christmas songs — some familiar, some new and tantalizing to the ear — from their native Norway, which through distinctive, sensitive arrangements recreate the contrast between light and dark.

John Neumeier Collection presents four ballets by legendary American choreographer John Neumeier. Featured works include The Little Mermaid (Die kleine Meerjungfrau), Tatiana, Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio) and Nijinsky. “Nearly nobody else besides John Neumeier can tell stories with the bodies of his dancers. - Hamburger Morgenpost

Brilliant Classics have updated their popular Christmas-time collection of music by J.S. Bach for a new decade, adding a timeless recording of the Christmas Oratorio from Dresden, with such star-calibre soloists as Arleen Aug�r, Peter Schreier and Theo Adam. The cantatas are selected for their Christmas theme from the monumental cycle of Bach's complete sacred cantatas recorded for Brilliant Classics by the Holland Boys' Choir and Netherlands Bach Collegium under Pieter Jan Leusink. This updated set also features a new programme of organ music chosen for the Christmas season from the masterful survey of Bach's complete organ music on Brilliant Classics, performed by Baroque performance practice expert Stefano Molardi.

After Handels's Messiah and the Ode for St Cecilia's Day, Daniela Dolci and Musica Fiorita present on Pan Classics their version of Johann Sebastian Bach's Christmas Oratorio. Based in Basel, Dolci has easy access to many of the best vocal soloists around, and this recording has been no exception: the role of the Evangelist is sung by Hans J�rg Mammel, and the other main roles are defended by Gunta Smirnova, Flavio Ferri-Benedetti and Raitis Grigalis. With such a setup, the question of "why a new recording of the Christmas Oratorio" is needed is easily answered. For more than 25 years the ensemble Musica Fiorita, conducted by Daniela Dolci, has been specializing in the performance of late Renaissance and Baroque music. The ensemble strives to promote the current standards of historically informed performance practice and is committed to being true to both the original scores and the liveliness of their performance. The varied use of period instruments as well as the presence of a substantial continuo group add to the flourishing of the finer nuances of the music of the 17th and 18th centuries.

Footprint is delighted to release the debut recording from Harlanda Chamber Choir in the ensemble's tenth anniversary year. 'A bright star shineth' is an atmospheric celebration of Christmas music from throughout Europe from the Sixteenth Century to present day. This recording charts a Christmas journey from France to Iceland, via England, Wales, Ireland and of course Sweden. Traditional songs in alluring arrangements by �ke Hillerud and John Rutter and more are heard alongside original compositions by the likes of Francis Poulenc, Thomas Tallis and Morten Lauridsen. The choir pays homage to it's own roots with a traditional song from the Halland Province, 'Guds son �r f�dd' (arranged by Otto Olsson). Two premiere recordings from Scandinavian composers complete the picture: Ola Gjeilo's striking 'Det hev ei rose sprunge' and Anna Cederberg-Orreteg's emotive interpretation of Sibelius's 'Julvisa.' With fulsome, warm singing and careful direction from Molin, 'A bright star shineth' combines head and heart this festive season, "our birthday gift to ourselves and a Christmas present to the world," in the choir's own words.

Johann Jeremias Du Grain was on familiar terms with the musical greats of his era. He learned the musical trade from Telemann, who was already famous at the time, and he assisted the very busy Handel with the composition of a festive cantata for the five hundredth anniversary of Elbing, his chosen place of residence. One hears traces of these illustrious surroundings in Du Grain’s own cantatas, which Anrzej Szadejko and the Goldberg Baroque Ensemble are now presenting for the first time on this audiophile multichannel release in the Musica Baltica series. Du Grain’s cantatas not only represent the very best of their times, they are also extraordinarily appealing. Virtuoso arias, splendid choral numbers, and highly expressive laments operate on the same high level as the music of the great masters. On the First Day of Christmas, full Baroque splendor awaits the Savior when timpani and trumpets open “Willkommen, Erloser” with a salutation befitting the deliverer of the world. Du Grain displays very great artistry in the elaboration of Luther’s challenging medieval chorale “Mitten wir im Leben sind.” This extensive fifteen part work explores all the facets of human life and death- now that is unique!

Following on from their debut release on Resonus – 'Music for Troubled Times' – The Ebor Singers, with director Paul Gameson, returns to the label with a companion album of music for Christmas from the time of the English Civil War. With 'A Cavalier Christmas', the choir are joined by the Chelys Consort of Viols in exploring this fascinating, yet turbulent, period in music as Charles I sought to continue to observe the festive season in style, contrary to attempts by England’s Puritan-influenced parliament to ban such celebrations. Acclaimed for performances and recordings that sparkle with fresh insight and vibrant musicality, The Ebor Singers has earned a reputation as one of the most exciting vocal ensembles in the north of England. Based in the beautiful medieaval city of York, the choir performs regularly in the city’s stunning buildings, including York Minster.

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REVIEWS:

What Christmas music was sung during the English Civil War period? The York-based Ebor Singers answer that question in this fine anthology of works by Gibbons, Byrd, Dering, Jenkins and others.

– BBC Music Magazine

Paul Gameson coaxes fine singing and some admirable solo contributions from his Ebor ensemble, with the Chely’s Consort of Viols providing discrete accompaniment throughout.

– Classical Ear

The summer of 1886 was one of the most prolific in the life of Johannes Brahms. The alpine grandeur of Lake Thun and Brahms’ buoyant holiday mood conjured up so many melodies that he declared he was “afraid to step on them.” In a few weeks’ time, Brahms produced two of his major chamber works, the Cello Sonata op. 99 and the Violin Sonata op. 100, that suits the cello delightfully. These chamber icons are aptly coupled to Schubert’s blissfully uplifting Sonata D 574. Wispelwey and Giacometti have been called “exceptionally imaginative and impassioned performers” (American Record Guide), and their collaboration has spawned recordings rated as “fascinating, provocative, almost perverse” (Sunday Times). The first installment of the Duo Pilgrimage was hailed a “successful launch” (Kulturradio) on account of the “unspoken complicity between two virtuosi… who accomplish a sparkling, playful, cantabile account.” (Cobra.be)

Missouri-based choir Kantorei of Kansas City and their director Chris Munce return to Resonus Classics with a sparkling recording of carols and motets for Christmas. With a compelling programme of Renaissance and contemporary works for the festive season that presents the Christmas story and the journey to Bethlehem, including a number of world premiere recording. Kantorei explores rarely heard works by Renaissance composers such as Giovanni Bassano, Melchior Vulpius, Jakob Reiner and Blasius Amon combined with contemporary composers including Matthew Culloton, Ivo Antognini, R. Douglas Helvering and Kim André Arnesen among others.