We are delighted to share new interpretations of the music that represents an annual tradition, both festive and spiritual. This year’s playlist also includes recommendations for contemporary works as well as stunning performances of early music, a personal passion.
Bob Chilcott: Christmas Oratorio
Sarah Connolly, mezzo-soprano; Nick Pritchard, tenor; Neal Davies, baritone; The Choir of Merton College, Oxford; Oxford Contemporary Sinfonia: Benjamin Nicholas, conductor
Composed in 2019, Bob Chilcott’s Christmas Oratorio is treated to a deluxe recording. The oratorio’s form (hymns, arias, and canticles organized with recitatives) coupled with Chilcott’s musical language make the work highly approachable while still offering a sense of discovery. Link
Charpentier: Messe de Minuit; In Nativatem Domini Canticum
Ensemble Correspondances: Sébastien Daucé, conductor
In the new release from the superior Ensemble Correspondances, Marc-Antoine Charpentier's intimate Christmas story In nativitatem Domini canticum and masterpiece Messe de Minuit (Midnight Mass) are juxtaposed with the composer’s playful Noëls sur les instruments (Carols for instruments). Link
A Choral Christmas
VOCES8, VOCES8 Foundation Choir & Orchestra/Barnaby Smith
An album that will surprise VOCES8 fans. The stellar vocal octet is joined by a full choir and orchestra for an extravaganza of favorite carols and holiday music in addition to new works and arrangements. The centerpiece of the album is a large-scale setting of the Magnificat by American composer Taylor Scott Davis. Link
Christmas from Norway
Lise Davidsen, soprano; Norwegian Soloists Choir; Norwegian National Opera Children’s Choir; Norwegian Radio Orchestra: Christian Eggen, conductor
This Christmas album by one of classical music’s biggest stars is a dignified affair. The Scandinavian carols with choir sets Lise Davidsen’s apart from other rite-of-passage prima donna holiday albums. Link
A Golden Christmas
Felix Klieser, horn; Vienna Concert Society
German hornist Felix Klieser’s profile rose to international attention after making his debut at this year’s BBC Proms. His newest album is a passion project, offering listeners familiar carols and songs for the season as well as a substantial serving of baroque repertoire, including arias from Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and Handel’s Messiah arranged for horn. Link
Handel Messiah
Lucy Crowe, soprano; Alex Potter, countertenor; Michael Spyres, tenor; Matthew Brook, bass-baritone; The English Concert & Choir: John Nelson, conductor
American conductor John Nelson (Chicago Bach Project) leads one of the most prominent British period-instrument ensembles and a quartet of stylish soloists, two of whom have previously offered their interpretations of Handel to Chicago audiences (Lucy Crowe for Lyric Opera and Baroque Band; Matthew Brook for Music of the Baroque). Link
The Nutcracker Suite
Chineke! Orchestra: Andrew Grams, conductor
Andrew Grams (former music director of Elgin Symphony Orchestra) leads Chineke!, the first professional European orchestra made up of majority Black and ethnically diverse musicians, in Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s 1960 reworking of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite. Link
Rutter: Orchestral Carols
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge; Britten Sinfonia: Daniel Hyde, conductor
A selection of arrangements of well-known favorites as well as original works for choir and orchestra by a legend in choral music: John Rutter. Performed by the inimitable Choir of King’s College, Cambridge. Whet your appetite for the annual Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols! Link
A Winter Breviary: Choral Works for Christmas
St. Martin’s Voices: Andrew Earls, conductor
An album for those looking for the newest choral music for the season. Taking its title from Reena Esmail’s A Winter Breviary, St. Martin’s Voices also gives stunning performances of works by Cecilia McDowall, Yshani Perinpanayagam, Lucy Walker, Roderick Williams, and other contemporary composers. Link
Winter Journeys
lautten compagney, BERLIN: Wolfgang Katschner, conductor
The Berlin-based early music ensemble lautten compagney takes its highly idiosyncratic approach to 17th century works on the themes of winter, Christmastide, and longing for spring. Featured composers include Philipp Heinrich Erlebach, Andreas Hammerschmidt, Michael Praetorius, Heinrich Schütz, and Johann Hermann Schein, in addition to folksongs and just one recognizable carol. Link
Classical Christmas Albums Over the Years
Playlist: The Best Classical Christmas Albums of 2022
December 15, 2022
Playlist: 2021’s Top 9 Classical Christmas Albums
December 15, 2021
2020’s 8 Best Classical Christmas Albums
December 9, 2020
The 10 Best Classical Christmas Albums of 2019
December 13, 2019
8 Great Christmas Recordings for 2018
December 17, 2018Follow WFMT on Spotify and Apple Music!