trad.: Sussex Carol (On Christmas night) - CD

Jingle Wells offers an unusual and very festive collection of Christmas music from the choir of the famous thirteenth-century Cathedral of Wells.

There are offerings both sacred and secular, old and new, to suit all Christmas pallets sung by the highly acclaimed Wells Cathedral Choir, hailed by Gramophone in December 2010 as the highest ranking choir with children in the world.

With a TV and radio audience of millions, the annual broadcast of carols from King’s College, Cambridge is an essential Christmas tradition for families all over the world. The debut album from the choir’s own label features a specially recorded performance of their glorious 'Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols', and includes many of the most well-known Christmas carols as well as new commissions from some of today’s most popular composers.

The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge is one of the world’s foremost choirs and unquestionably among the most widely heard. It owes its existence to King Henry VI, who envisaged the daily singing of services in his magnificent chapel. This remains the Choir’s raison d’être, and is an important part of the lives of its 16 choristers, who are educated at King’s College School, and the 14 choral scholars and two organ scholars, who study a variety of subjects in the College. The Choir has been a breeding ground for numerous professional singers, many of whom will appear on forthcoming recordings from the new label.

The Choir has a rich recording heritage, having appeared on many albums for both Decca and EMI Classics. The Choir’s recording of Rutter’s 'Gloria' has sold in excess of 100,000 units globally and its previous albums of Christmas music have sold in millions.

This double album faithfully recreates the magic of the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, opening with a lone treble singing 'Once in royal David’s city' and closing with a rousing chorus of 'Hark! the herald angels sing'. Each year, the Choir’s Director of Music Stephen Cleobury commissions a new carol, several of which are included on the album, including carols by Einojuhani Rautavaara, Gabriel Jackson, Brett Dean, Mark-Anthony Turnage, Dominic Muldowney and Tansy Davies. In addition, John Rutter was commissioned to write the new carol 'All bells in paradise' especially for this album.

“The best choir of its kind in Britain? Very possibly…” (Michael White)

For their second release on Orchid Classics, Ex Cathedra present a brand new recording of Christmas repertoire based upon their highly successful “Christmas by Candlelight” Concert series.

Christmas has always been a special time for Ex Cathedra and their roots are firmly established in the wonderful repertoire associated with this joyful time of year. This is the first recording which features both the Choir, Consort, and their Academy of Vocal Music.

Featuring compositions and/or arrangements by Alec Roth, Benjamin Britten, John Gardner, John Joubert, Harold Darke, Naji hakim, Kenneth Leighton, Tomas Pascual, Felix Mendelssohn, Giovanni Gabrielli, Franz Xavier Gruber, Martin Bates, David Willcocks and Jeffrey Skidmore. The booklet contains full texts.

From its home in Birmingham, Ex Cathedra has established an international reputation as a leading UK choir and Early Music ensemble. Under founder and Artistic Director Jeffrey Skidmore, Ex Cathedra is known for its vibrant performances and a passion for seeking out not only the best but the unfamiliar and the unexpected in the choral repertoire. Ex Cathedra celebrate their 40th Anniversary in 2009 and this will be highlighted in articles about them and interviews with Jeffrey Skidmore, in the music press

The latest release in Regent’s popular ‘Christmas from …’ series features the Choir of Bath Abbey, directed by Peter King.

A wonderful collection of Christmas music from quiet lullabies to full-voiced rejoicing, captured in the stunning acoustic of this beautiful and historic building.

Many of the carols featured on this recording are original compositions, or new arrangements, from the recent ‘Carols for Choirs’ Vol 5 collection, and are receiving their first recording on this disc.

Northern Sinfonia, conducted by Simon Halsey and joined by the amassed Newcastle-based choirs Northern Sinfonia Chorus and youth choir Quay Voices, ring in the holiday season with ‘Rejoice! Christmas at The Sage Gateshead’, a festive live recording featuring traditional carols, popular tunes and modern favourites.

Ring in the season with ‘Rejoice! Christmas at The Sage Gateshead’, with resident orchestra Northern Sinfonia conducted by Simon Halsey and joined by the amassed Newcastle-based choirs Northern Sinfonia Chorus and youth choir Quay Voices. This festive live recording features something for everyone – traditional carols such as The First Nowell, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing and O Come All Ye Faithful, popular tunes including Sleigh Ride and Jingle Bells, and modern favourites such as Howard Goodall’s The Lord is my Shepherd – making it the perfect stocking filler for far-flung family and friends.