trad.: Gabriel's Message ('The angel Gabriel from heaven came')

The Colours of Christmas is a collection of the greatest Christmas carols by the composer/conductor whose music has, for many, been so associated with Christmas. Featuring the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and The Bach Choir, with guest artists Over the Bridge and conducted by Rutter himself.

The Colours of Christmas (track 2 from the album) is a newly composed carol by Rutter for this new album, and is testament to the very best of Rutter’s music. Newly orchestrated for this album are the carols Ding Dong Merrily On High and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. All recordings on this album are brand new.

First time complete on CD.

Newly remastered at Abbey Road Studios

This set presents for the first time complete on CD the 28 carols with orchestra that John Rutter recorded for EMI in 1966 and 1968

The glorious acoustic of the Lady Chapel of Ely Cathedral and the astounding verve and professionalism of Rutter’s young singers and players come up afresh in this new Abbey Road remastering

This was the beginning of Rutter’s worldwide fame as Christmas arranger, composer and conductor of choice, and in an affectionate and amusing new booklet note, he recalls his first two recordings and the icy perils of winter recordings in the Fens

Volume I of Traditional Christmas Carols broke iTunes’ record for the most downloads of a classical album and remains one of The Sixteen’s most popular discs. This brand new recording contains more festive delights.

There is such an abundance of festive music available to us that sometimes one wishes Christmas did not come but once a year! The Sixteen’s first volume of traditional Christmas carols contains some of our most favourite pieces but there is so much more wonderful festive music that deserves to be better known. So we decided to make a second volume. On this disc you will discover familiar seasonal favourites such as ‘Unto us a boy is born’ and ‘It came upon the midnight clear’ but we have also included some less well-know gems like ‘Cherry Tree Carol’ and ‘Gloucestershire Wassail’.

Heavenly voices raised in honour of the Christmas season. Inspirational choral music for Christmas from one of England's finest choirs in a programme chosen from some of the greatest church music of the past. This diverse programme brings together many musical styles and traditions, from the clarity and precision of medieval carols to the emotional intensity of choral music for the Russian Orthodox church. The music varies from quiet, still pieces to huge, exciting crescendos of sound.

“Trebles in Paradise”

And vocal paradise is just where the sublime singing of Etherea Vocal Ensemble will take their listeners with their new holiday album, Ceremony of Carols. Etherea, founded in 2008, is a unique group consisting of seven distinguished women’s voices plus the alto-range singing of founder/director Derek Greten-Harrison – who happens to be a vocal switch-hitter, performing as both a countertenor and a baritone! Together, they achieve music of rare technical craftsmanship, vocal precision and exquisite nuance – plus stunning purity and sweetness of sound. Add the scintillating harp wizardry of Grace Cloutier and subtle organ support from Alan Murchie. The end result is a sure-fire collection of seasonal classics that listeners won’t want to put away even after their family Christmas trees are taken down.

Framing a central cluster of individual holiday favorites are two beloved carol cycles with harp: Benjamin Britten’s evergreen A Ceremony of Carols and John Rutter’s Dancing Day – both heard here in definitive and enchanting performances. And we guarantee that nobody (except perhaps for those who have experienced Etherea in concert) has ever heard a performance of “Good King Wenceslas” (one of the central songs) like the one heard here, in which director Greten-Harrison sings both as a choral alto and solo baritone!

Etherea’s Debut Album.