trad.: Mary had a baby

15 years after EMI released Barbara Hendricks Sings Christmas, this album remains one of the bestsellers of the Swedish soprano, with more than 450,000 copies sold all over the world.

Barbara Hendricks is back this year presenting a completely new Christmas album focused on sacred music, Shout for Joy (the title of a famous Christmas Negro spiritual). With her we travel from Germany to England, from France to the United States, with a collection of famous carols showing that the Christmas tradition is universal. Either with a large baroque orchestra or accompanied by organ, string quartet, lyra or guitar and bass, we will find with happiness some of the most famous of the season’s songs as well as a beautiful selection of well-known Christmas spirituals. Full of colour, this wonderful selection of sacred carols, Shout for Joy, is a delightful musical companion which will be at your side for the whole of Christmastide.

“I always look forward to preparing for Christmas time with my family. I try to keep the emphasis on the blessing of being together and reflecting on the meaning of ‘peace on earth and goodwill toward all humankind’. For me, Christmas represents the birth of Christ, but also time to meet with the family and special moments to meditate on the main themes of the life of Christ, notably on tolerance and solidarity. This is why I want to sing Christmas, not only my Christmas, but also that of others, traditional Christmases from all over the world, letting the music create bridges between all human beings.” (Barbara Hendricks)