Customer Reviews

Christmas Cracker from Classic FM - By: Mart Music, 08 Dec 2007

Considering Classic FM's skill at producing CDs for almost every occasion, it's no surprise to see this timely release of Christmas songs for the 2007 festivities.

The packaging is of the usual high quality expected of Classic FM, the 2 CDs arein a slim case & wrapped nicelyin a card sleeve with (a picture of) a festive red bow on the front which begs to be picked up & bought as a Christmas present. The selection of tracks is well chosen, giving a balanced mix of carols, traditional & modern music.

The carols are all good recordings of popular choices from the back catalogues of The Kings College Choir & the Choir of Westminster Abbey, traditionally sung, with organ accompaniment to some of them.

But it's the traditional & modern songs which set this 2CD apart from most others, for they are performed by such a wide variety of today's popular singers that it's almost impossible not to like something from the selection.

From Katherine Jenkins' beautiful `Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas' to Bryn Terfel's Bing Crosby-style `White Christmas' this is pure relaxing entertainment. The late great Pavarotti adds some opera style, while All Angels provide the contemporary festive spice.

Just one of the many highlights for me is Aled Jones' `Walking In The Air' which takes his original 1985 version and, by careful re-mixing, adds his adult voice over it to give a completely new 2006 version.

This latest Classic FM release, I think, is the best Christmas compilation of 2007.