NEW ON NAXOS | NOVEMBER 2023
Venite, gaudete! Choral Music for Christmas David Dunnett, Organ IKON • David Hill
This glorious programme represents both the unique magic of Christmas carols, and the deeply rooted tradition of re-inventing their words and music for the times in which they are performed. From David Hill’s unashamedly lush, close-part harmonies enhancing Silent Night , to Eric Whitacre’s hallmark luminous vocal textures in Lux aurumque , this recording is a superb celebration of the moving atmosphere and festive nature of the Christmas season. Key Features: • This programme is drawn from an exciting collection of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany music for mixed voice choirs, edited by David Hill. This fine recording presents a varied selection of beautiful carols that capture the essence of the collection in stunning performances by the choir IKON . • Renowned for his fine musicianship, David Hill is widely respected as both a choral and orchestral conductor. He was chief conductor of the BBC Singers from September 2007 to September 2017 and is a former music director of Southern Sinfonia. As well as achieving prestigious GRAMMY and Gramophone Awards, many of his albums have been recommended as Critic’s Choices, with his ongoing series of English choral music for Naxos receiving particular acclaim.
8.574575 Release Date: 10 Nov 2023
Companion Titles – Other Christmas choral titles
8.574475
8.579065
Click to listen to PEACOCK, A.: Venite, gaudete!
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8.573030
8.573421
Nikolay RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844–1908) Christmas Eve Opera in four acts (1894–95) Libretto by the composer based on the short story The Night Before Christmas by Nikolay Gogol (1809–1852) Sung in Russian
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Julia Muzychenko, Soprano • Enkelejda Shkoza, Mezzo-soprano Andrei Popov, Tenor • Georgy Vasiliev, Tenor • Alexey Tikhomirov, Bass Chor der Oper Frankfurt • Frankfurter Opern- und Museumsorchester • Sebastian Weigle Rimsky-Korsakov’s Christmas Eve , based on a short story by Gogol, centres on the love of the blacksmith Vakula for the rich farmer’s daughter Oksana, who mockingly requires him to obtain for her the Tsarina’s shoes in order to win her hand in marriage. However, evil spirits are on the rampage imperilling their love – a witch on her broomstick gathers the stars and the devil steals the moon. Rimsky-Korsakov blends Christian and pagan elements, Ukrainian folk songs and carols, and atmospheric orchestral interludes in this vivacious and fantastical village romance. Key Features: • Released in perfect time for the Christmas season, this opera is considered by musical director Sebastian Weigle to be a ‘great gift’ in every regard. • This is the disc version of the audiovisual release on 2.110738 and NBD0154V: ‘ Sebastian Weigle leads the excellent Frankfurt orchestra and chorus in a spellbinding account of Rimsky-Korsakov’s score’, wrote MusicWeb International . It also won the German Record Critics Award for Quarterly Critics Choice and was a Musicweb International ‘Recommended’ release.
8.660543-44 Release Date: 10 Nov 2023
Companion Titles – Recommended Christmas titles
8.573332
8.573719
8.553650-51 8.574157
Click to listen to Act 1: Scene 2: At Chub’s house: Why do people say I’m pretty?
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