Lynne Warfel’s Holiday Album Picks

Classical MPR's hosts were asked to list their top five holiday albums. Here are Lynn Warfel's choices:

• 
  Bryn Terfel: Carols and Christmas Songs

  A beautiful showcase for one of the great baritone voices of out time. It includes all the big favorites: O Come All Ye Faithful, Wexford Carol, and a duet with Bing Crosby on White Christmas. A two CD set, the OTHER included CD is breathtaking, Carols in Welsh. It’s every bit as good as hearing Richard Burton read Dylan Thomas for the first time. (Deutsche Gramophon 14914)

• 
  The Cherry Tree: Songs, Carols and Ballads for Christmas with Anonymous 4

  The ice-castle sound of Anonymous 4 is will suited for this collection of medieval carols and Anglo-American spirituals all inspired by the “miracle” carol from the 15th century, “The Cherry Tree”. (Harmonia Mundi 807453)

• 
  “The Holly and The Ivy” Choir of Clare College led by John Rutter

  I first heard “Christmas for Clare” (I think it’s unavailable anymore) and fell in love with the pre-Cambridge Signers era with Rutter leading the choir at Clare. Traditional Anglican carols sung in a lovely historic Cambridge chapel. We often forget Clare and it’s mixed choir has a longer history than King’s College! (London 425500)

• 
  Cincinnati Sinfonietta and Keith Lockhart, “Mel Tormé: Christmas Songs”

  Recorded in 1992, it’s 20 of the best loved jazz standards including Mel’s own composition “The Christmas Song” (Funny THAT title wasn’t taken when he came to write it). Lovely arrangements and “The Velvet Fog” makes you want to throw another log on the fire. On Telarc.