A Christmas Nativity

Read About This Recording

The Nativity, the enchanting and enduring story that tells of the birth of Jesus Christ, is perhaps the best-known tale in the history of the world. Here is an album that tells that story in song, with a track list specially designed to reenact the blessed event — from the wandering of Joseph and Mary into Bethlehem, the visitation of the angel and the message of the newborn King to the blessed birth of baby Jesus and finally the visitation of the three kings from the East, using a star as their guide. It is story that is timeless and a story that has inspired devotion, goodwill and peace on Earth.

The album opens up with the choral group Musica Sacra singing "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and then "I Wonder as I Wander." Other songs follow including "Do You Hear What I Hear," sung by boy treble Anthony Way, and "O Holy Night" with Luciano Pavarotti. The track list continues with "Gesù Bambino," "What Child is This?" and "Child in a Manger," a song arranged by John Rutter and based on the familiar tune "Morning Has Broken."

The Trapp Family Singers, of The Sound of Music fame, completes the scene the French carol "Il Est Né Le Divin Enfant." The Magi enter with "I Saw Three Ships," "We Three Kings of Orient Are" and a rousing version of "Little Drummer Boy," sung by Kiri Te Kanawa, marking their arrival. Another Rutter work, the contemporary "Shepherds Pipe Carol," Bryn Terfel singing "Mary's Boy Child" and "The First Nöel" announce the event. Finally the celebratory "For Unto Us a Child is Born" and "Joy To The World," with Joan Sutherland, bring the album to a close.

This is a wonderful and unique Christmas concept album like no other. The album's booklet includes the story of the Nativity as well as a short history of Nativity Scenes — with the first, it is noted, created by St. Francis of Assisi, as well as photos of a historic crèche scene from the 1920s. The album is a joy, chock full of great holiday songs and carols and features a host of world-class artists that also include Leontyne Price, José Carerras, Renata Tebaldi as well as the Clare College Choir, John Alldis Choir, The Bach Choir and King's College Choir.

—Terrence London

Extended Article

The Nativity, the enchanting and enduring story that tells the birth of Jesus Christ, is perhaps the best known tale in the history of the world. Here is an album that tells the story in song, with a track list specially designed to reenact the blessed event - from the wandering of Joseph and Mary into Bethlehem, the visitation of the Magi and the blessed birth of the baby Jesus. A story which is timeless. A story which has inspired devotion, goodwill and peace on Earth.

Contents

O Little Town of Bethlehem; I Wonder As I Wander; It Came Upon a Midnight Clear; Do You Hear What I Hear; O Holy Night; The Nativity; Away in a Manger; Gesù Bambino; Il est né le Divin Enfant; What Child is This; Sweet Little Jesus Boy; Child in a Manger; I Saw Three Ships; We Three Kings of Orient Are; Shepherd's Pipe Carol; The Little Drummer Boy; The First Noel; Coventry Carol; Mary's Boy Child; Es ist ein Ros' Entsprungen; For Unto Us a Child is Born; Joy to the World.

Leontyne Price, John Sutherland, Renata Tebaldi, Kiri Te Kanawa, Sopranos; Anthony Way, Treble; Luciano Pavarotti, José Carreras, Tenors; Bryn Terfel, Bass-Baritone; George Thalben-Ball, John Scott, Organs; Malcolm Martineau, Piano; Musica Sacra; St. Paul's Cathedral Choir; The Ambrosian Singers; Coral Salvé de laredo Sociedad Coral de Bilboa; Trapp Family Singers; Clare College Choir, Cambridge; The John Alldis Choir; The Bach Choir; London Voices; The Choir of King's College, Cambridge; The English Concert Choir; English Chamber Orchestra; Vienna Philharmonic; New Philharmonia Orchestra; The National Philharmonic Orchestra; Clare College Orchestra, Cambridge; London Symphony Orchestra; Philharmonia Orchestra; The English Concert; Herbert von Karajan, Richard Westenburg, John Scott, Richard Bonynge, Damian Sanchez, Kurt Herbert Adler, John Rutter, Sir Colin Davis, Sir David Willcocks, Carl Davis, Trevor Pinnock, Conductors.