The best Christmas classical music recordings of 2019

13 December 2019, 18:22

Our definitive list of the very best new Christmas music released this year – ideal for last-minute Christmas shopping.

My selection of the best new classical and orchestral Christmas releases covers the full range of new albums out there – from great choral pieces like Bach’s Christmas Oratorio; favourite carols from celebrated choirs like King’s College, Cambridge; entertainment indelibly linked to Christmas, like The Nutcracker; and a couple of albums of Christmas music scaled down for home listening.

And then of course, there’s Old Bing...

Read more: 10 of the best classical music stocking fillers >

1. Bing At Christmas

Decca has re-issued Bing Crosby’s original vocals with brand new backings from the London Symphony Orchestra.

‘A White Christmas’ has never seemed more enticing.

Bing Crosby & London Symphony Orchestra (Decca)
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2. Bach: Christmas Oratorio

Bach’s Christmas Oratorio is actually six cantatas, composed to be performed over the entire Christmas festival.

It was written for the Thomaskirche in Leipzig in 1734.

Charming idea then for Accentus to get today’s Thomaskirche Choir, under their veteran music Director Gotthold Schwarz to offer a low key but eloquent performance, just as you might hear on a visit to Leipzig.

Thomaskirche Choir, Gotthold Schwartz (Accentus)
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3. Schütz: Christmas Story & Other Works

Those who get fed up with carols, but enjoy outstanding religious music, should also explore a fine new issue of the music of the Dresden based Heinrich Schütz, who was Germany’s preeminent 17th century composer.

The Yale Schola Cantorum under our own David Hill sound really well in this generous 71-minute issue.

Yale Schola Cantorum, David Hill (Hyperion)
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4. A Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols: The Centenary Service

Turning to carol collections, last year’s centenary service at King’s, under the late Stephen Cleobury, sounds wonderful in a specially commissioned recording, not, as previously, the one the BBC transmit on Christmas Eve. The sound is so much better than it has ever been before.

The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, Stephen Cleobury (King’s College, Cambridge)
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5. O Holy Night

Those who want their carols straight (without the readings and prayers), would be better off getting O Holy Night, which features the London Choral Sinfonia under Michael Waldron.

London Choral Sinfonia – Michael Waldron (Orchid)
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6. Christmas at St George’s Windsor

Another wonderful selection of carols this year came from Christmas at St George’s Windsor, which helpfully separates the pieces into Advent, Christmas and Epiphany music.

Choir of St George’s Windsor, James Vivian (Hyperion)
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7. The Nutcracker narrated by Sir Derek Jacobi

Moving on to secular things indelibly associated with Christmas, The Nutcracker ballet is a great Christmas favourite, not least because the action takes place on Christmas Eve. Naxos offer the Brass Septet Septura playing an arrangement of the entire ballet, with the story charmingly told by Sir Derek Jacobi. Lovely jubbly, offering fun for all the family.

Septura, Sir Derek Jacobi (Naxos)
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8. Gesualdo Six’s ‘Christmas’

Finally, for Christmas entertainment on a domestic scale, the Gesualdo Six’s offering simply called Christmas, on Hyperion is a delight, and at 74 minutes excellent value.

Gesualdo Six (Hyperion)
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9. The Secret Life of Carols: 800 Years of Christmas Music

And, for me, the absolute favourite is the crowd-funded album The Secret Life of Carols; 800 Years of Christmas Music from The Telling, a female quartet with two singers – Clare Norburn and Ariane Prüssner – and two harpists, Jean Kelly and Kaisa Pulkkinen. It’s an unexpected delight from beginning to end, and really strongly recommended.

The Telling (First Hand)
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10. Christmas Portraits

So good is the choice this year, I’ve a bonus for you; Rick Wakeman’s Christmas Portraits. It’s an enjoyable set of reflections on great carols, with Wakeman at the piano meandering through the tunes, as if entertaining you personally at home. Ideal listening, with a Christmas drink in hand.

Rick Wakeman (Sony)
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With that, all that’s left to say is – cheers! And Merry Christmas.