All The Stars Looked Down

Felix Mendelssohn, arr. Sir David Willcocks Hark! the herald angels sing ; Sir Philip Ledger A spotless rose; Sir John Rutter, All bells in paradise; Five Meditations for Orchestra: I. What sweeter music & III. Candlelight. Dormi, Jesu; Nativity Carol; All the stars looked down; Sans Day Carol; Child in a manger; English traditional, arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams, orch. Daniel Hyde Sussex Carol; Adolphe Adam, arr. Sir John Rutter, O Holy Night; Sir Henry Walford Davies, orch. Sir Stephen Cleobury & Daniel Hyde O little town of Bethlehem; From Piae Cantiones, arr. Sir David Willcocks, Unto us is born a son Traditional, arr. Christopher Robinson, orch. Sir John Rutter Hereford Carol Traditional, arr. Sir John Rutter, Child in a manger; Franz Xaver Gruber, arr. Sir John Rutter, Silent night; English traditional, arr. David Hill Away in a manger; John Francis Wade, arr. Sir David Willcocks, O come, all ye faithful.

Choir of King’s College, Cambridge. Daniel Hyde
Britten Sinfonia
KGS0075 | 0822231707523
More information here

John Rutter and the Choir of King's College, Cambridge, go together like Christmas dinner with all its trimmings: warm, heartening, richly textured, traditional, and satisfying. This enchanting album celebrates Sir John Rutter's 80th birthday, featuring a selection of arrangements and original works for choir and orchestra under Daniel Hyde's direction. Recorded in the Chapel of King's College Cambridge, All the Stars Looked Down sees the choir perform with the Britten Sinfonia, combining beautiful orchestral arrangements of Christmas carols by Rutter alongside works by the great choral composers who have influenced him, including Sir Philip Ledger, Sir David Willcocks, and Ralph Vaughan Williams. The album dedicates its title track to the late Sir Stephen Cleobury, honouring his enormous contribution to the Christmas choral legacy.

Daniel Hyde writes, "The music on this album is chosen to reflect the extraordinary talents and the effortless musical modesty of John Rutter in this, his 80th birthday year." With that pedigree, what's there not to like? The choir is in magnificent form, balanced with a crystalline treble line and a back row that excels, whereas the soloists are outstanding. Hyde has assembled a wonderful programme that opens with brass fanfares from the Britten Sinfonia announcing Hark the Herald to Willcocks' arrangement. Hyde includes his orchestration of Vaughan Williams' arrangement of the Sussex Carol, sensitively and expressively sung. There is something for everyone here. Nothing is overdone; the ethereal and spiritual qualities of the carols add to the ambience, whilst Hyde's well-judged pacing ensures the chapel's acoustics enhance the overall effect.

The Britten Sinfonia's playing of two of Rutter's Five Meditations for Orchestra is enough to make you stop what you're doing, sit down and pour yourself a tipple: beautifully expressed across all departments, with woodwind and brass perfectly balanced with strings. Rutter's Sans Day Carol, Child in a Manger and the sumptuous Nativity Carol bring genuine Christmas warmth. It's enjoyable to hear Willcocks' arrangement of Unto Us is Born a Son, a terrific addition to any programme celebrating the season. The penultimate track features David Hill's attractive and exquisite arrangement of Away in a Manger, followed by Willcocks' fabulous arrangement of O Come, All Ye Faithful, which includes its famous descant and an unmatched final verse arrangement.

A poignant collection of carols that transports you to the magnificent chapel with its iconic organ case for a feast of music to celebrate the festive season. You can't go wrong with this album: it delivers whatever that perfect Christmas Day means to you.