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Backed by lush orchestration and a choir of quite formal carolers, Michael Crawford's A Christmas Album plays as an elegant concert rather than a random collection of seasonal ditties. An entertainment embracing the good news of Christ's birth, A Christmas Album is thankfully not something we'll hear booming all over town as we shop till we drop. Instead, this is precisely the type of recording one might enjoy at home with family while making an advent wreath or preparing holiday goodies to be shared with loved ones. Crawford's rich theatricality and classical arrangements invoke a joyful sense of spirit in readiness for the Holy babe who came to light the world. There is comfort here. Following ritual and tradition in this timeless mode of celebration, one is both warmed and delivered by the heralding tones of Crawford and his army of singing angels. --Paige La Grone
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Reviews:
too much background "noise"
I just wanted Michael Crawford singing Christmas carols not all the background music and backup singers. too much of a production (formal) for my taste.I love Michael Crawford but I didn't like this CD and I won't play it again.
Fantastic!
This is a fantastic Christmas CD! If you like regular, traditional Christmas music, you might not know what to make of it at first. However, listen to it several times. There are several medleys on here; a few of them are a bit different, but hauntingly beautiful. Michael Crawford has a beautiful voice, and his range is incredible. My husband heard one of the songs ("The Very Best Time of the Year") and immediately knew I would enjoy it. I absolutely love this CD! My favorites are "A Journey to Bethlehem", "O Holy Night", "Candlelight Carol" and "A Strange Way to Save the World"....but I love listening to them all. Enjoy!
Britain's Eternal Choir Boy in His Element
In this 1999 release, dedicated to his grandchildren, Michael Crawford, well-established as an international star, reveals both the wisdom of age while still retaining a certain childlike wonder. His tone can be powerful and vibrant(which, of course, is how he landed his signature role of "The Phantom of the Opera"), or light and ethereal, still revealing the tones that attracted the attention of British composer, Benjamin Britten when Michael was young. Britten even rewrote some of the score of his opera, "Noye's Fludde" to accomodate Michael's range. He correctly guessed a young singer's potential!
Here, Britten's protege regales us first with a gently sung rendering of a combination of "The Very best Time of the Year"/"The Most Wonderful Time of the Year", followed by "Peace, Peace,"/"Silent Night", accompanied by young Kelly Stewart, followed by "Mary Did You Know?" and "A Strange Way to Save the World" ( a duet with Twila Paris) and then we are taken on "A Journey to Bethlehem"--a medley featuring, "In Dulce Jubilo", "Unto us a Child is Born", "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night", "O Little Town of Bethlehem", "Good Christian Men, Rejoice", "Silent Night", "Once in Royal David's City", "The Coventry Carol", "We Three Kings", "I Saw Three Ships", "O Come to Bethlehem", "The First Noel", "Away in a Manger", "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing", and "O Come All Ye Faithful", blended and segmented with an assortment of choirs, and soloists, Kelly Stewart, Ashley Melling, Patricia Cullum, and Evan Broden, in just under eight minutes.
It appears our celebrated choir boy is presenting us with elegantly laid out audio bites of the carols that meant the most to him in his youth.
"O Holy Night" is a reverent re-release from David Foster's 1993 Christmas album. It is followed by "Scarlet Ribbons", which is sung with the loving reminiscence of the father of girls.
"The Candlelight Carol" is an affectionate lullaby, much more delightful than Neil Diamond's rugged version. The combined rendering of "Angels We Have heard on High" and "Joy to the World" bursts with a glorious, powerful, and infectious optimism.
The auditory journey gently comes to an end with "All Is Well", and even if this isn't so in our lives, the voice of the youthful looking rogue with fully displayed Celtic impishness in his demeanor somehow reassures us that it will be.
Little disappointed but still great Crawford album
I love Michael Crawford so I figured this was an easier winner with me. His beautiful voice is certainly as eloquent as ever on this album. I guess I was expecting more variety in terms of some being traditional slow Christmas songs and others being fun, upbeat songs. In retrospect, I obviously didn't think about that too much before ordering. If you want slow, provoking songs and love Crawford, you will probably like this album. If you want sing a longs, look elsewhere (course that should be obvious!)
Wow, what a shocker!
Boy how could an album that possess what I feel is the world's best version ever recorded of "O Holy Night" not do anything for me after that? It sounds as if Michael held back on all the other songs. Maybe my hopes were too high, my suggestion, down load the single and save the money to purchase the Phantom of the Opera, a 10++.
