This CD is reissued by ArkivMusic.
Notes and Editorial Reviews
Leontyne Price is in fantastic voice in this 1961 recording, and the stunning arrangements and leadership of no less than Herbert von Karajan attest to her (then) newly-arrived place in the operatic firmament. "O Tannenbaum" is delicate and unfussy, "O holy night" rings out with fervor (and every grace note is clearly articulated), the Bach/Gounod "Ave Maria" takes Price up to an easy high B-natural, and the "Alleluja" from Mozart's Exsultate jubilate features somewhat smudged runs but is capped with a high-C that spells superstardom. "We three kings" is meltingly sung as if in one breath and ends with a gorgeous, soft, high sequence. Throughout, Price's diction is impeccable and the choral
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interjections are tasteful. The sonics are ideal. This exquisite, unmannered collection, filled with intelligent arrangements and guided by the able hand of legendary producer John Culshaw, will please everyone.
--Robert Levine, ClassicsToday [11/4/2004] Reviewing Decca 4756152
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Works on This Recording
1.
Silent Night by Franz Xaver Gruber
Performer:
Leontyne Price (Soprano)
Conductor:
Herbert von Karajan
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra,
Vienna Singverein
Period: Classical
Written: 1818; Austria
Date of Recording: 06/1961
Venue: Sofiensaal, Vienna, Austria
Length: 3 Minutes 40 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: Arranged: Meyer
2.
Festgesang "Hark! The herald angels sing" by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Leontyne Price (Soprano)
Conductor:
Herbert von Karajan
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra,
Vienna Singverein
Period: Romantic
Written: 1840; Germany
Date of Recording: 06/1961
Venue: Sofiensaal, Vienna, Austria
Length: 2 Minutes 30 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: Arranged: Meyer
3.
We three kings by John Henry Hopkins Jr.
Performer:
Leontyne Price (Soprano)
Conductor:
Herbert von Karajan
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra,
Vienna Singverein
Period: 20th Century
Written: England
Date of Recording: 06/1961
Venue: Sofiensaal, Vienna, Austria
Length: 2 Minutes 58 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: Arranged: Meyer
4.
O Tannenbaum by Traditional
Performer:
Leontyne Price (Soprano)
Conductor:
Herbert von Karajan
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Written: Westphalia, Germany
Date of Recording: 06/1961
Venue: Sofiensaal, Vienna, Austria
Length: 1 Minutes 51 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: Arranged: Meyer
5.
Angels we have heard on high by Traditional
Performer:
Leontyne Price (Soprano)
Conductor:
Herbert von Karajan
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra,
Vienna Singverein
Written: France
Date of Recording: 06/1961
Venue: Sofiensaal, Vienna, Austria
Length: 1 Minutes 29 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: Arranged: Meyer
6.
God rest ye merry, gentlemen by Traditional
Performer:
Leontyne Price (Soprano)
Conductor:
Herbert von Karajan
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Written: England
Date of Recording: 06/1961
Venue: Sofiensaal, Vienna, Austria
Length: 2 Minutes 27 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: Arranged: Meyer
7.
It came upon the midnight clear by Richard Storrs Willis
Performer:
Leontyne Price (Soprano)
Conductor:
Herbert von Karajan
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra,
Vienna Singverein
Period: Romantic
Date of Recording: 06/1961
Venue: Sofiensaal, Vienna, Austria
Length: 1 Minutes 49 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: Arranged: Meyer
8.
Vom Himmel hoch, da komm' ich her by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:
Leontyne Price (Soprano)
Conductor:
Herbert von Karajan
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra,
Vienna Singverein
Period: Baroque
Written: Germany
Date of Recording: 06/1961
Venue: Sofiensaal, Vienna, Austria
Length: 4 Minutes 1 Secs.
Language: German
Notes: Arranged: Meyer
9.
Sweet little Jesus boy by Traditional
Performer:
Leontyne Price (Soprano)
Conductor:
Herbert von Karajan
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Written: USA
Date of Recording: 06/1961
Venue: Sofiensaal, Vienna, Austria
Length: 3 Minutes 3 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: Arranged: MacGimsey
10.
Ellens Gesang III, D 839/Op. 52 no 6 "Ave Maria" by Franz Schubert
Performer:
Leontyne Price (Soprano)
Conductor:
Herbert von Karajan
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra,
Vienna Singverein
Period: Romantic
Written: 1825; Vienna, Austria
Date of Recording: 06/1961
Venue: Sofiensaal, Vienna, Austria
Length: 5 Minutes 23 Secs.
Language: German
Notes: Arranged: Sabatini
11.
Minuit, Chrétiens "O holy night" by Adolphe Adam
Performer:
Leontyne Price (Soprano)
Conductor:
Herbert von Karajan
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: France
Date of Recording: 06/1961
Venue: Sofiensaal, Vienna, Austria
Length: 4 Minutes 25 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: Arranged: Totzauer
12.
Exsultate jubilate, K 165 (158a): Alleluia by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer:
Leontyne Price (Soprano)
Conductor:
Herbert von Karajan
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra,
Vienna Singverein
Period: Classical
Written: 1773; Milan, Italy
Date of Recording: 06/1961
Venue: Sofiensaal, Vienna, Austria
Length: 3 Minutes 2 Secs.
Language: Latin
13.
Ave Maria by Charles Gounod
Performer:
Leontyne Price (Soprano)
Conductor:
Herbert von Karajan
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra,
Vienna Singverein
Period: Romantic
Written: 1859; France
Date of Recording: 06/1961
Venue: Sofiensaal, Vienna, Austria
Length: 2 Minutes 38 Secs.
Language: German
Notes: Arranged: Sabatini
This work is based on J.S. Bach's Prelude no 1 in C from 'The Well-Tempered Clavier.'
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review: 
( 1 Customer Review )
One of the Best Christmas Albums Ever! December 12, 2011
By L. Lyons (San Rafael, CA) See All My Reviews
"This is a perennial favorite. While many other opera singers try to popularize their Christmas albums for middle-of-the-road tastes, Miss Price gives a perfect and quite glorious reading of her selections. This one ranks "up there" with Pavarotti's Christmas Album in terms of solemnity, triumphant glory, and even sweetness. You will not be disappointed. I have worn out several of these discs and continue to enchant our guests with fresh copies each Christmas."
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