This recording is the valedictory work of conductor
John Scott
, who died suddenly just after it was made. It's an excellent American reproduction of the English cathedral style, with nearly flawless vocal work by the
Saint Thomas Choir of Men & Boys
, Fifth Avenue, New York. The two centerpieces are
Benjamin Britten
's
A Ceremony of Carols, Op. 28
, given a delightfully rich, limpid performance, and the title piece by
John Rutter
, composed back in 1973 for high voices and harp, and intended as a companion piece to the
Britten
. The work offers artless settings of traditional melodies, and even those who avoid
Rutter
will find it hard to resist these sparkling, perfectly simple settings in which sentimentality is absent. Sample the treatment of the "Coventry Carol" from
Part 2
(track 23). The program is rounded out by short pieces that beautifully exploit the choir's large treble section, which does not flag. The engineering team of the British label
Resonus
clearly took the time to understand the Saint Thomas Church space, and they and the entire
team have been rewarded with strong sales not only in the U.S., but in Britain, where buyers have a large array of choices in these Christmas standards. Recommended. ~ James Manheim