Boston's Handel and Haydn Society is one of America's leading choral ensembles. Under the direction of recently appointed music director Grant Llewellyn, the Society has expanded its repertoire to encompass a broader range of music, including contemporary works. Their first recording for Avie, "Peace," was one of 2004's best-selling choral CD's appearing for a number of weeks on the Billboard Classical Chart. The Society's newest recording, "All is Bright," celebrates the music of the festive season, combining repertoire from the Baroque era and traditional carols with Christmas works by twentieth century composers including beautiful works by prominent American composers including Ned Rorem, Virgil Thompson, Charles Ives, Jennifer Higdon and Daniel Pinkham. The Beauty of the Society's singing, the uniqueness of the program and the audiophile quality sound give "All is Bright" the same elements that made "Peace" a best-seller with widespread appeal in 2004

Songlist: Hodie Christus Natus Est, There Is No Rose, In Dulci Jubilo, Lo How A Rose E' Er Blooming, The Three Kings, King Herod And The Cock, Make We Joy Now In This Fest, A Spotless Rose, Lux Aurumque, A Babe Is Born, Sir Christmas, Stille Nacht, O Magnum Mysterium, A Christmas Carol, Sweet Music, While All Things Were In Quiet Silence, Coventry Carol, O My Deir Hert, Deck The Hall, Hodie Christus Natus Est, What Cheer?, All this Time

Annual live performances of Handel's Messiah at St John's Smith Square with Polyphony and Stephen Layton have become one of the highlights of the musical season. The joyful sincerity and brilliance of the performers has brought this familiar story to vivid life again and again. Now this wonderful experience is available on disc, recorded in 2008 for a new release that will surely prove a strong competitor even in a crowded market. Polyphony is joined by the Britten Sinfonia and a quartet of magnificent young soloists - all variously acclaimed as the premier Handel singers of the new generation.

We hardly need to mention Robert Shaw's credentials as a group leader and director of the Fred Waring Glee Club, the RS Festival Singers, RS Chorale and RS Chamber Singers, his Grammys and ASCAPS and his 50-plus year legendary career in music. This is a digitally remastered reissue of a classic lp of one of some of the most beloved music of all time, the Great Choruses from Handel's Messiah. The piece is given to us in 17 parts, from "And the Glory of the Lord" and the famous "For Unto Us a Child Is Born" to "Their Sound Is Gone Out Into All Lands," "Hallelujah" and finishing with "Worthy Is The Lamb That Was Slain." Of course this CD is orchestrally accompanied, with harpsichord and organ, throughout. As with all the CDs associated with Robert Shaw that we carry in our catalog, "Great Choruses" is a powerful, wonderfully performed work of art!

Songlist: And the Glory of the Lord, And He Shall Purify, For Unto Us A Child Is Born, Glory to God, His Yoke Is Easy, Behold the Lamb of God, Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs, And with His Stripes We Are Healed, All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray, He Trusted in God, Lift Up Your Heads, Oh Ye Gates, Let All the Angels of God Worship Him, The Lord Gave the Word, Their Sound Is Gone Out Into All Lands, Let Us Break Their Bonds Asunder, Hallelujah, Since by Man Came Death, O Death, Where Is Thy Sting?, But Thanks Be to God, Worthy Is the Lamb That Was Slain

Brand new recording by one of the most celebrated ensembles in the world features distinguished soloists revered for their performances of Handel. "What a winning combination: Handel's Messiah, the most popular oratorio ever written, sung by The Sixteen, the most richly sonorous of early music choirs." -The Telegraph. "The Sixteen are on fine form in a repertory that sees them at their most confident." - Gramophone

Songlist: Messiah (complete oratorio), Arrival of the Queen of Sheba from Solomon, The Lord our enemy has slain from Esther, Nell dolce dell'obblio, Harp Concerto in B-flat, Op. 4, No. 6 from Alexander's Feast, Sinfonia to Act 2 of Ariodante, Scherza infida from Ariodante, Let the Bright Seraphim from Samson