The Cathedral Singers, an independent ensemble of professional Chicago-area singers, who participate in a wide range of musical activity, from early music performance to jazz and musical theater. They bring this collective experience and superb musicianship to enrich the sound of the Singers. Widely experienced founder and director Richard Proulx leads them in this lovely 22-song Christmas collection. Beautifully-sung familiar carols like "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," "Away in a Manger," "Angels We Have Heard on High," "O Holy Night," "Fum, Fum, Fum," "O Come, All Ye Faithful," "What Child is This" and "The First Nowell" segue into the lesser-known German carol "O Dear Little Children," "Puer natus in Bethlehem," Lorelei McDermott's "Resonet in laudibus and The Virgin's Slumber Song," and Handel's "For Unto Us a Child is Born," from the Messiah. All accompanied, all wonderfully and joyously performed! Many treasures of church music celebrating the birth of Christ are sung with great beauty and eloquence. Director Richard Proulz does a masterful job and this recording is a great addition to your Christmas choral music collection. |
