Arman,Howard Christmas Surprises CD

Christmas is celebrated in many places throughout the world. Though the customs and traditions may differ, heart-warming tunes and songs can be heard everywhere. Now Howard Arman, the new artistic director of the Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks since 2016, invites you to join him on an international Christmas journey in song with Christmas Surprises. This CD presents Christmas songs from all over the world in new arrangements that Arman himself has specially prepared for his Chorus and the M?nchner Rundfunkorchester, beginning with Franz Gruber's Silent Night and continuing via the South American Adorar al ni?o and the Swedish Jul, Jul, str?lande Jul to Giacomo Puccini's familiar lullaby Sogno d'Or. Framing the songs are two original pieces by the American composer Leroy Anderson. The CD opens with A Christmas Festival, his medley of favourite tunes which, in an unforgettable Hollywood sound, hints at and anticipates several of the carols to follow. With Anderson's Sleigh Ride the CD ends with a spin through a romantic winter landscape against a famous sonic backdrop of sleighbells. Nor could the CD possibly manage without White Christmas, the quintessential American Christmas song, sung here by the stellar American baritone Thomas Hampson!

1. A Christmas Festival 2. O Du Fr÷hliche 3. Les Anges Des Nos Campagnes 4. Resonet in Laudibus 5. On Christmas Night 6. O Tannenbaum 7. Noel Nouevelet 8. Jul, Jul 9. A Winter Ride 10. Adorar Al Nino 11. Sogno D'or 12. Stille Nacht 13. White Christmas 14. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town 15. Two Christmas Spirituals 16. Santa Claus Got Stuck in My Chimney 17. Sleigh Ride