One of the best tracks is number 8, American Songs (in special arrangements just for this concert):
"I Wonder as I Wander" by John Jacob Niles (from Appalachia) with Nancy Allen on the harp; and Five Traditional Songs: "Mary Had a Baby"; "Oh Mary, What You Gonna Name that Pretty Little Baby?"; "Who Was Mary? Mary Was Queen of Galilee"; "Sister Mary Had-a But One Child" and "Go Tell It on the Mountain"
These songs are unabashedly Christian, emphasizing Jesus as Savior and Lord and Mary as His Mother, and everyone on stage joins in this melodious sequence.
Other highlights are Michael Praetorius's "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming" sung acapella by von Stade, the Boychoir, and the Chorus, Max Reger's "Maria Wiegenlied" with von Stade, Battle, and the Orchestra, and Pietro A. Yon's "Gesu Bambino" with Battle, von Stade, the Boychoir, and Orchestra.
The last big number with the ensemble (arranged by Alexander Courage of Star Trek fame) presents French, Welsh, English, Traditional songs, including Adolphe Adam's "O Holy Night" and two settings of "Away in Manger"!
All of arrangements are classy and original, even if the *Sophie and Octavian insert part of the closing duet of Der Rosenkavalier into the "Twelve Days of Christmas"! There is another operatic number, the Evening Prayer from Humperdinck's **Hansel und Gretel. The Wynton Marsalis Septet and Andre Previn on the piano add some jazz to the soul and classical sounds of the concert.
There was also a DVD produced after this concert aired on PBS Great Performances and one can find excerpts on YouTube, but the CD sound is much better. It's a rich and elegant, spiritual and festive celebration of Christmas! The Metropolitan Opera also has the video available online for a fee.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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