The 32 best Christmas carols of all time<\/a><\/strong><\/li>

The best Christmas classical music albums and recordings<\/a><\/strong><\/li>

10 unforgettable Christmas adverts with the best music<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>
Best Christmas classical music<\/h2>
Praetorius\u2019s Lutheran Mass<\/h3>
<\/div><\/figure><p>Memories as deep as any stir when I reach for conductor Paul McCreesh\u2019s reconstruction of Praetorius\u2019s Lutheran Mass for Christmas Morning, \u2018as it might have been celebrated around 1620\u2019. <\/p><p>Holding the album is sufficient to conjure images of a winter visit made long ago to Roskilde Cathedral, where it was recorded in the early 1990s. And the sound of a solo voice emerging from silence to sing Martin Luther\u2019s processional hymn <i>Christum wir sollen loben schon<\/i> is all it takes to rekindle childhood feelings of the wonder of Christmas.<\/p><p> The recording\u2019s epic scale, with Praetorius\u2019s music for antiphonal voices and instruments, preludes played on an organ originally built in the early 1550s and the overwhelming conviction of its congregational singing, dovetails with the music\u2019s liturgical setting to create a uniquely sublime union of public celebration and personal reflection.<\/p><p><em>Andrew Stewart<\/em><\/p><div class=\"is-layout-flow is-layout-flow wp-block-group highlight-box\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\"><ul><li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Praetorius-Lutheran-Christmas-Gabrieli-McCreesh\/dp\/B0000057EH\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Buy from Amazon<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><h3 id=\"h-tchaikovsky-s-the-nutcracker\">Tchaikovsky\u2019s The Nutcracker<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><iframe title=\"Simon Rattle and the Berliner Philharmoniker record Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/SQPey60lcBM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/><\/div><\/figure><p>Giant Christmas trees, gingerbread soldiers, dancing snowflakes, reindeer-drawn sleighs, a fairy-tale prince and a <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/artists\/dancing-sugar-plum-fairy\/\">sugar-plum fairy<\/a><\/strong>: what more could you want? <\/p><p>Even if all the endless preparations have induced a Scrooge-like mood by 24 December, Tchaikovsky\u2019s <em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/a-guide-to-tchaikovskys-the-nutcracker\/\">The Nutcracker<\/a><\/strong><\/em> is tailor-made to chase away cold-hearted cynicism and reinvigorate that festive spark. I return to this ballet like an eager child every year \u2013 perhaps because it\u2019s a piece that was a soundtrack to my own childhood.<\/p><ul><li><strong><a class=\"standard-card-new__article-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/nine-unexpected-uses-tchaikovskys-nutcracker\/\">Nine unexpected uses of Tchaikovsky’s ‘The Nutcracker’<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>And while I also love Christmas music that creates a space for stillness, or contemporary carols that offer a fresh twist, the delight, magic and inventiveness of <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/composers\/pyotr-ilyich-tchaikovsky\/\">Tchaikovsky<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s score is an ideal pick-me-up. This year, I\u2019ll be indulging with the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/artists\/berlin-philharmonics-past-chief-conductors\/\">Berlin Philharmonic<\/a><\/strong> and Simon Rattle\u2019s sumptuous recording.<\/p><p>We named <em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/a-guide-to-tchaikovskys-the-nutcracker\/\">The Nutcracker<\/a><\/strong><\/em> one of the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/best-christmas-ballets\/\">best Christmas ballets<\/a><\/strong><\/p><p><em>Rebecca Franks<\/em><\/p><div class=\"is-layout-flow is-layout-flow wp-block-group highlight-box\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\"><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Simon-Rattle-Berlin-Philharmonic-Orchestra\/dp\/B018RA91G8\/ref=sr_1_1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Buy from Amazon<\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><h3 id=\"h-howard-blake-s-the-snowman\">Howard Blake\u2019s <em><strong>The Snowman<\/strong><\/em><\/h3><p>While not immune to the charms of Tchaikovsky\u2019s <i>Nutcracker<\/i> or the quirks of Iain Bell\u2019s 2014 operatic version of <i>A Christmas Carol<\/i>, for me the festivities begin with the flurrying melodies of <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/tv-and-film-music\/the-snowman-music\/\">The Snowman<\/a><\/strong>, Howard Blake\u2019s score to the 1982 animation.<\/p><ul><li><strong><a class=\"standard-card-new__article-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/news\/the-snowman-gets-a-40th-birthday-tribute\/\">‘The Snowman’ gets a 40th birthday tribute<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>From the first broken chords and arching theme through to the exquisite scene painting \u2013 the lumbering bassoon motif as the boy takes steps into the deep snow; the scurrying motorbike tune \u2013 and the glorious \u2018Walking in the Air\u2019 vocal solo by Peter Auty (and not Aled Jones, as is often thought \u2013 a seasonal snippet for those Christmas quizzes), it\u2019s an annual treat that never disappoints. <\/p><p>Having been left cold by some of the stagings, I instead heartily recommend the now-widespread concert accompaniments to the film.<\/p><p><em>Claire Jackson<\/em><\/p><h3 id=\"h-leonard-bernstein-s-christmas-carols\">Leonard Bernstein’s Christmas carols<\/h3><p>My father revered Leonard Bernstein, so in 1963 when Lenny conducted a whole LP of Christmas carols the album was immediately purchased and played <i>fortissimo<\/i> at 8am on Christmas Day in the Morrison household. <\/p><p>My dad said it would \u2018get us in the mood\u2019. Not sure my mother agreed. They divorced soon after. Despite that, I still love The Joy of Christmas. First for its total flamboyance, and secondly because it\u2019s such an unlikely partnership. <\/p><p>On one side, Bernstein, the ultimate hedonist and Jewish to boot. On the other, the abstemious and deeply pious latter-day saints of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. And in the middle, the New York Philharmonic \u2013 bells, brass and gongs to the fore \u2013 belting out <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/o-come-all-ye-faithful-lyrics\/\"><i>O Come all ye Faithful<\/i><\/a><\/strong> as if it was the end of Mahler\u2019s Eighth, only less restrained.<\/p><p><em>Richard Morrison<\/em><\/p><h3 id=\"h-bach-s-christmas-oratorio\">Bach\u2019s <i>Christmas Oratorio<\/i><\/h3><p>Being married to a German ex-chorister, my Christmas music is less <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/recordings\/best-recordings-handel-s-messiah\/\"><i>Messiah<\/i><\/a><\/strong> than <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/recordings\/js-bachs-christmas-oratorio\/\">Bach\u2019s glorious <\/a><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/recordings\/js-bachs-christmas-oratorio\/\"><strong>Weihnachts-Oratorium<\/strong><\/a><strong> (<i>Christmas Oratorio<\/i>)<\/strong>. And I’d choose the 1965 recording with the Munich Bach Choir and Orchestra conducted by Karl Richter. <\/p><p>The soloists are outstanding, especially mezzo Christa Ludwig and tenor Fritz Wunderlich who, as the Evangelist, brings spellbinding storytelling to each word. From the exuberant opening trumpets and drums, the familiar story unfolds through recitatives, arias and singalong chorales, ending with the <em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/we-three-kings-lyrics\/\">Three Kings<\/a><\/strong><\/em>. Richter\u2019s \u2018weighty\u2019 approach is hardly fashionable \u2013 the recording is nearly three hours long \u2013 but is satisfyingly hefty. I ration the six parts over Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. Each is long enough for a generous slice of homemade Christmas cake and glass of Gl\u00fchwein.<\/p><p><em>Natasha Loges<\/em><\/p><div class=\"is-layout-flow is-layout-flow wp-block-group highlight-box\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\"><p><strong>Buy from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whsmith.co.uk\/products\/bach-weihnachtsoratorium\/0028942723627.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">WH Smith<\/a><\/strong><\/p><h2 id=\"h-more-best-christmas-classical-music\">More best Christmas classical music<\/h2><\/div><\/div><h3 id=\"h-rutter-s-star-carol\">Rutter\u2019s <i>Star Carol<\/i><\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><iframe title=\"Star Carol - John Rutter, The Cambridge Singers, City of London Sinfonia\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9gxoGGTicNI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/><\/div><\/figure><p>There is no greater communal Christmas joyfulness than John Rutter\u2019s <i>Star Carol<\/i>. It\u2019s the month-long soundtrack of Advent, tree-decoration and present-unwrapping in the season of John Rutter-mas for our family, the sonic consecration of the season.<\/p><p>Rutter\u2019s own words are gilded with music of irresistible immediacy: the excitable sharing of the lines between male and female voices in the verses, the soaring octaves of the chorus, the rhythmic give-and-take of a hemiola or two, and the luminous dazzle of the orchestration. <\/p><p>And it\u2019s all glitteringly revealed by the Cambridge Singers and City of London Sinfonia on The John Rutter Christmas Album. Of all the gifts of Christmas, none are as generous as this. Thank you, John!<\/p><p><em>Tom Service<\/em><\/p><div class=\"is-layout-flow is-layout-flow wp-block-group highlight-box\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\"><ul><li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/John-Rutter-Christmas-Album\/dp\/B00006JJ4T\/ref=asc_df_B00006JJ4T\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Buy from Amazon<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><h3 id=\"h-hely-hutchinson-s-a-carol-symphony\">Hely-Hutchinson\u2019s A Carol Symphony<\/h3><p>The one piece guaranteed to conjure up the Christmas spirit for me is Hely-Hutchinson\u2019s 1927 <em>A Carol Symphony<\/em>, in a recording by the Pro-Arte Orchestra under Barry Rose. <\/p><p>Growing up, we listened to this disc every year. The work\u2019s sometimes merry, sometimes melancholy interweaving of Christmas carols has an oddly potent effect on me even now. <\/p><p>Best of all is a section in the third movement which featured in the iconic 1984 television adaptation of John Masefield\u2019s <i>A Box of Delights<\/i> (Wolves! Magic! Snow! Talking mice!). This twinkling orchestral arrangement of <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/the-first-noel-lyrics\/\"><i>The First Nowell <\/i><\/a><\/strong>remains utterly spellbinding. It evokes a wonderful sense of enchantment and possibility \u2013 just like the best sort of Christmas Eve.<\/p><p><em>Kate Wakeling<\/em><\/p><div class=\"is-layout-flow is-layout-flow wp-block-group highlight-box\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\"><ul><li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Carol-Symphony-Fantasia-Christmas-Carols\/dp\/B0052WSMCO\/ref=sr_1_2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Buy from Amazon<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><p> <\/p><h3 id=\"h-js-bach-s-magnificat\">JS Bach’s Magnificat<\/h3><p> Though I\u2019m not conventionally religious, the prevalence of gooey, tacky secular songs during the Christmas season does tend to put a damper on my festive spirits. So, I need a powerful and refreshing counterblast. The name that springs to mind is JS Bach. And, within seconds, I know what it has to be: the Magnificat. <\/p><p>The Angel\u2019s appearance to Mary is, of course, where it all started. Aside from the theology, however, this compact masterpiece embraces a generous range of Bachian moods and colours. These culminate in a display of radiant, trumpet-enhanced rejoicing that I\u2019d take over <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/composers\/george-frideric-handel\">Handel<\/a><\/strong> any day. Perhaps my very favourite moment, though, is the aria \u2018Esurientes\u2019, with its delicious final depiction of the rich being \u2018sent empty away\u2019. Remember the time when Christmas wasn\u2019t pre-eminently about buying things?<\/p><p><em>Stephen Johnson<\/em> <\/p><h3 id=\"h-vaughan-williams-s-hodie\">Vaughan Williams\u2019s <em>Hodie<\/em><\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><iframe title=\"Ralph Vaughan Williams: Hodie (1954)\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Mh0CmBQFhEI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/><\/div><\/figure><p>I\u2019m one of those who tends to leave everything to the last minute. So, Christmas Eve is often an exhilarating whirlwind of shopping, wrapping and decoration. <\/p><p>For me, Christmas is a magical time of year, and I find myself craving simplicity in everything. So, when I finally sink into my favourite armchair, a glass of mulled wine in one hand and a mince pie in the other, there is nothing like the sound of pure-toned voices bathed in melodic and harmonic radiance to create the perfect atmosphere.<\/p><p>And for that I invariably turn to Vaughan Williams\u2019s 1954 cantata <em>Hodie<\/em>. This largely neglected gem develops over 16 sections, including the sublime Choral \u2018Blessed Son of God\u2019 for unaccompanied chorus and an enchanting \u2018Lullaby\u2019.<\/p><p><em>Julian Haylock<\/em><\/p><p\/><h3 id=\"h-tavener-s-god-is-with-us-christmas-proclamation\">Tavener\u2019s <i>God is With Us: Christmas Proclamation<\/i><\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><iframe title=\"Sir John Tavener's inspired masterpiece 'God is with us'\/A Christmas Proclamation.\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/q6YHlTH1iv4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/><\/div><\/figure><p>Last in our list of best Christmas classical music is one of <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/composers\/john-tavener\/\">John Tavener<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s most effective choral works. <em>God is With Us: Christmas Proclamation<\/em> is a trance-inducing chant building from a single line of rumbling basses to four-part harmonies topped by radiant trebles.<\/p><p>But Tavener has a surprise up his sleeve in the last 40 seconds. On the Choir of St George\u2019s Chapel, Windsor Castle\u2019s <em>Sacred Music by John Tavener<\/em> album, the calm is shattered by an ear-splitting <i>fff<\/i> chord on the mighty Harrison & Harrison organ at the words \u2018Christ is born\u2019. <\/p><p>As parents of St George\u2019s choristers who sang this annually, we knew exactly what was coming. But we always loved to watch one or two slumbering congregants being shocked awake by the blasts. It always put us in the mood for Christmas! <\/p><p><em>Amanda Holloway<\/em><\/p><div class=\"is-layout-flow is-layout-flow wp-block-group highlight-box\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Sacred-Music-John-Tavener-J\/dp\/B00C3K9DNK\/ref=sr_1_2?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Buy from Amazon<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"is-layout-flow is-layout-flow wp-block-group highlight-box\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\"><h4 id=\"h-festive-songs-and-music\">Festive songs and music<\/h4><ul><li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/best-christmas-musicals\/\">10 of the best Christmas musicals<\/a><\/strong><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/best-christmas-operas\/\">The best Christmas operas of all time<\/a><\/strong><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/best-christmas-organ-music-of-all-time\/\">Best Christmas organ music of all time<\/a><\/strong><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/six-best-pieces-christmas-choral-music\/\">Six of the best pieces of Christmas choral music<\/a><\/strong><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/18-quirkiest-christmas-album-covers-our-picks-of-the-best\/\">18 quirkiest Christmas album covers: our picks of the best<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><p><em>Main image: Getty Images<\/em><\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By BBC Music Magazine Published: Tuesday, 19 December 2023 at 14:03 PM Pictur that magic moment \u2013 typically on Christmas Eve for many of us \u2013 when, with all the manic seasonal hustle and bustle done, one can actually sit down, pause a little and reflect on the occasion and what it really means. A […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":37081,"template":"","categories":[1,17],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"7"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/12\/best-christmas-classical-music-scaled.jpg",2560,1920,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/12\/best-christmas-classical-music-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/12\/best-christmas-classical-music-300x225.jpg",300,225,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/12\/best-christmas-classical-music-768x576.jpg",768,576,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/12\/best-christmas-classical-music-1024x768.jpg",800,600,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/12\/best-christmas-classical-music-1536x1152.jpg",1536,1152,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/12\/best-christmas-classical-music-2048x1536.jpg",2048,1536,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By BBC Music Magazine Published: Tuesday, 19 December 2023 at 14:03 PM Pictur that magic moment \u2013 typically on Christmas Eve for many of us \u2013 when, with all the manic seasonal hustle and bustle done, one can actually sit down, pause a little and reflect on the occasion and what it really means. A…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/37080"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37081"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37080"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37080"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}