A Christmas Celebration

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Track: 10: Panis Angelicus,

Track: 11: Don Oiche Ud I Mbeithail That Night In Bethehem,

Track: 12: O Comes All Ye Faithful,

Track: 13: The Little Drummer Boy,

Track: 14: The Wexford Carol,

Track: 15: Let It Snow Bonus Tracks,

Track: 1: O Holy Night,

Track: 2: Away In A Manger,

Track: 3: Ding Dong Merrily On Hight,

Track: 4: White Christmas,

Track: 5: Silent Night,

Track: 6: Christmas Pipes,

Track: 7: The Christmas Song,

Track: 8: Carol Of The Bells,

Track: 9: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Media Type: CD
Artist: CELTIC WOMAN
Title: CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION
Street Release Date: 10/03/2006
Domestic
Genre: XMAS VOCAL

Irish producer/arranger David Downes, the creative mastermind behind Celtic Woman's chart breakthrough and burgeoning international success, here conjures up an inviting holiday showcase for his neo-superstar crossover quartet. He pushes the group's crowd-pleasing formula into more expansive arrangements with the Irish Film Orchestra, supplemented by a strong core of featured instrumentalists, including Downes himself. If the ethnic folk influences that gave the group its name are sometimes less pronounced, the result is a collection whose dignified, pop elegance often transcends national boundaries. The vocal performances are expectedly polished, with the quintet breaking off into smaller units and solo showcases such as Lisa Kelly's Broadway-lullaby take on "The Christmas Song," a neo-classical "Panis Angelicus" by Chloe Agnew, and the muscular orchestral/choral setting for Mariead Nesbitt's earthy fiddle on "Carol of the Bells." The quintet (backed only by Nesbitt's spare strings) harmonize richly on "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and bring their trademark neo-Celtic charms more fully to bear on intimate translations of "Silent Night" and "The Wexford Carol" as well as a glorious take on the Gaelic traditional "That Night in Bethlehem." Perhaps to remind fans of their true range, the swinging, big-band bonus track "Let It Snow" closes the collection with upbeat flair. --Jerry McCulley