Amazon.com If you thrill to the soaring operatic voices of The Three Tenors (and imagine every Christmas comes with its own orchestral majesty), Il Divo has made this disc for you. The four GQ-handsome male singers were handpicked by American Idol's Simon Cowell for what seems to be their ability to sing opera and classical music with the hint of a pop sensibility. Their Christmas Collection features 10 standards (although the last time Santa looked, he wasn't quite sure "Over the Rainbow" and "The Lord's Prayer" were part of the Christmas canon). Still, it' hard not to imagine these emotionally stirring renditions as part and parcel of the reverential treatment the four finely sculpted voices bring to more exact seasonal fare such as "O Holy Night," "Ave Maria," "Panis Angelicus" and even "White Christmas." Dave Arch's predictable choral and orchestral arrangements are aimed right at the sweet spot where sophisticated church choir music and traditional classical music meet, with few surprises other than the dash of Irish folk music that colors "When A Child Is Born." In the end, for people who have never heard of Cowell and his cohosts (would Paula Abdul really have picked the tenor guy for this group?!), this collection will prove just as rewarding for them as the best-selling Idol records are for fans of the TV stars. --Martin Keller
Product Description used-excellent cond
Album Description Japanese pressing includes Christmas card/poster with first pressing only. BMG. 2006.
Album Details First pressing includes a Christmas card.
Customer Reviews:
Little Disclosure NeededJanuary 7, 2009 B. Smith(amelia island, fl USA) Without a doubt these gifted men are a pleasure to witness. My disappointment is most of the songs are in Italian and as an English speaking person, a lot was lost not being able to understand the lyrics of the song. The CD cover should have been a little more forthcoming in describing the content. But again, this group could be the best male vocal group we have seen in many, many years.
a very good Christmas cdJanuary 6, 2009 Kathy Hodge(Jonesville, NC USA}) This is a very good Christmas cd. It makes you feel so good. The only song that was on it that I didn't quite understand why it was there was "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" other than that it was great.
FABULOUS!!January 6, 2009 kruse89(Nebraska) Absolutely fabulous. These gentlemen's voices blend in a way that can only come from God given talent. This is a CD to be played over and over.
Best Christmas CD in a long timeJanuary 6, 2009 Max D. Caldwell(Connecticut) Really great performance. My wife played it about a million times over the holidays and I haven't burned it yet.
I thought this was a new cd for Il DivoJanuary 6, 2009 quilting Jo(Oregon) I was disappointed that this CD was actually made in 2005 rather than being a new CD.
