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Elisabeth Schwarzkopf - The Christmas Album | 
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| Artists: Cesar Franck, Johannes Brahms, Engelbert Humperdinck, Christmas Traditional, Frederick Gluck, Franz Xaver Gruber, Hieronymus Praetorius, Anonymous, -, Julian Bream, Charles Mackerras, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Ambrosian Singers
Label: EMI Classics Imports
Category: Music
List Price: $13.98
Buy New: $13.26
You Save: $0.72 (5%)
New (8) Used (8) from $9.12
Rating:  4 reviews
Sales Rank: 29837
Format: Original Recording Reissued
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
UPC: 077776357423
EAN: 0077776357423
ASIN: B00000DO61
Release Date: October 17, 2000
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: BRAND NEW, Factory Sealed items direct from the Studios. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee. Quick International Airmail!
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| Tracks:
| • | Silent Night - Eli Schwarzkopf, Gruber, Franz | | • | O Come All Ye Faithful - Eli Schwarzkopf, Oakeley, Frederick | | • | O du Froehliche - Eli Schwarzkopf, Traditional, Christ | | • | Sandmaennchen - Eli Schwarzkopf, Brahms, Johannes | | • | In Einem Kuehlen Grunde - Eli Schwarzkopf, Gluck, Frederick | | • | Panis Angelicus - Eli Schwarzkopf, Franck, Cesar | | • | The First Nowell - Eli Schwarzkopf, Traditional, Christ | | • | In Dulci Jubilo - Eli Schwarzkopf, Praetorius, Hierony | | • | Weihnachten - Eli Schwarzkopf, Humperdinck, Engelb | | • | Vom Himmel Hoch - Eli Schwarzkopf, Anonymous | | • | I Saw Three Ships - Eli Schwarzkopf, Sandys, William | | • | Maria Auf Dem Berge - Eli Schwarzkopf, Traditional, Silesi | | • | Easter Alleluia - Eli Schwarzkopf, Anonymous | | • | Silent Night - Eli Schwarzkopf, Gruber, Franz |
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| Customer Reviews:
 Perfect! May 24, 2005
Lost Way (Mexico)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I'm not write very well in english, but I'll try to share my opinion of this great cd, especially, about the Schwarzkopf's performance.
Some people think that the voice is small, but I'm not agree with that opinion because Schwarzkopf -with her stylish art- sings diferent, for example, in "Stille Nacht", sweetly and all most in piano, than "Panis Angelicus", piece singing with more power and intensity.
Her performance is in armony with the text, caracter and style of each song. Also, her voice is clear and full. In 1957, she was in perfectly form. In a few words, her colocation is perfect, her sounds are beauty, the dinamics are used with inteligence, the respiration is amazing, the articulacion is excellente, the vibrato is used with moderation -not like other singers, and after all, the colour of her voice is rich.
 Ugh...don't bother May 23, 2005
The Regarder (Stamford, CT)
2 out of 13 found this review helpful
If you are a fan of Madame Schwarzkopf, you will not be dissuaded from buying this dismal CD. The arrangements are fine, Charles Mackerras' conducting uniformly competent, the sound OK for an album originally recorded in 1957.
The only thing missing is a great voice as the centerpiece. Schwarzkopf is one of history's most overrated singers and this album demonstrates her monumental shortcomings. Her voice is small, uniformly poorly supported, and lacking in any exceptional beauty. She resorts to straight tone and scooping to reach and maintain any note near the top of the staff or beyond mezzo piano. Her high note at the end of "Vom Himmel hoch" is truly excruciating.
There is a real "Florence Foster Jenkins" element to her singing that shows up in every cut. I feel certain that if you played a few excerpts from this album for someone who had a good ear for singing, but was unfamiliar with Schwarzkopf, their reaction would be one of indifference. Schwarzkopf sounds like the best singer in a small local choir, but the idea that she was a world famous singer, applauded by millions, is an alarming testament to the art of selling an artist to the masses whose fame far outreached her talent.
A Very Good Choice For The Holidays December 22, 2004
MusicMad (Anchorage, Alaska)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I bought this album after hearing the arrangement of "Stille Nacht" (Silent Night) which is full of Austrian charm. (You get it twice on this album with the duet version finishing the disc.)
Mackerras's arrangements are wonderful, a good blend of sacred and secular material, and unfamiliar songs like Humperdinck's "Weihnachten" and "In einem kuhlen Grunde" are performed impeccably by madame Schwarzkopf.
A Christmas Classic February 6, 2004
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
There are hundreds of classical Christmas-themed albums by now but none exceeds this one for sheer joy and pleasure. Originally released as a mono Lp in the 1950's with a non-seasonal title, it reappeared on CD for the first time in stereo for Christmas. The last cut is actually an Easter offering, but no matter, this is perfect seasonal entertainment.
Schwarzkopf is warm, polylingual and technically impressive. Sir Charles Mackerras on one of his earliest albums does splendid work as both arranger and conductor. Star peformers like Julian Bream and Denis Vaughn turn up like tinsel on a glittering tree. But ultimately what matters is the spirited music-making in excellent sound. No allowances need be made for its age.
This disc comes out every year with the ornaments, and lights up the holidays every year.
A truly great recording!
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