December is filled to bursting with carols and other vocal works—and as a result a great deal of instrumental and orchestral music is overlooked.
We’re going to remedy that in this hour, with holiday pieces for solo instruments, small groups, and orchestra, by Bach, Telemann, Beethoven, Berlioz, Rimsky-Korsakov, Martinu, Hovhaness, and more.
FEATURED RECORDINGS
| Title |
Group/Artist |
Catalog # |
UPC |
| Puccini without Words |
Rome Symphony Orchestra, Domenico Savino |
MCA Classics MCAD2-9834 |
076732983423 |
| Bach Weihnachts-Oratorium (Christmas Oratorio) |
Orchestra of the Collegium Vocale, Ghent, Philippe Herreweghe |
Virgin Veritas 0963342 |
5099909633421 |
| Telemann: Tafelmusik [for Festive Suite in A Major] |
London Festival Orchestra, Ross Pople |
Sony Gala 88985348102 |
889853481026 |
| Beethoven - The Piano Sonatas, Volume VIII [for Piano Sonata 31] |
Andras Schiff |
ECM 1949 |
028947661924 |
| Munch Conducts Berlioz [for Overture to Part II of L’Enfance du Christ,] |
Boston Symphony, Charles Munch |
RCA Victor Red Seal 60393 |
828766039320 |
| Rimsky-Korsakov - Christmas Eve |
Moscow Symphony Orchestra, Igor Golovschin |
Naxos 8.553789 |
730099478922 |
| Humperdinck: Fairy-Tale Music [for Hansel & Gretel overture) |
Bamberg Symphony, Karl Anton Rickenbacher |
Virgin Classics 6285842 |
5099962858427 |
| Puccini without Words (for “Christmas Eve in Paris,” from La Boheme. |
Columbia Symphony, Andre Kostelanetz |
CBS Records MDK 46825 |
07464462852 |
| Chadwick: Melpomene, etc. [for “Noel,” from Symphonic Sketches]. |
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Neeme Jarvi |
Chandos CHAN 10032 |
095115103227 |
| Hovanhess Treasures [for Symphony #49 “Christmas”] |
Northwest Sinfonia, Gerard Schwarz |
Crystal Records CD811 |
009414781123 |
| Martinu: La Revue de Cuisine. [for “Merry Christmas 1941”] |
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Christopher Hogwood |
Decca 433 660-2 |
028943366021 |
