My Christmas

A Christmas album was probably a smart move for soprano , who is certainly one of the great singers of the day but is not a household name outside the German-speaking sphere. With , offers an ambitious double album of Christmas music that may be mostly unfamiliar to many listeners. The program consists of two parts, corresponding to the two CDs of the physical version. The first part contains German Christmas songs, some traditional and some with named composers. Many of these are charming, and even displays a convincing humorous side in the . 's voice is sparkling in these, and she reins it back nicely for the homelier pieces. The arrangements are by conductor , and they are on the splashy side; this is a big, festive album. The second-CD music includes classical concert selections, and some of these are of interest in themselves. There are several selections, for instance, from 's , his version of . The various pieces are right in 's wheelhouse, the Baroque pieces a bit less so at this stage. On balance, however, this album offers a good way for listeners to get acquainted with and hear some unusual and well-performed Christmas music too. ~ James Manheim