Reviewed by John Irvine

How's this for an unusual story? This was the very first recording made by the Cambridge Singers soon after their formation in 1981. After a brief life on LP, the original digital master tape disappeared, and was presumed lost forever.only to reappear in 1996. Was it worth the wait? The title gives away the content: 22 carols old and new. If you're like me, you'll generally despise Christmas collections like this. One has to admit, however, that there are few performances approaching this level of professionalism, nay, perfection of this recording. In fact Rutter's arrangements of familiar tunes manage to avoid the "cringe" factor so prevalent with this class of release: new life is breathed into the old favourites, and I guarantee that whatever your musical tastes, you will be bowled over by the quality of the music. Head and shoulders above in this field. Enjoy.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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