Salvation Army - Celebrating Christmas With The Salvation Army 2009
STYLE: Brass Band RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 87539-16253 LABEL: Salvationist Publishing & Supp 21422 FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1 RRP: £9.99
Reviewed by Tom Lennie
As you might expect, a Christmas evening with the Salvation Army is likely to be a fairly traditional affair. But there's plenty of variety on this hour-long celebration, recorded before an audience of 3,000 at London's grandiose Royal Albert Hall in 2009. The International Staff Band give gusto to three or four fine, and sometimes little-known Christmas tunes; while in vibrant choral format the International Staff Songsters deliver some delightfully sensitive vocal sounds. The Youth Choir also make their melodic appearance. Interspersed between all this is a batch of traditional carols gustily relayed from 3,000 voices, and a number of Scripture readings, read by three professional actors, the best-known of whom is June Whitefield. As if all this isn't enough, 22 year-old trumpeter Philip Hobb (co-principal with the London Symphony Orchestra) shows off his talent on "Sleigh Ride", while Australian-born husband and wife duettists, Kerry Sampson and Nicholas Lester chime the tones of "Christmas Bells". It's a right mixture of the truly spiritual and just-for-fun songs, but there's no questioning that this is a highly accomplished performance.
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Product Description
Live from the Royal Albert Hall, presented by Robin Cousins, featuring readings from Jenny Agutter, Nathaniel Parker and June Whitfield and carols and seasonal music from The International Staff Band, The International Staff Songsters, Youth Choir, Philip Cobb, Kerry Sampson and Nicholas Lester.