Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Our American cousins really go for these big dramatic musicals. To the outsider it may seem a tad formulaic. Take a huge orchestra, a bevy of top CCM vocalists and an itinerary covering major auditoriums in all or most of America s major cities. All you need to enjoy record breaking attendances is a spiritual theme and an exceptional has been able to pull in, at least for the CD version, many of the big names of CCM topped up with a smattering of mainstream stars. So on this album you've got (deep breath) Donna Summer, Russ Taff, Michael Crawford, Bob Carlisle, Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Michael W Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, Howard Hewett and more, all taking solos at various times. Christmas musicals can be a gruelling musical experience but this one, thanks to some fine songwriting and orchestrations (largely in Phantom Of The Opera style), is always interesting and occasionally arresting. Until the musical reaches these shores (which is unlikely) this star-studded album will make much less impact than, say, Hopes And Dreams. But this is still an inventively conceived project.

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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