Christmas Buyer's Guide 2022

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A special Christmas 2022 buyer's guide to two recordings each of three important Christmas-themed works.

Tchaikovsky: THE NUTCRACKER



London Symphony Orchestra/ANDRE PREVIN (EMI) (1972)



Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra/GUSTAVO DUDAMEL) (Deutsche Grammophon) (2019)


Engelbert Humperdinck: HANSEL AND GRETEL

Original German-language version:


Hansel: ANNE SOPHIE VON OTTER
Gretel: BARBARA BONNEY
Witch: MARJANA LIPOVSEK
Mother: HANNA SCHWARZ
Father: ANDREAS SCHMIDT
Sandman: BARBARA HENDRICKS
Dew Fairy: Eva Lind

Tolz Children's Choir

Bavariak Radio Symphony Orchestra/SIR JEFFREY TATE (EMI) (1989)

English-language version:


Hansel: SUZANNE MENTZER
Gretel: HEIDI GRANT MURPHY
Witch: JUDITH FORST
Mother: JANICE TAYLOR
Father: ROBERT ORTH
Dew Fairy: ANNA CHRISTY

Milwaukee Children's Chorus

Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra/ANDREAS DELFS (Avie) (2004)


Handel: MESSIAH



Soprano: KATHLEEN BATTLE
Mezzo-Soprano: FLORENCE QUIVAR
Tenor: JOHN ALER
Bass-Baritone: SAMUEL RAMEY

Toronto Mendelssohn Choir

Toronto Symphony Orchestra/SIR ANDREW DAVIS (EMI) (1987)



Soprano: FELICITY PALMER
Mezzo-Soprano: HELEN WATTS
Tenor: RYLAND DAVIES
Bass: JOHN SHIRLEY-QUIRK

English Chamber Choir

English Chamber Orchestra/RAYMOND LEPPARD (Erato) (1976)