CD & Event Reviews

CD Review: Yuletide Fires (ChristmasReviews.com)

Absolutely, positively magnificent! For those who enjoy male a cappella ensembles, seasonal music really does not get any better than Chor Leoni's incomparable Yuletide Fires! This album is perfection from stem to stern; even the contemporary "fire" gracing the cover is very cool.

Chor Leoni means the "choir of lions" in Greek and Italian, respectively, and these lions should take great "pride" in their stunning achievements here. I love a cappella music, but was not previously familiar with this award-winning ensemble.

Yuletide Fires contains 23 tracks (almost 70 minutes of music!). The pieces range from Gregorian and Sarum chants to contemporary Canadian carols, providing an excellent mix. About half of the numbers are fairly well-known, including personal favorites such as "Huron Carol" and "Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen" (both are fantastic here!). Although the music is mostly a cappella, accompaniment appears on several numbers, and the chants frequently feature haunting bells at the start. And the album is not just about the males; a lovely soprano (Siri Olesen) appears on two cuts, including "Stille Nacht." Chor Leoni's rendition of "Rise Up Shepherd" is especially rich and moving.

I applaud Chor Leoni on this marvelous seasonal offering! Yuletide Fires should light a fire under listeners to find out more about this remarkable ensemble.

Carol Swanson, christmasreviews.com
reprinted with permission

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Yuletide Fires
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Posted by Carol Swanson on December 1, 2003 at 2:52 PM
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