On Christmas Evening from London Choral Sinfonia & Michael Waldron on Orchid Classics

On Christmas Evening:  Percy Fletcher, Jim Clements, Howard Blake, Harold Darke, Alec Rowley, Holst, Adolph Adam, Iain Farrington, Owain Park; London Choral Sinfonia, Michael Waldron, Emma Bell, Malakai Baytoh; Orchid Classics
Reviewed 22 December 2025

In case you are on the lookout for a Christmas disc then this supplies somewhat a distinct take a look at some classics together with extra uncommon repertoire, all fantastically carried out

For his or her second Christmas album, Michael Waldron and London Choral Sinfonia discover new and strange model of the extra conventional Christmas tunes. On Christmas Evening on Orchid Classics options music by Percy Fletcher, Jim Clements, Howard Blake, Harold Darke, Alec Rowley, Holst, Adolphe Adam and Iain Farrington together with some conventional tunes with soloists Emma Bell (soprano), Malakai Bayoh (treble), Martha McLorinan (mezzo-soprano) and Jimmy Holliday (bass), with 4 new orchestrations by Owain Park.

All of the objects are fantastically carried out by choir and string orchestra, with the addition of harp, percussion, keyboards and trumpets at numerous occasions. The result’s a well-upholstered and somewhat totally different take a look at various acquainted classics together with some lesser-known gems, with Owain Park’s orchestrations which means that Waldron has been in a position to solid his web fairly broadly.

We start with Percy Fletcher’s Tennyson setting, Ring Out, Wild Bells, written initially for choir and organ. Regardless of being written in 1914 it has one thing of an Edwardian really feel about it, however makes a vibrant and vigorous begin to the disc. That is adopted by a newish piece. Jim Clements’ setting of Henry Vaughan, Awake, Glad Coronary heart, written initially for the choir of Worcester Cathedral (once more with organ accompaniment). Richly textured with lush harmonies, it’s a vibrant piece with a fantastic central part for soprano solo (Emma Bell in poised type).

Bob Chilcott’s association of Silent Evening for choir and strings is efficient sufficient, and comprehensively reinvents the straightforward carol into one thing extra elaborate. Howard Blake’s model of his music Strolling within the Air dates from 1984, a few years after the movie The Snowman from which it was drawn. Blake makes the accompaniment extra advanced and right here the solo is sung by treble Malakai Bayoh, although the recording appears to make him barely recessed and prioritises the orchestra a bit an excessive amount of. Harold Darke’s setting of Within the Blake Midwinter has grow to be a Christmas traditional (although I somewhat choose Holst’s model). Right here, now we have it with string accompaniment, increasing issues considerably, however I confess I discovered the unaccompanied verse somewhat extra affecting.

I carried out Alec Rowley’s music after I was at college; he’s greatest identified for his instructional music however wrote a lot else moreover. His Christmas Suite from 1930 consists of seven quick actions, every constructed on a distinct carol, although a few of them should not so well-known now. The Bitter Withy anybody? The result’s considerably like a Christmas model of Warlock’s Capriol Suite, as Rowley’s strategy is analogous. Even with the better-known carols, the tunes are disguised in a extremely efficient method and aside from the Prelude and Finale, every motion is in a selected dance type.

RVW’s Fantasia on Christmas Carols is reasonably well-known, however Holst’s Christmas Day somewhat much less so. Right here in Owain Park’s orchestration the choir and orchestra make a robust case for its interesting mixture of tunes, very successfully strung collectively, with fantastic solos from choir members Martha McLorinan and Jimmy Holliday.

Bob Chilcott’s association of Away in a Manger makes use of a somewhat totally different tune to that best-known within the UK, with Chilcott utilizing the unique American model. It makes a somewhat totally different, very efficient tackle a traditional. About Mark Pappenheim’s association of Adolphe Adam’s O Holy Evening (in an orchestration by Owain Park), I’ve extra combined emotions. The opening solo sung by Emma Bell strikes the piece extra into grand(ish) opera, however when the refrain are available in, Pappenheim appears decided to overcomplicate issues and introduce all method of different melodies. The consequence stretches what is an easy but efficient piece into a protracted seven minutes. The association of Ding Dong! Merrily on Excessive by Mack Wilberg, one-time music director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, is extra straightforwardly efficient.

The disc ends with a brand new piece, Iain Farrington’s Nova nova. Splendidly jazzy and vigorous, Farrington succeeds in making the carol upbeat with out seeming to strive too arduous. This deserves to grow to be a traditional and I hope that Farrington had a model for choir and keyboard helpful!