Holiday Classics is a compilation made up of tracks from previous Naxos releases by the Seattle Symphony and its director Gerard Schwarz. Five tracks are devoted to selections from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite, a perennial holiday favorite. Three are taken from Handel's Water Music Suite, which, while not related to the December holiday season (it would be an unfortunate climate for musicians to be floating on a barge down the Thames), is festive and celebratory. Pachelbel's Canon is also included, in a desultory ...
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Holiday Classics is a compilation made up of tracks from previous Naxos releases by the Seattle Symphony and its director Gerard Schwarz. Five tracks are devoted to selections from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite, a perennial holiday favorite. Three are taken from Handel's Water Music Suite, which, while not related to the December holiday season (it would be an unfortunate climate for musicians to be floating on a barge down the Thames), is festive and celebratory. Pachelbel's Canon is also included, in a desultory performance that's out of character with the rest of the music on the album, and the remaining tracks consist of orchestral arrangements of traditional Christmas carols. Except for the plodding and lackluster Canon, the pieces are well played and should satisfy listeners looking for orchestral music intended to drum up holiday cheer. Naxos' sound is clean and present. ~ Stephen Eddins, Rovi
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