The Christmas Story
The Theatre of Voices; Ars Nova Copenhagen / Hillier
Harmonia Mundi HMU807565

Release date September 2011

Paul Hillier has lived in Denmark for the last ten years. A nostalgia for the Engish Christmas services of his youth, coupled with the Danish midwinter – ‘the intense darkness, the crisp cold, and the Danes’ addiction to candlelight’ – led to his devising his own version of the service in 2008. It proved very popular, and has become part of Ars Nova Copenhagen’s annual season. This disc gives a flavour of these concerts; and for this recording, instead of the usual readings, Hillier has selected pieces of music that contribute to filling out the Christmas story in suitable fashion. The end result is one of the most satisfying, varied and attractive Christmas discs to be issued this year. The narrative of the story is supplied mainly through a few short plainchant passages (including Rorate coeli, Puer natus est and Videntes stellam) and three Baroque ‘dialogues’: in effect, chamber cantatas that would later develop into the oratorio genre. These dialogues (by Tomasi, Grandi and Anerio) are performed with great panache by a small group of singers, in this case Hiller’s Theatre of Voices, who take individual roles but at various moments come together as a chorus to introduce or comment upon the narrative. The singers are supported by theorbo and chamber organ. Around these works, Hillier’s Ars Nova Copenhagen sing a mainly unaccompanied selection of Christmas music. Motets by Byrd (his tranquil O magnum mysterium) and Eccard (who died 400 years ago, in 1611) join later compositions by Niels Gade (a lovely Danish carol), Howard Skempton (an intriguing setting of Adam lay y-bounden) and the American J H Hopkins (We Three Kings). The remaining carols are drawn primarily from folk traditions in England and the Alpine region, or are arrangements of venerable melodies such as In dulci jubilo (in Pearsall’s wonderful arrangement) and Personent Hodie. This last is one of several very successful arrangements by Hillier. His Dormi, dormi, o bel bambin is especially gorgeous, as is the forthright Liebe Hirten where the men’s voices act as chiming bells beneath the melody. All in all, it’s a top recommendation for Christmas listening!


Reviewed by Anne McAlister