Une Cantate de Noël - Arthur Honegger

[SCARBEE]

If you want to be in christmas spirit and listen to a great piece of classical music try to get the CD \"Une Cantate de Noël\" - Arthur Honegger (1892-1955)

cheers

Thomas

[Thomas_J]

THAT is the FUNNIEST thing.
I just listened to that on an old cassette recording! I\'ve looked and looked and looked, but I just CAN\'T find it! the ending is simply incredible! outstanding! amazing! Brilliant!! hmm I\'m running out of positive words http://www.northernsounds.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/smile.gif

Well anyway, where did you find your cd? My tape is really wearing out! (Oh and where did you hear about it? It\'s fairly unknown!)

Thomas

[SCARBEE]

Hi Thomas,

I learned about the CD from a girlfreind I had 10 years ago. her mother was a royal opera solo singer in Denmark and she know a lot about great classical pieces. This work was a christmas tradition in their home and I adopted it right away.

First a bought a vinyl record with this on side A and Francis Poelenc: \"Stabat Mater\", which is just as beautyfull - you must get this CD too.

You probably have to look a bit to get these CD\'s as they are a bit \"rare\".

If you don\'t know Poelenc - you will be surprised. Stabat Mater is a oratorium - almost opera. I have a version with Boston S.O. - Seiji Ozawa and with Kathleen Battle on vocal. (Deutche Grammaphon)

It is amazing - listen to this vocal and the Brass sound is so bright and crisp...

I wish you luck!

Scarbee

[Thomas_J]

Thank you Thomas! http://www.northernsounds.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/wink.gif I have \"stabat mater\". It\'s very pretty! I\'m very anxious to get a good recording of honegger\'s cantata though. Could you point me in any direction?

Thomas

[PatS]

Here are couple of recording references (I found two others, but they look too rare):

Honegger:
Symphonies No. 2 and No. 4
Une Cantate de Noël
Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
Ernest Ansermet, Director
DECCA ADRM 430 350-2

Honegger and Poulenc:
Une cantate de Noël
Mass in G
Quatre motets pour le temps de Noël
English Chamber Orchestra
Winchester Cathedral Choir
Waynflete Singers
Various soloists
EMI Eminence CDEMX2275

You might be able to purchase the latter directly from the folks listed at http://www.hants.gov.uk/waynflete/recordings.html (\"http://www.hants.gov.uk/waynflete/recordings.html\").

Good luck!

Pat

[This message has been edited by PatS (edited 12-17-2001).]

[PatS]

Here\'s another recording featuring the cantata:
http://www.emimusic.de/xml/6/552465/7639442.html (\"http://www.emimusic.de/xml/6/552465/7639442.html\").

Pat

[Thomas_J]

Thanks a lot Pat! I really appreciate it!
Lets hope it arrives before christmas http://www.northernsounds.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/wink.gif (Although I very much doubt it will)

Thomas