Review and More

Our Review

First things first. Chanticleer is an award-winning men's chorus, certainly one of the world's greatest. Based in San Francisco, these 12 voices are astounding--they are technically perfect and have an incredible repertoire. Here, Chanticleer presents its second holiday CD with "Christmas with Chanticleer: featuring special guest Dawn Upshaw." The voluminous liner notes are a wonderful resource. The 22 pages provide a world of information regarding the artists and the songs.

This is excellent a cappella music, no question about it. These men have an incredible range, from shockingly high soprano to deep bass. The album is generous (about 70 minutes) and covers classical fare and relatively somber traditional carols. Two exceptions are the upbeat spirituals "Jerusalem in the Morning" (part of the "Mary and the Baby Medley") and "Beautiful Star of Bethlehem"; on the latter, Chanticleer sings with an Appalachian "accent," which is frankly a bit disconcerting (O Byoo Tee Full Star, etc). Still, I don't want to nit-pick; Chanticleer sings like nobody's business, Appalachian accent or not.

Opera singer Dawn Upshaw is Chanticleer's special guest on this CD, and she also has a phenomenal vocal instrument. Her soprano is featured on 11 of the 23 tracks; she especially shines on "Stille Nacht" and on "Es ist ein Ros entsprungen."

This is a lovely holiday CD. My personal picks must include the classic "The First Nowell," the delicate (and previously unfamiliar) "Suo Gan," and "Coventry Carol" (Chanticleer does a fascinatingly discordant version of one of my all-time favorite carols). For those who enjoy classical work by a male a cappella chorus at the top of its craft, spending "Christmas with Chanticleer" can be a very rewarding experience.

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2004)

More

From the liner notes:

Performers:

Dawn Upshaw: soprano
Matthew Alber, Christopher Fritzsche, Ian Howell: soprano
Jesse Antin, Jay White, Philip Wilder: alto
Kevin Baum, Michael Lichtenauer, Matthew Oltman: tenor
Eric Alatorre, Thomas Bold, David Alan Marshall: baritone & bass

Dawn Upshaw: Among the celebrated singers of our time, Dawn Upshaw stands out as an artist of uncommon gifts and imagination. Whether on the opera or recital stage, her ability to reach to the core of text and music has earned her the devotion of an exceptionally diverse audience throughout the world.

About Chanticleer: Over its nearly 25-year history, Chanticleer has performed an incredibly wide variety of repertoire, from Gregorian chant to the most modern choral fare. But one genre--spanning seven centuries--inspires audiences more than any other: music for Christmastide. For millions of people around the world, the holiday season has become associated with choral music, be it Handel's Messiah or strolling carolers at a shopping mall. Christmas is the time of year when people want to be wrapped up in tradition, and for many, choral music plays an integral role. And as with most traditions, familiarity inspires comfort. Who can resist being caught up in such chestnuts as The First Nowell or Silent Night?

That sense of tradition has led to the annual A Chanticleer Christmas concerts being performed before sold-out houses across the US. One of the most beloved portions of the program comes after intermission, when the group forgoes their ubiquitous white tie and tails in favor of brightly-colored sweaters and khaki pants for a selection of lighter holiday fare. Audiences delight as the men of Chanticleer stroll around the church singing traditional Christmas carols set in unique arrangements. This CD offers a lively assortment of choral gems for the holidays, from the standard Coventry Carol to Hugo Distler's unusual setting of Es ist ein Ros entsprungen--and even a rousing Christmas spiritual.

Chanticleer

Christmas with Chanticleer

Artist link

Track List