A Carnegie Hall Christmas
Selected Composition
A Carnegie Hall Christmas
Program Notes
Kathleen Battle and Frederica von Stade (with their voices of angels), André Previn conducting the St. Luke's Orchestra, a gospel choir, a boy's choir, Winton Marsalis on trumpet—over one hundred musicians on stage—and you have the basic facts of this concert: but add synergy and inspiration, talent and Christmas, and you have this twenty-six-year-old triumph.
The many pleasures of the concert make it fresh and new each time I hear it. Standouts include a Battle and von Stade duet: Humperdinck's "Evening Prayer" from Hansel and Gretel; Michael Praetorius' hymn "Lo, How a Rose E're Blooming," sung a cappella by von Stade and the two choirs (there is no more beautiful rendition); another thrilling Battle and von Stade duet, Reger's "Maria Weigenlied"—all leading to an electrifying eleven-minute medley, which includes "I Saw Three Ships," "Noel, Noel" and "Away in a Manger," among others, and featuring the combined choirs, the orchestra, and all of the soloists. Kathleen Battle sings in glorious descant again and again, and after the final notes her exuberant voice carries on into the applause and standing ovation.
Hear this concert. It will bring you joy.
I created "And They Came with Haste," the image above, in 2006. It is based on Mandelbrot fractals. The title is from Luke 2:19; the setting for this verse is the manger and the visit there of the shepherds—who had just heard angels sing: "And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger."
