Polyphony's approach to this music is perfect in its vocal purity and innocence, and yet it is mature enough for the clean energy that John Rutter's more sprightly music demands.  The orchestral arrangements are superb - the City of London Sinfonia's tight ensemble playing envelops the choir in a warm blanket of sound, complementing it perfectly.  More than a stocking-filler, this disc is surely one of the highlights of the year.

In an introduction to this disc of Christmas music, John Rutter tellingly commends the Christmas carol as one of the few forms that permits "serious" composers to write tunes, regardless of whatever political correctness rules the avant-garde of the day. And he's been exploiting that licence with a vengeance ever since, as a Cambridge student, he composed the jaunty little number that remains his greatest hit--"The Shepherd's Pipe Carol". Needless to say it's on this disc, along with the good, bad and indifferent of his Christmas output through the past 40 years, immaculately sung by one of the most accomplished professional choirs in the business under its superlatively accomplished founder-director Stephen Layton.

 And I defy anyone inclined to marginalise Rutter as middlebrow not to be touched by the eloquence, charm and craft of his work when it's done like this, in ideal conditions. At its worst the music is derivative but fun. At best it's irresistibly endearing. Not for nothing does he rival Howard Blake as English music's Mr Christmas, and this seasonally timed release delivers the evidence encyclopaedically - it's a perfect stocking-filler.

Michael White

"The performances are uniformly excellent; Stephen Layton and his Polyphony vocal ensemble have shown a previous affinity for Rutter's work and this effort simply reaffirms their commitment to and love for this very special music. The recording captures choir and the various orchestral forces at their best in the favourable acoustics of London's All Saints Church, Tooting....as one commentator said, it's become part of the "soundtrack" to the Christmas season. Enjoy!"

For lighter fare, the English equivalent of those Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops renditions of "Sleigh Ride" and other Christmas favorites from the '60's and '70's, it's hard to beat the music of John Rutter. Whether listening to his original "Shepherd's Pipe Carol" or his arrangement of "Silent Night," there's an irresistibly friendly charm to Rutter's music. Its warm, cozy, friends around the fire feel is perfect background for a holiday get-together, or to cheer you up as you contemplate what all your Xmas lights are going to do to your electric bill.

Rutter's name is known to many audiophiles from the superb Reference Recordings disc of his attractive Requiem. This disc will further endear his name to lovers of good music. The amassed English forces sound wonderful in this well-recorded music: relaxed, comfy, and filled with good cheer.