Gallic Sheen

Christmas choral music
from Arsys Bourgogne -
heard by
KEITH BRAMICH

'... a well-recommended stocking-filler ...'

chants de noël du monde. Arsys Bourgogne / Pierre Cao. © 2012 Naïve

This disc of 'Christmas songs around the world' from French label naïve has something of the appeal of the European Broadcasting Union's annual Christmas music relay from around Europe, with a mix varied enough that few will fail to find something of interest.

Arsys Bourgogne, a respected choir from Burgundy, created in 1999 and supported by three levels of government -- Burgundy's Regional Council, Yonne General Council and the French Minister of Culture and Communication -- sings here in seven different languages.

Respected Luxembourgish conductor Pierre Cao (born 1937) operates in several European countries, working with choirs and training choral conductors, passing on some of the knowledge and techniques learned since he became a choral conductor aged eighteen. Here he produces a stylish collection of short choral Christmas items, and not without that important element of fun...