Artist	Song
Chicago Symphony Chorus, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Margaret Hillis & Sir Georg Solti	Messiah: 42. Chorus: "Hallelujah"
from Handel: Messiah (1985)
Mormon Tabernacle Choir & Orchestra At Temple Square	Carol of the Bells
from A Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas (2000)
Orchestra of the Kirov Opera, St. Petersburg & Valery Gergiev	The Nutcracker, Op.71: Overture
from Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (1998)
Choir of St. Mary's Cathedral, Matthew Owens & Simon Nieminski	Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
from Angelus ad Virginem: Music for Advent and Christmas (2007)
Sir David Willcocks & The Bach Choir	Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht
from Essential Christmas: 35 Seasonal Favourites (2002)
Plácido Domingo	Cantique De Noël (O Holy Night)
from Christmas Favorites from the World's Favorite Tenors (1993)
Denis de Coteau & San Francisco Ballet Orchestra	Nutcracker: Act 2: Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy
from Nutcracker (1998)
London Symphony Orchestra & Sir Neville Marriner	Lieutenant Kijé, Symphonic Suite, Op. 60: IV. Troïka
from Prokofiev: Favourite Orchestral Suites (1994)
Andrea Bocelli	Angels We Have Heard On High
from My Christmas (2009)
Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, William Lacey & Winchester College Chapel Choir	O come, all ye faithful
from Christmas with Winchester College Chapel Choir (2005)
Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, William Lacey & Winchester College Chapel Choir	Joy to the World
from Christmas with Winchester College Chapel Choir (2005)
Olivier Vernet	Weinachtsbaum I Psallite
from Franz Liszt: The Organ Works, Das Orgelwerk, Integrale de l'oeuvre pour orgue (2003)
Eugene Ormandy & The Philadelphia Orchestra	Polonaise from Christmas Eve Suite
from Russian Orchestral Works - Rimsky-Korsakov: Le Coq d'or - Khachaturian: Sabre Dance - Mussorgsky: Hopak (1996)
Aarhus Symphony Orchestra & Bo Holten	Sleigh Ride
from Delius: Norwegian Masterworks (2007)
Ambrosian Singers, Dame Joan Sutherland, John McCarthy, New Philharmonia Orchestra & Richard Bonynge	The Twelve Days of Christmas
from Essential Christmas: 35 Seasonal Favourites (2002)
Academy of Ancient Music, Christopher Hogwood, Oxford Choir of Christ Church Cathedral & Simon Preston	Messiah: XII. Chorus: "For Unto Us a Child Is Born"
from Handel: Messiah (1991)
Robert Shaw & Robert Shaw Chamber Singers	Ceremony of Carols, Op. 28: Wolcum Yole!
from A Robert Shaw Christmas: Angels on High (1997)
Andrea Bocelli	The Lords Prayer
from My Christmas (2009)
London Symphony Orchestra & Vienna Boys Choir	Good King Wenceslas
from The Millennia Collection: Best-Loved Christmas Carols (2001)
The King's Singers	Bogoroditsye dyevo
from King's Singers - Christmas (2005)
Atlanta Symphony Chorus, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Robert Shaw	L'enfance du Christ, Op. 25: L'adieu des bergers (The Shepherds' Farewell)
from Choral Masterpieces (1985)
Academy of Ancient Music & Christopher Hogwood	Sinfonia from Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248
from Pachelbel: Canon & Other Baroque Favorites (1994)
Orchestra of the Kirov Opera, St. Petersburg & Valery Gergiev	The Nutcracker, Op.71: No. 2 March
from Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (1998)
Yo-Yo Ma	Dona nobis pacem (Give Us Peace)
from Songs of Joy & Peace (Deluxe Version) (2009)
Anne Sofie von Otter, English Baroque Soloists & John Eliot Gardiner	Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248: XXXI. Aria (Alto): "Schließe, mein Herze, dies selige Wunder"
from J. S. Bach: Christmas Oratorio (1987)
José Carreras, Luciano Pavarotti & Plácido Domingo	Ave Maria, Dolce Maria
from The Three Tenors Christmas (2000)
Richard Marlow & The Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge	6 Spruche, Op. 79: No. 1. Weinachten
from Mendelssohn: Sacred Choral Works (2006)
Festival Strings Lucerne & Rudolf Baumgartner	Concerto in C, Op. 3, No. 12 -"Christmas Concerto": I. Largo (Pastorale Per Il Santissimo Natale)
from The Four Seasons - A Musical Calendar of Favourite Classics (2003)
Harry Christophers & The Sixteen	The Coventry Carol
from A Traditional Christmas Carol Collection from The Sixteen (2005)
John Scott, Sir David Willcocks & The Bach Choir	Shepherd's Pipe Carol
from A Christmas Nativity (2005)
Choir Of King's College, Cambridge & Sir David Willcocks	Torches. Carol-Gaul
from Noël - Christmas At King's College (1995)
Mormon Tabernacle Choir	O Tannenbaum
from Joy to the World (1993)
The King's Singers	Noël nouvelet
from King's Singers - Christmas (2005)
John Eliot Gardiner & Monteverdi Choir	Es Ist Ein' Ros' Entsprungen
from Christmas Adagios (2001)
Apollo's Fire	Sweet was the Song the Virgin Sang
from Noels & Carols From The Olde World (2004)
Choir Of King's College, Cambridge & Sir David Willcocks	Legenda (Legend;The Crown of Roses) Op. 54, No. 5
from Noël - Christmas At King's College (1995)
Jitka Cechova & Olga Cerna	Songs from the Hry o Marii [The Miracles of Mary], H. 236: Narozeni Pane [Christ's Nativity]
from Martinu: Songs for Mezzo-soprano and Piano (2005)
Kansas City Chorale	A Christmas Carol
from Nativitas (1997)
London Philharmonic Orchestra & Sir Adrian Boult	The Holy Boy (A Carol of the Nativity) for String Orchestra
from Boult Conducts Bridge & Ireland (2007)
Curtis Watson, Donald Maxwell, John Dobson & Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden	Amahl and the Night Visitors: From Far Away We Come
from Menotti: Amahl and the Night Visitors (1998)
Wurttemberg Chamber Orchestra & Günther Kehr	Concerto Grosso in G Minor, Op. 6:8 "Christmas Concerto": II. Allegro
from 20 Best of Classical Music (2008)
Choir Of King's College, Cambridge, David Briggs, Robin Barter & Stephen Cleobury	Once In Royal David's City
from Christmas Adagios (2001)
Cambridge Singers, John Rutter & City of London Sinfonia	Christmas Lullaby
from John Rutter Christmas Album (2002)
John Eliot Gardiner, Julian Podger & Monteverdi Choir	Alma Redemptoris Mater
from Once, As I Remember... (2001)
Andrea Bocelli	Cantique de Noel
from My Christmas (2009)
Orchestra of the Kirov Opera, St. Petersburg & Valery Gergiev	The Nutcracker, Op.71: No. 12d Character Dances: Trépak (Russian Dance)
from Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (1998)
Monteverdi Choir & John Eliot Gardiner	O magnum mysterium
from Once, As I Remember... (2001)
Brass Ensemble of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra	Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht
from Herbert Von Karajan - A Christmas Concert (1987)
Finzi Singers, Paul Spicer & Susanna Spicer	Christ’s Nativity, Christmas Suite: No. 2. Sweet Was the Song
from Britten: Chorale Edition, Vol. 2 (1998)
Gavin Sutherland & The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra	A Carol Symphony: IV. Allegro energico come prima
from Hely-Hutchinson: A Carol Symphony (2002)
I Virtuosi Di Lugano	Christmas concert
from Baroque Festival (2007)
Mormon Tabernacle Choir & Orchestra At Temple Square	The First Noel
from A Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas (2000)
Harry Christophers & The Sixteen	In the Bleak Midwinter
from A Traditional Christmas Carol Collection from The Sixteen (2005)
Cambridge Singers, John Rutter & City of London Sinfonia	Love came down at Christmas
from John Rutter Christmas Album (2002)
Luciano Pavarotti	Agnus Dei
from Christmas Favorites from the World's Favorite Tenors (1993)
Academy of St. Martin In the Fields, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chorus & Sir Neville Marriner	Ding Dong! Merrily On High
from Christmas With the Academy (2000)
Debra Torok	Christmas Music: God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
from Norman Dello Joio: Complete Works for Piano, Vol. 3 - Family Album, Five Images, Stage Parodies (2001)
Eugene Corporon & North Texas University Wind Ensemble	Sussex Mummers' Christmas Carol
from Composer's Collection: Percy Aldridge Grainger (2006)
Cleveland Sinfonia Sacra & Frances Gress Burmeister	The Nativity According to St. Luke: Nowel (Chorus)
from Thompson: The Nativity According to St. Luke (2001)
Choir Of King's College, Cambridge & Sir David Willcocks	Christ Was Born On Christmas Day
from Noël - Christmas At King's College (1995)
Antoni Wit, Olga Pasichnik, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra & Polish Radio Choir of Kraków	Twenty Polish Christmas Carols: Lullaby, Jesus
from Lutoslawski: Twenty Polish Christmas Carols - Lacrimosa - Five Songs (2005)
St.Elijah Childrens Choir	Sleep, O Jesus (Christmas Carol)
from Anthology Of Sacred Music (2002)
Robert Shaw & Robert Shaw Chamber Singers	Ceremony of Carols, Op. 28: This Little Babe
from A Robert Shaw Christmas: Angels on High (1997)
Anne Sofie von Otter, Bengan Jansson, Markus Leoson & Svante Henryson	Noel
from Home for Christmas (1999)
Harry Christophers & The Sixteen	The Sussex Carol
from A Traditional Christmas Carol Collection from The Sixteen (2005)
Alfred Deller & The Deller Consort	Here We Come A-Wassailing
from The Complete Vanguard Classics Recordings, Vol. 3: Music for the Christmas Season (2008)
Vienna Boys Choir, Peter Marschik & Instrumental Ensemble	Es Wird Schon Glei Dumpa
from Christmas Songs (1998)
Luciano Pavarotti, London Voices, National Philharmonic Orchestra & Kurt Herbert Adler	Adeste Fideles (O Come, All Ye Faithful)
from The Three Tenors at Christmas (2008)
MONKS CHOIR OF KIEV-PECHERSK LAVRA	Christmas Carol
from Selected Chants of the Russian Orthodox Church (2002)
Concerto delle Donne	The Nativity of Christ: Noël - Où s'en vont ces gays bergers?
from Music for the Virgin Mary: Celebrating 300 Years of Charpentier (2006)
Benjamin Nicholas	Welcome, Yule!
from The Three Kings - Music for Christmas from Tewkesbury Abbey (2007)
English String Orchestra & William Boughton	Sir Roger de Coverley: A Christmas Dance
from Finzi - Parry - Bridge - An English Suite (2006)
Gavin Sutherland & The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra	A Carol Symphony: I. Allegro energico
from Hely-Hutchinson: A Carol Symphony (2002)

Comment:

Christmas pop songs are plenty of fun, but if you want to cut right to the core of what the holiday is all about, you’ve got to go straight to the source: classical music. Not only were these carols, arias, and hymns written specifically to tell the traditional Christmas tale — you know, the manger, the Three Wise Men, the whole deal — they’ve stood the test of time. How many other songs have stayed in the public consciousness for centuries, after all? Whether you know these classic songs from their original sources or their endless adaptations into pop culture, they’re an indelible part of the season. And we’ve gathered up the most vital versions of these Yuletide tunes, by classical music’s mightiest men and women, to bring you the classiest Christmas you’ve ever heard!

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