The ingredients
J. Anderson | Monterey, CA USA | 12/22/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a perfect King's Singers recording filled with Christmas music. The sustained success of this group of six English gentlemen is legendary, but not surprising. The ingredients for that success have remained the same for many years, through varying personnel, and across a very wide-ranging repertory of a capella music. First and foremost, these men are true musicians - musicians first, singers and interpreters second. Musicianship consisting of equal parts learning and attentive transmission, the King's Singers are immaculate musicians - attuned, commited, ready, and fortunately blessed with musical intelligence to guide their choices of material. Second, and as important in my view, these men are comrades. In their recently released DVD, one finds abundant evidence of a committment not only to their art, but to each other. A capella singing by nature revealing, you'll find no seams in the singing of this mastergroup. Everything is seen to, raised up, compelling - and ever beautiful. This is authentic art of the gods. As fond as I am of Chanticleer, and of Harry Christopher's The Sixteen, the work of those fine ensembles pales when compared to the lingering beauty of the King's Singers. Constant invention is one of the hallmarks of their recorded legacy, and is bountiful on this disc - voicings, approaches, and a magical communion of voices. Check out Ariel Ramirez' instantly amenable 'La peregrinacion' and you'll never turn back. Big recommendation."