Italian Christmas

Featuring

Andreu Ferrandis
Andrew Lepri Meyer
Emma Schied
Eunkyung Shin
Fritz Schwinghammer
Howard Arman

Ivanna Ternay
Jesús Villa Ordónez
Max Hanft
Natalie Schwaabe
Ramón Ortega Quero
Relja Kalapiš
Ruth Volpert
Chen Reiss
Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Münchner Rundfunkorchester
Ottorino Respighi
Anonymous (Christmas)
Francesco Paolo Frontini
Giacomo Puccini

Did you know?

1/7

Notable Performances

The premiere of Respighi's Lauda per la Natività del Signore in 1930 was conducted by the composer himself, with his wife Elsa singing the mezzo-soprano role of Mary.

Recording & Production

This album includes both studio recordings from Munich in 2024 and a live recording from Hilpoltstein in 2016.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Ottorino Respighi, the composer of Lauda per la Natività del Signore, frequently engaged with historical art forms, including arrangements of early music and compositions based on Gregorian chants.

Composer Biography

Francesco Paolo Frontini, born in Catania, Sicily, is primarily remembered for his songs and numerous collections of Sicilian folk songs, rather than his operas or other larger works.

Compositional Technique

Respighi's Lauda per la Natività del Signore uses woodwind instruments, four-handed piano, and a triangle to evoke the sound of Italian shepherd music.

Performer Biography

Howard Arman, the conductor on this album, was the Artistic Director of the Bavarian Radio Chorus from 2016 to 2022 and is an honorary conductor of the MDR Radio Choir.