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    Christmas Music: a buyer's guide

    Christmas music is an important consideration at this time of year. Your music choices on the big day can either lead to harmonious present-opening and the perfect Christmas dinner ambience, or a miserable day all round. So which Christmas records should you shell out for? Allow Classic FM to help…

    1. christmas music buyers guide

      1. A Christmas Present from Polyphony

      This one wins the cover art prize for its fanciful depiction of a cherub cycling in the sky, but that doesn't take attention away from the incredible music from Polyphony and Stephen Layton.

    2. christmas music buyers guide

      2. Three Tenors Christmas

      The legendary Three Tenors made their play for the festive season with this fantastic collection of Christmassy favourites. Adeste Fidelis, Silent Night, Oh Tannenbaum… classics old and new are given the tenor treatment.

    3. christmas music buyers guide

      3. A Welsh Male Voice Choir Christmas

      There's something about the sound of a Welsh Male Voice Choir that sets them apart from other types of ensemble. And if you're as addicted to that sound as we are, then you'll love this mammoth festive collection.

    4. christmas music buyers guide

      4. Bryn Terfel - Carols & Christmas Songs

      Another fantastic piece of festive cover art - just look at that knitwear! The track listing is pretty good too, with guest spots from tenor Rolando Villazon and harpist Catrin Finch. Delightfully cosy listening and with a high Welsh-language content.

    5. christmas music buyers guide

      5. A Leroy Anderson Christmas

      The great Leroy Anderson skips merrily through the Christmas standards with the help of the Boston Pops Orchestra. Delightful arrangements of all the classics that are bound to have you rocking around the Christmas tree. Well, dancing round it at least.

    6. christmas music buyers guide

      6. Carols from Kings College

      Looking for traditional carols sung beautifully? Look no further than this perennial favourite, with Sir David Willcocks presiding over the magnificent King's College Choir for classics like Once In Royal David's City and O Little Town of Bethlehem.

    7. christmas music buyers guide

      7. Nigel Hess - Silent Nights

      Nigel Hess' piano versions of Christmas classics is definitely one for after the wrapping paper's been thrown out and you've put the dishwasher on. Perfectly blissful and relaxing once all the stress of Christmas is out of the way.

    8. christmas music buyers guide

      8. Libera - The Christmas Album

      The South-London boys' choir tackle all the Christmas bangers - Once In Royal David's City, O Holy Night, and even a take on Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.

    9. christmas music buyers guide

      9. Katherine Jenkins - This Is Christmas

      She turned on the Classic FM Christmas music this year with Jamie Crick, and so our Katherine is a natural choice. Her Christmas album is full of old favourites, but the stand-out is a haunting O Come O Come Emmanuel.

    10. christmas music buyers guide

      10. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - A Classical Christmas

      This one does exactly what it says on the tin. Want to hear all your favourites played impeccably by one of the best orchestras in the world? Look no further. They do a cracking version of Little Drummer Boy.

    11. christmas music buyers guide

      11. Trevor Pinnock - Christmas Concertos

      Trevor Pinnock and The English Concert take a refined look at Christmas Concertos from the baroque masters. So that's Vivaldi, Handel, Corelli and plenty more.

    12. christmas music buyers guide

      12. Howard Goodall's Enchanted Carols

      Another spin on all those Christmas carols you know and love. As Classic FM's Composer in Residence, Howard Goodall gathered together a top-notch ensemble to produce a gorgeous album, perfect for an especially tranquil Christmas.

    13. christmas music buyers guide

      13. The John Rutter Christmas Album

      If you've ever sung in a choir, you'll know that Christmas isn't Christmas without at least a little bit of John Rutter. His unique melodic skills are put to amazing use and, thanks to The Cambridge Singers, sound magical.

    14. juan diego florez santo

      14. Juan-Diego Florez - Santo

      The Peruvian tenor takes us on a personal journey through Christmas. With a voice like his, carols and songs like O Holy Night and O Come All Ye Faithful sound unbelievable. And no, we didn't pick it because the name sounds a bit like 'Santa'.

    15. christmas music buyers guide

      15. John Rutter - A Christmas Festival

      The RPO, the Cambridge Singers and John Rutter. What more could you want? Another Rutter entry in our guide, but he's pretty much the King of Christmas music so we thought he deserved a second spot. You'll see why when you listen!

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