Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols

With a TV and radio audience of millions, the annual broadcast of the Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols is an essential Christmas tradition for families all over the world. The debut album from the Choir of King's College, Cambridge's own label features a specially recorded performance of this evergreen favorite that includes many of the most well-known Christmas carols as well as new commissions from some of today's most popular composers. The choir's performance faithfully recreates the service, opening with a lone treble singing Once in Royal David's City and closing with a rousing chorus of Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. Each year the choir's Director of Music Stephen Cleobury commissions a new carol, several of which are included on this album. In addition, John Rutter was commissioned to write a new carol All Bells in Paradise especially for this album. The Choir of King's College, Cambridge is one of the world's foremost choirs. It owes it's existence to King Henry VI, who envisaged the daily singing of services in his magnificent chapel. The choir has been a breeding ground for numerous professional singers, many of whom will appear on forthcoming recordings from the new label.