Recorded live at St Francis of Assisi Church, Paddington NSW in December 2016, this is a Christmas celebration like only the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra and Choir, under their charismatic artistic director Paul Dyer, can create. For over a decade, the Brandenburg’s annual Christmas concerts have been a staple festive celebration for thousands across Australia, and several have become best-selling albums. But this is the first time the joy can be witnessed on DVD, in this new CD / DVD release from ABC Classics. Noël! Noël! features brilliant New Zealand soprano Madison Nonoa, who sings the sumptuous Renaissance lament Con qué la lavaré, Silent Night and more. In a typically wide-ranging choice of music, beloved carols such as God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and O Little Town of Bethlehem sit alongside joyous instrumental celebrations, including Vivaldi’s Concerto for Two Trumpets. And the Choir revel in contemporary gems including Ola Gjeilo’s The Spheres and a beautiful arrangement of Ben Folds’ love-song The Luckiest. Noël! Noël! touches on the religious but is firmly grounded in the spiritual. It’s a celebration of the festive that will fill your heart with cheer.