A Christmas Carol

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A Christmas Carol

Tradition And Innovation In A Stunning Holiday Tapestry.

Edit Master Sourced

Label Arlos Records

Artists Skylark Vocal Ensemble, Christine Baranski, Matthew Guard

€29,99 EUR

Tax included.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5OXsbHAxwM[/embed]

Now Available in Dolby Atmos TrueHD Immersive Audio

A Christmas Carol is Skylark Vocal Ensemble’s latest album at Native DSD. This is an imaginative choral-narrative retelling of Charles Dickens’s beloved 1843 story. Artistic Director Matthew Guard curates an abridged version of the original text, brought to life through narration by Stage, Film and TV Star Christine Baranski. Along with a newly composed, fully integrated score by Benedict Sheehan. The result is a “story score” that merges spoken word, original choral writing, and familiar traditional carols into a unified dramatic arc—an innovative approach that transforms the classic tale into a deeply musical experience. Listeners are guided through Scrooge’s journey by a narrator whose storytelling is interwoven with Skylark’s expressive vocal writing, creating a cinematic atmosphere that moves from the mysterious chill of winter to the warmth and jubilation of redemption. The ensemble’s luminous choral textures, paired with Sheehan’s evocative musical language, amplify the emotional sweep of the narrative and offer both the intimacy of a Christmas carol service and the scale of a theatrical production. A Christmas Carol stands as a distinctive, immersive holiday album that blends tradition with contemporary artistry. Christine Baranski, Narrator Skylark Vocal Ensemble Matthew Guard, Conductor

Tracklist

Total time: 01:14:43

1. Stave 1, Carol. The Truth from Above

02:11

2. Stave 1, In the Counting House. 'Marley was dead'

02:44

3. Stave 1, Surplus Population. 'His nephew left the room'

02:44

4. Stave 1, Carol. God rest you merry, gentlemen

01:51

5. Stave 1, Marley's Ghost. 'As Scrooge walked home'

03:19

6. Stave 1, Mankind was my Business. 'How now? Said Scrooge'

04:05

7. Stave 1, Carol. Remember

02:20

8. Stave 2, The Ghost of Christmas Past. 'Scrooge awoke to the chimes'

02:58

9. Stave 2, Little Fan. 'But it's too late now'

01:23

10. Stave 2, Carol. Sussex Carol

02:03

11. Stave 2, Fezziwig's Ball. 'They were now in the thoroughfares of the city'

04:29

12. Stave 2, Gain is Loss. 'Scrooge and the Ghost again stood side by side'

01:46

13. Stave 2, Carol. Auld Lang Syne

03:14

14. Stave 3, The Ghost of Christmas Present. 'Spirit, said Scrooge, in a broken voice'

02:33

15. Stave 3, Not a Handsome Family. 'As the Ghost rose, the room vanished instantly'

02:07

16. Stave 3, Carol. Silent night

02:25

17. Stave 3, A Vacant Seat. 'Spirit, said Scrooge, with an interest he had never felt before'

00:48

18. Stave 3, A Child Himself. 'Suddenly Scrooge found himself'

01:33

19. Stave 3, Carol. Deck the halls

01:46

20. Stave 3, The Bell Struck Twelve. 'Scrooge begged like a boy'

01:15

21. Stave 4, Ghost of the Future. 'Lifting up his eyes'

02:15

22. Stave 4, The Body of a Man. 'The scene had changed'

01:19

23. Stave 4, My Little Child. 'The Ghost conducted him to poor Bob Cratchit's house'

03:18

24. Stave 4, Carol. Coventry Carol

04:51

25. Stave 4, The Spirits of All Three. 'Spectre, said Scrooge'

01:54

26. Stave 4, Carol. Poverty Carol

02:54

27. Stave 5, Christmas Day. 'The bedpost was his own'

01:54

28. Stave 5, Back Payments. 'He dressed himself all in his best'

02:05

29. Stave 5, God Bless Us, Every One. 'Oh, and he was early at the office next morning'

01:52

30. Stave 5, Carol. It came upon the midnight clear

04:47

Additional Information

Label

Arlos Records

SKU

ARR0001D

Qualities

FLAC 96 kHz, DSD 64, DSD 128, DSD 256, DSD 512, DXD 24 Bit, FLAC 192 kHz, MKV 48 kHz

Channels

2ch Stereo, 7.1.4ch Dolby Atmos

Artists

Skylark Vocal Ensemble, Christine Baranski, Matthew Guard

Composers

Traditional, Sheehan (arr.), Sheehan, Gruber, Willis

Conductors

Matthew Guard

Genres

Classical

Original Recording Format

DXD 352.8 kHz 24 bit

Release Date

December 05, 2025

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Reviews

Limelight

Limelight

Something different, this one. The always interesting vocal ensemble Skylark and Hollywood star Christine Baranski (The Good Wife, Mamma Mia!) have joined forces on an evocative retelling of Charles Dickens’ evergreen seasonal morality tale, A Christmas Carol.

Composer Benedict Sheehan’s inventive choral score is positively filmic, underpinning the narrative with arrangements of traditional carols that slot in neatly alongside the drama, from the scene-setting opener (The Truth from Above) to a rousing God Rest You Merry Gentlemen that suggests a bustling Victorian street scene.

Baranski clearly enjoys herself. Pacing it all to perfection as her gruffness gradually morphs into bonhomie and seasonal joy. Matthew Guard’s conducting is assured, the vocals are to die for and the recorded sound is first-rate.

A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol

€29,99 EUR

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