{"product_id":"dsl92216-imagine-christmas","title":"Imagine Christmas","description":"Sono Luminus presents \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eImagine Christmas\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e, an album featuring twelve Christmas classics re-imagined by some of the label’s top recording artists. Producer Dan Merceruio began asking artists coming to record at the label’s renowned studio to consider providing a track for a new Christmas-themed album. He says, \u003cem\u003e“They could do anything they wanted with a Christmas classic, as long as they put their individual stamp on it.”\u003c\/em\u003e\r\n\r\nYou will be aware of three striking elements on this album, from the minute you press play. The first is the quality of the performances. These are top-level musicians bringing their same superlative artistry to Christmas favorites that they do to a Schubert quartet or Taverner score. The second is the sterling quality of the recording. If there is a sonic equivalent to sipping a hot toddy while curled up before a roaring fire, it is Sono Luminus’ peerless mixes and captures. Third – and in every way as essential as the previous two – this is a kaleidoscopic collection of styles and interpretations of beloved songs and carols that keeps the listener eager for the next number. With such a fetching variety of artists and approaches, you will go top-to-tail on this one.\r\n\r\nSimplicity is an underrated avenue when it comes to holiday releases, so the entries by \u003cstrong\u003eIrina Muresanu\u003c\/strong\u003e \u0026amp; \u003cstrong\u003eMatei Varga\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eBruce Levingston\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eKathryn Bates\u003c\/strong\u003e, and \u003cstrong\u003eSkylark Vocal Ensemble\u003c\/strong\u003e are a breath of proverbial fresh air. Muresanu’s seductive playing is a glimpse into the golden age of violin technique – lush vibrato and delicious sentimentality, which infuses “\u003cem\u003eWhite Christmas\u003c\/em\u003e” with every bit of nostalgia one could hope for.\r\n\r\nOne can imagine twirling 19th-century gowns in Levingston’s solo piano rendition of Tchaikovsky’s “\u003cem\u003eChristmas\u003c\/em\u003e,” with frictionless phrasing that plays like freshly sharpened skates on virgin ice. Heading over to cellist Kathryn Bates’s reimagining of “\u003cem\u003eSanta Claus is Comin’ to Town\u003c\/em\u003e,” we are tucked into a bed of extravagant resonance, spinning arpeggios, and all the anticipation and delightful impatience of a child for whom morning cannot arrive soon enough.\r\n\r\nAnd of course, Skylark. With “\u003cem\u003eHave Yourself A Merry Little Christmas\u003c\/em\u003e,” this chamber choir presents an intoxicating wistfulness that will find the listener awaking to find herself gazing out an ice-encrusted window when the final notes fade.\r\n\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eAmerican Contemporary Music Ensemble\u003c\/strong\u003e\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eBruce Levingston\u003c\/strong\u003e\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eCaleb Nei\u003c\/strong\u003e\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eCory Hills\u003c\/strong\u003e\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eCuarteto Latinoamericano \u0026amp; Lydia Lewis\u003c\/strong\u003e\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eEnsemble Galilei\u003c\/strong\u003e\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eIrina Muresanu \u0026amp; Matei Varga\u003c\/strong\u003e\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eJasper String Quartet\u003c\/strong\u003e\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eKathryn Bates\u003c\/strong\u003e\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eRonn McFarlane\u003c\/strong\u003e\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eSkylark Vocal Ensemble\u003c\/strong\u003e\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eStewart Goodyear\u003c\/strong\u003e\r\n\r\n[embed]https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=-GVMc5dpG-0[\/embed]","brand":"Sono Luminus","offers":[{"title":"DSD 128 \/ 2ch Stereo","offer_id":56739155706180,"sku":"DSL92216-15","price":25.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"DXD 24 Bit \/ 2ch Stereo","offer_id":56739155738948,"sku":"DSL92216-22","price":25.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"DSD 256 \/ 2ch Stereo","offer_id":56739155771716,"sku":"DSL92216-16","price":29.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"DSD 512 \/ 2ch Stereo","offer_id":56739155804484,"sku":"DSL92216-21","price":35.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"FLAC 192 kHz \/ 2ch Stereo","offer_id":56739155837252,"sku":"DSL92216-6","price":20.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"FLAC 96 kHz \/ 2ch Stereo","offer_id":56739155870020,"sku":"DSL92216-7","price":19.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"DSD 64 \/ 2ch Stereo","offer_id":57310134174020,"sku":"DSL92216-14","price":23.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0966\/7900\/2436\/files\/DSL92216-1.jpg?v=1790497315","url":"https:\/\/www.nativedsd.com\/products\/dsl92216-imagine-christmas","provider":"NativeDSD Music","version":"1.0","type":"link"}