Catalogue Connection: 25186

Three sopranos, accompanied by pianist Sarah Down, present Kalanda (Greek Christ¬mas carols) by contemporary Greek composer Cilia Petridou. Petridou composed both the music and lyrics for these carols, and they are performed here with reverent artistry by capable performers.

Petridou favors traditional modal melodies, and these songs have a folk-like character that is appropriate to their subject matter. They present few technical challenges to the singers. In all 14 songs, the vocal line is often doubled by the piano—a compositional technique that may make the songs more accessible, but also makes for a somewhat monotonous texture.

A standout is the austere ‘Holy Night’, sung with great warmth and sensitivity by soprano Alison Smart. All three sopranos singing in unison in the final two selections.

Recorded sound is excellent, with voices well balanced against the piano. Complete texts and translations are included, as well as a lengthy and informative essay by the composer. This is a bit of a musical curiosity, and may not be to everyone’s taste. Still, it is executed with great care and professionalism, and offers a compelling look at some unique vocal repertoire.

Simple settings for soprano and piano that reveal their composer’s Greek-Cypriot heritage. One for those who prefer a more restrained Christmas. (Three stars awarded out of four)

This qualifies as both old and new: the Greek kalanda, or carols, an old format, are given new life by this modern Cyprus-born composer. If you are sated with Jingle Bells and all the faux-bonhomie pumped out by the likes of Magic FM – a hazard of my podiatrist’s waiting room – most of the music listed here and in my main article will soothe the troubled breast, but this soprano(s)-plus-piano recital will do especially well. The delicate drawing by Cilia Petridou’s father on the cover neatly sums up the mood of the music.

If, like me, you retain a few rags and tatters of classical and New Testament Greek – ‘these fragments I have shored against my ruins’ – part of the fun of reading the booklet is to pick out the odd word which survives in almost unaltered form. I don’t think, however, that there was a classical word for ‘reindeer’ or ‘sleigh’ (elaphakia, elkéthro). Saint Basil (Ayios Basileios) takes the role of Father Christmas in the Greek Orthodox tradition; his feast day is January 1st, the day for giving gifts as it was in England in Tudor times. In the Roman and Anglican calendars, his day is June 14th.

A rather different tradition of Christmas is represented by The Mystery of Christmas on Divine Art, here we have Greek Kalanda (carols) composed by Cilia Petridou. Setting traditional texts of Petridou’s own, we have a series of songs sung by Jenni Harper, Lesley-Jane Rogers and Alison Smart with piano accompaniment from Sarah Down. The Greek texts represent a slightly different view of the traditional Christmas, echoing the Greek Orthodox celebrations. Of Greek-Cypriot origin, Petridou studied at the Vienna Academy and the Royal Academy of Music, and her attractively melodic music has its own distinctive traditional elements to it too. The CD booklet, though, gives you little background to the music and concentrates instead on the art of Petridou’s father, whose drawing graces the CD cover.

This is a collection of songs for the festive season although, as it doesn’t sound “festive”, you get year-round value. The lyrics are Christmas-related but sung in Greek (translations provided).

The sleeve/Press notes say that there is a tradition among the Greek people of the singing of carols (kalanda) on Christmas Eve. The notes reference St Basil: in Greek tradition, he brings gifts to children on 1st January (St Basil’s Day), and families serve bread baked with a coin inside, and visit the homes of friends and relatives, to sing new year carols. (St Nicholas’s feast day is 6th December and he does not carry any special association with gifts).

To be honest, the composer saves the reviewer any effort. The carols have been composed by Greek-Cypriot composer Cilia Petridou — the Press notes say they are more art-song — and in her chatty and friendly sleeve notes, she says she has been “very lucky” with the singers, all sopranos, Jenni Harper, Lesley-Jane Rogers, Alison Smart. The sopranos each take a number of solo carols and form a trio for the last two. Pianist Sarah Down accompanies.

Petridou explains that the words are mostly her own, which allowed her to adapt the text to musical complexities “that should provide a satisfying challenge to the ear of listeners familiar with classical music” — although the music is more satisfying and less challenging.

“Once assimilated, (it) should ease the path towards a better understanding and appreciation of that genre for those less familiar with it,” she adds. “Once initiated, the listener can derive so much satisfaction from classical music.”

And it’s true, after hearing the clear and simple tones of Harper, Rogers and Smart, you might try some more forbidding vocals.

The music sounds traditional and the composer explains that nostalgia plays a major part. She talks as much about her father as the music; he drew the sleeve art and the drawing “became a trigger which caused so many memories to come flooding back — in particular memories filled with the joy we both felt at Christmas time and memories of our shared passion for the artistic paths we had chosen,” she writes.

It may not sound Christmassy to non-Greek ears but celebrating the family is part of Christmas and this is lovely music to do that to. And, as she says, novices to classical music who might be deterred by phrases like “art-song” will enjoy it.