Latest Choir Disc garners critical acclaim

The Choir of Merton College, Oxford, has earned significant acclaim for their latest CD, "Gabriel Jackson's The Christmas Story." This album has been awarded Editor's Choice by Gramophone magazine, and received a five-star review and been named one of the critic's choice best albums for Christmas 2024 by The Times.

Gramophone praises the album as a "major follow-up" to Jackson's previous collaboration with Benjamin Nicholas and the Choir of Merton College, "The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ." The review highlights the intricate sequences of motets, antiphons, responsories, and Gospel settings that guide listeners from Advent to Candlemas. The choir's performance, particularly the excellent Girl Choristers of Merton, is lauded for its bright, focused sound and immaculate diction. Conductor Benjamin Nicholas is commended for his deft shaping of each piece, from the folksy drone for the shepherds to the hazy-radiant "O magnum mysterium."

The Times calls the album "the year’s most striking Christmas release," highlighting its ambitious, multilayered creation that spans major Christian liturgical feasts. The review emphasizes the impressive and moving performances by the choir, the girl choristers, and the Oxford Contemporary Sinfonia, with its striking instrumental lineup of trombones, strings, and saxophone. The Times also praises the recording's excellent quality.

These accolades from Gramophone Magazine and The Times solidify "Gabriel Jackson's The Christmas Story" as a must-have album for the festive season, showcasing the exceptional talent and dedication of the Choir of Merton College and their Director of Music, Benjamin Nicholas.