A Gala Christmas in Vienna

From its jubilant beginning with "Christmas Prologue" (Christian Kolonovits' melange of familiar Christmas tunes), to its fitting conclusion with all four soloists joined in "Silent Night," A GALA CHRISTMAS IN VIENNA provides the expected blockbuster holiday cheer. This concert is the fifth in the "Christmas in Vienna" series featuring Placido Domingo with assorted stars of classical and popular music.
Sarah Brightman–riding the success of her crossover album TIME TO SAY GOODBYE and its collaboration with Andrea Bocelli–contributes primarily to the pop-flavored selections, but still offers an attractive contribution to the program. Belgian sensation Helmut Lotti turns in a mostly believable imitation of Johnny Mathis in "Adeste Fideles" and betrays his interest in Elvis Presley in "Christmas is Here Again." Domingo's "An Old Fashioned Christmas" will be more familiar to many listeners from Frank Sinatra's Christmas album; Domingo's reading is straightforward and in his own style.

Composer: Traditional, Hans Zimmer, Howard Blake, John Francis Wade, James R. Murray,
Sammy Cahn, Barry Gibb, Roger Whittaker, John Frederic Coots,
Franz Xaver Gruber, Domingo, Placido, Jr., Ian Anderson, John Lennon
Performer: Placido Domingo, Sarah Brightman, Riccardo Cocciante, Helmut Lotti
Conductor: Steven Mercurio, Paul Bateman
Orchestra/Ensemble: Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Gumpoldskirch Boys Choir, English National Opera Orchestra

Track listing:
01. Christmas Prologue
02. Deck the Halls (Traditional Welsh) - Placido Domingo
03. The Closing of the Year Sarah (Trevor Horn & Hans Zimmer) - Brightman, Placido Domingo
04. Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle (Traditional Italian) - Riccardo Cocciante
05. Walking in the Air (Howard Blake) - Placido Domingo, Riccardo Cocciante
06. Adeste Fideles (Traditional) - Helmut Lotti
07. Away in a Manger (James R.Murray) - Placido Domingo, Helmut Lotti
08. An Old-Fashioned Christmas (Sammy Cahn & Jimmy Van Heusen) - Placido Domingo
09. First of May (Robin Gibb - Maurice Gibb - Barry Gibb) - Sarah Brightman
10. Il Re Gesu (Placido Domingo, jr.) - Placido Domingo, Riccardo Cocciante
11. Interlude
MEDLEY
12. Frohliche Weihnacht (Traditional German)
13. Cantemos Rapaces (Traditional Spanish)
14. Christmas is Here Again (Roger Whittaker)
15. Child in a Manger (Traditional Welsh)
16. Angels from the Realms of Glory (Traditional French)
17. Another Christmas Song (Ian Anderson)
18. Santa Claus is Coming to Town (J. Fred Coots & Haven Gillespie)
19. Happy Christmas (War is Over) (John Lennon - Yoko Ono)
20. Silent Night - Placido Domingo, Sarah Brightman, Riccardo Cocciante, Helmut Lotti