I have two favorite performances of Christmas music.. They aren't chipmunks and they aren't rappers and they don't play the zither. First, the Irish tenor dear to my grandmother, Count John McCormack (1884-1946). Adeste Fideles with out of tune chimes, sweet tone and perfect diction. McCormack once asked Caruso, "How's the world's greatest tenor today?" to which Caruso replied, "Since when, Giovanni, did you become a baritone?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN2XY6AjChg And then for sheer beauty-Leontyne Price, with Karajan and the Vienna Philharmonic in 1961: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEi9IDV3BzA&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLF790E355EBB73B83 Merry Christmas!
Christopher Purdy is Classical 101's early morning host, 7-10 a.m. weekdays. He is host and producer of Front Row Center – Classical 101’s weekly celebration of Opera and more – as well as Music in Mid-Ohio, Concerts at Ohio State, and the Columbus Symphony broadcast series. He is the regular pre-concert speaker for Columbus Symphony performances in the Ohio Theater.