Christmas Cantata / A Ceremony Of Carols

Released by the Czechoslovak label Supraphon in 1977, this recording pairs two significant mid-twentieth-century choral works: Arthur Honegger’s 'Christmas Cantata' and Benjamin Britten’s 'A Ceremony of Carols'. The pairing reflects the label’s commitment to showcasing international twentieth-century repertoire alongside the technical proficiency of Czech ensembles, specifically the Prague Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Serge Baudo and the Czech Radio Children’s Choir.

The recording is part of Supraphon’s broader mission during the Cold War era to export high-quality classical music recordings to Western markets. By utilizing the acoustic richness of Prague’s recording venues, the production emphasizes the clarity of the children’s voices in the Britten piece and the dramatic, expansive textures of Honegger’s cantata. It remains a notable example of Eastern European classical production that bridged aesthetic gaps between Soviet-aligned states and the wider Western classical tradition.