Christmas Cantata / A Ceremony Of Carols

The 1967 Crossroads release of Arthur Honegger's 'Christmas Cantata' and Benjamin Britten's 'A Ceremony of Carols' emerged during a period when the budget-friendly label, an imprint of CBS, sought to broaden the accessibility of classical repertoire. By pairing these two choral works, the recording highlighted mid-20th-century approaches to seasonal composition, juxtaposing Honegger’s grand, orchestrally layered cantata with the more intimate, ethereal textures of Britten’s medieval-inspired choral cycle.

The recording features the Czech Philharmonic Chorus and the Prague Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Serge Baudo. The production reflects the high performance standards maintained by the Prague-based musical institutions of the era, which were frequently tapped by Western labels for their technical precision and deep familiarity with complex choral arrangements. Upon its release, the record was noted by critics for its clean, atmospheric engineering and the effective contrast between the two composers' distinct stylistic interpretations of the holiday canon.