Christmas Cantata / A Ceremony Of Carols

Released by the Czechoslovak label Supraphon in 1966, this recording pairs two significant twentieth-century choral works: Arthur Honegger's 'Christmas Cantata' and Benjamin Britten's 'A Ceremony of Carols'. The pairing reflects the post-war trend of exploring neo-classical and liturgical themes within modern classical music, showcasing the technical precision of the Dětský Sbor Čs. Rozhlasu and the Czech Philharmonic Chorus under the direction of French conductor Serge Baudo.

The album serves as a notable entry in Supraphon’s mid-century catalogue, which was highly regarded for introducing high-quality Eastern European recordings to an international audience. The design and production were characterized by the pragmatic, elegant aesthetic of 1960s classical LPs, emphasizing the gravity of the choral compositions while highlighting the collaboration between the Prague-based symphony forces and Baudo’s interpretation of Western choral literature.