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A Christmas Celebration

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Actor: Celtic Woman
Studio: Manhattan Records
Category: DVD

List Price: ~~$18.98~~
Buy New: $11.98
You Save: $7.00 (37%)

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Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

104 reviews
Sales Rank: 677

Format: Color, Dvd-video, Live, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 5.5 x 0.6

EAN: 5099950280995
ASIN: B000UPWO5E

Theatrical Release Date: October 2, 2007
Release Date: October 2, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Similar Items:

•	Celtic Woman - A New Journey: Live at Slane Castle, Ireland
•	A Christmas Celebration
•	Celtic Woman
•	A New Journey
•	Noel

Customer Reviews: Read 99 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Third great DVD from a heavenly group November 11, 2008
Professor E. Knight (Miami, Florida)
The choir is still there. Mairead is still there with her magic fiddle. But Hayley Westenra has disappeared. We miss her voice and her smile.

The Celtic Woman group is back to the original five girls: four vocalists (Chloe Agnew, Orla Fallon, Lisa Kelly and Meav Ni Mhaolchatha) and a wonderful creature, fallen from heaven for our outmost felicity. I wrote in my review of their "New Journey" (Amazon, February 4, 2007) that if Paradise exists, I picture it full of angels like Mairead Nesbitt playing harp or violin!

Those who, like me, watch their second concert several times a year, will think that this third DVD is not quite as great as "A New Journey". But how better can you get after you have reached perfection?

This is nevertheless a very good show focused entirely on the Christmas spirit.

Not as spinning as in the two previous shows, Mairead plays her violin with a graver posture, in accordance with the subject of this show, which is entirely staged indoors, just like the first one.

As in their previous shows, and unlike Andre Rieu's endless (and sometimes exasperating) talking between numbers, there is no wasted time here. This is a real concert and not a family party with Uncle Archibald and his musical group! The public is still applauding that the next number is already rolling. The whole concert is thus a mere one hour and five minutes. Maybe these folks were in a hurry for the Christmas supper! This reminds me of a funny story called "Les Trois Messes Basses" written by Alphonse Daudet (1840-1897) in "Lettres de mon Moulin": a gluttonous priest is in such a hurry to eat that he expedites his Christmas mass... With Rieu's DVDs you pay cheaper for the minute, since they are always longer...

Now, don't get me wrong: I love Andre Rieu's concerts and I have already purchased eight of his DVDs from Amazon, even those taking place in Holland like "The Homecoming", "The Flying Dutchman" and "Rieu in Wonderland" (a real wonder this last one!) But it's a fact that he exasperates me with his endless talks in a language that I don't understand! However, the performance of his band and, most specially, of his three usual sopranos (Carmen, Carla and Suzan) is always outstanding. In fact, I am writing a review for his wonderful concert in New York that I expect to finish very soon.

This Christmas show opens like the previous ones with the presentation of the five girls and David Downes, the director; then Mairead steps in playing her violin, soon joined by the four other girls in a beautiful interpretation of the "Carol of the Bells", a traditional song arranged by David Downes. It is followed by Mairead with her fiddle and Meav, who sings "Silent Night".

"White Christmas" is song number three, interpreted by Chloe, Lisa and Meav as soloists before joining their beautiful voices at the end, and David Downes at the piano.

"Away in a Manger" ("little Lord Jesus"), song number four, is another traditional composition arranged by David Downes and sung by Orla. Since I used to scratch a guitar when I was fifteen (many, many moons ago!) and make some noise with it, I appreciated several passages enhancing Des Moore's guitar.

All five girls join their talents for the fifth number: "Ding Dong Merrily on High" and Mairead can't help some discrete jumping here.

The Acontas Choral Ensemble starts the following song: "The Little Drummer Boy" in a Gregorian Chant style, followed by Orla and later by Chloe, with Nicky Baily, one of the usual percussionists, playing the drum. We also see interesting evolutions of the choir as they sing.

The seventh number is interpreted by Lisa alone, with David at his piano: "The Christmas Song" that Nat King Cole used to sing so well.

This is followed by "In the Bleak Midwinter", a languorous musical interpreted by Mairead. Violin lovers will appreciate her mastery of this instrument.

"The First Noel", song number nine, follows immediately while Mairead is still playing, which impedes any applauding. All four girls succeed to one another as soloists before they join their voices to the choir in a crescendo movement, then the song ends softly, as it started. A great moment, full of emotion!

Meav starts the following number: "The Wexford Carol" with the choir jumping in later on.

"Christmas Pipes" is the eleventh number. All five girls come together again with the choir for this beautiful song, richly orchestrated, with plenty of bells and the usual percussionists: Ray Fean and Nicky Bailey. Mairead soon arrives with her fiddle. As usual, all girls evolve on stage as same as the choir. A second, bigger choir is seen in the background at the end.

All the girls stay together for "O Holy Night", that they sing as soloists at the beginning before joining their harmonious and beautiful voices with Mairead soon stepping in. Nice passages enhancing Des Moore's guitar again. Another great moment in this concert!

"Panis Angelicus" is interpreted by Chloe with a string ensemble. Beautiful segments with the cello and the guitar.

"Green the Whole Year Round", song number 14, is a soft melody with David at the piano and Lisa as a soloist most of the time with a discrete choir in the background from time to time.

All the girls return on stage for "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" that Chloe starts alone, soon joined by the others in an "a cappella" interpretation of this traditional song most of the time, with the exception of sporadic moments when Mairead plays a few notes on her violin.

This is followed by "Don Oiche Ud I Mbeithil" with Orla playing harp, David at the piano and Mairead with her fiddle. Meav and Chloe sing as soloists before forming a duo for this languorous melody.

All five girls come together for the traditional "O Come All Ye Faithful". The choir soon arrives and the song goes crescendo to culminate with the arrival of the second choir.

After a well deserved standing ovation when David Downes joins the five girls, they will close the show with a last song: "Let It Snow", enhanced by a dozen of trumpets and wind instruments while artificial snow falls down.

The title role scrolls while the band plays and the choir sings "Christmas" under a well deserved standing ovation.

A usfelul booklet containing the text of these songs is joined to this beautiful DVD but there are no additional goodies like in their masterpiece concert, "A New Journey", which contained some nice views of Ireland. But it's true that it's reasonably priced at under $15 for a DVD, which is the price of a simple CD.

Although entirely devoted to Christmas, the message of peace and love that these Christian songs convey should make them accessible to all human beings, no matter what religion they profess.

When I was a student in Paris in the 1960s, I often listened to Don McNeil's "Breakfast Club" that was broadcasted by the American Forces Network in France. I remember that every morning he interrupted his show at some point and said these words that I will never forget:

"Now a moment of silent prayer, each in his own words, each in his own way; for a free world united in peace, let us bow our heads and pray"

"EACH IN HIS OWN WORDS, EACH IN HIS OWN WAY"!

These words pronounced every morning by Don McNeil symbolize for me the perfect spirit of religious tolerance.

5 out of 5 stars

Well Worth the Money - Great Enterment ! October 26, 2008
Michael F. Hammond Sr. (Madison WI USA)
This is a great DVD! The Music and the color is the best of any Chrismas shows I have seen. This is a show you will want to watch long after Christmas is over.

5 out of 5 stars

Celtic Woman Christmas DVD October 4, 2008
Dr C (midwest)
This DVD by CW is a must for any CW fan. And, if you've never purchased any CW DVD's, it's a lovely place to start. This DVD really showcases, perhaps even better than either of their other DVD's, each woman's vocal gifts.
Downes has outdone himself with the selections and his arrangements accent the harmony among the women. For soloists, their blend of voices is superb.
I totally love the duet between Meav and Chloe as one takes the high soprano and then the other. Having Orla on the harp, David on piano and Mairead on violin makes this selection haunting. Lisa is as warm and engaging as ever, especially in "Green the Whole Year Round".
A Christmas Celebration can be celebrated... the whole year round. Enjoy!

5 out of 5 stars

Have yourself a Merry little Christmas July 10, 2008
Jessica M. Landreth
This is a great concert!! Not as wonderful as the previous two, but because its Christmas, its different. The energy is different with the women, though. Knowing it was the last time Maev performed with the group was sad, but if you are a fan of Celtic Woman, this is worth it to have in the collection, as the music is WONDERFUL, any time of year.....!!

5 out of 5 stars

Christmas songs like never before. May 29, 2008
H. P. GORDON (Mexico City)
I used to believe that anything different from previous christmas music performings could be heard. After seeing this DVD I realized how wrong I was. I have some other Celtic Women's releases, so I noticed immediately that Hayley was missing, and that's the only thing I didn't like in the Christmas Celebration DVD. My favorite singers are in decreasing order: Chloe, Lisa and Hayley.

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