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Our Review

Celtic Woman is a dynamic vocal quartet (Chloe Agnew, Orla Fallon, Lisa Kelly, Meav Ni Mhaolchatha) and one talented fiddler (Mairead Nesbitt). David Downes (Riverdance's Musical Director) is the creative force underlying the group, which produces intensely ethereal, crystalline vocals of the highest order. On A Christmas Celebration, Celtic Woman indeed celebrates, and the angelic and fragile singing floats over finely orchestrated backdrops.

On a purely superficial note, these women are gorgeous, and the album's cover model makes me crave a mane of buoyant red curls instead of my limp mop of graying dishwater blonde (sigh). But I digress; the music's the thing, and Celtic Woman impresses on many fronts.

Keep in mind that this album presents a full-blown celebration; the music is not intimate or subdued. The pieces are generally fully orchestrated, and Celtic Woman's outstanding voices are surrounded by considerable fanfare. The excellent vocals often exude a childlike innocence, which seems most appropriate in holiday music. Although the orchestration production values are top-notch throughout, I particularly enjoyed the more modest contexts. For example, I loved the a cappella simplicity of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, complete with Mairead's fantastic fiddle interludes. Similarly, the sweetly conceived and executed Don Oiche Ud I mBeithil (That Night in Bethlehem), with its delicately intertwined vocals and harp, was especially moving.

This delightful Christmas offering indeed gives us much to celebrate! Thank you, Celtic Woman, for A Christmas Celebration!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2007)

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From the liner notes:

Performed by:
Chloe Agnew
Orla Fallon
Lisa Kelly
Mairead Nesbitt
Meav Ni Mhaolchatha

With:
Des Moore: Guitar
Eoghan O'Neill: Bass Guitar
Nicky Bailey: Percussion
Robbie Casserly: Drums
John O'Brien: Uilleann Pipes
Andreja Malir: Concert Harp
Brian Dunphy: Gregorian Chant Choral Principal
Aontas Choral Ensemble, Choral Director: Rosemary Collier
The Irish Film Orchestra, Concertmaster: Alan Smale; Conductor: John Page; Solo Cello: Martin Johnson
David Downes: Keyboards, Vocals, Low Whistles, Bodhran

Produced and Arranged by David Downes
Recorded at Windmill Lane Studios and RTE Studio 1, Dublin
Engineered and Mixed by Andrew Boland at Windmill Lane Studios
Choral and musical arrangements by David Downes
Orchestrations by David Downes and Fiachra Trench
Brass directed by Fiachra Trench


From the Website:

Celtic Woman features the very special talents of four Irish female vocalists and a very exciting fiddle player. The four women vocalists, Chloe, Lisa, Méav and Orla and fiddle player Mairead with Composer & Musical Director, David Downes, have created a wonderful musical experience. Celtic Woman portrays the unique voices and styles of each of the girls as soloists as well as fantastic ensemble numbers.

Celtic Woman

A Christmas Celebration

Artist link

Track List