Christmas Break: A Relaxing Classical Mix, a compilation of selections from a variety of Telarc releases, does a better job than most albums promising thematically related relaxation. The reasons are that the pieces included are actually mellow and calming (no "Jingle Bell Rock" here), and the performances are almost all of a very high quality, drawn from Telarc's impressive catalog. Performers include the
Robert Shaw Chamber Singers, the
Mormon Tabernacle Choir,
Seiji Ozawa conducting the
Boston Symphony,
Leonard Slatkin conducting the
Saint Louis Symphony,
Martin Pearlman conducting
Boston Baroque, violinist
Joseph Silverstein, guitarist
David Russell, and the
Empire Brass. Their performances of classical works -- such as the "Pastoral Symphony" from Messiah; Lo, how a rose e'er blooming; Jesu, joy of man's desiring; Fantasia on Greensleeves; and a selection from the Four Seasons, as well as an assortment of popular carols, are fully satisfying and do indeed make for a relaxing holiday experience. The sound quality is somewhat variable due to the range of recordings from which these performances are taken, but is generally very good.