Heavenly Christmas

Personnel: Sara Cutler (harp); Marilyn Reynolds, Eriko Sato , Andrea Schultz, Ellen Payne, Mitsuru Tsubota, Christoph Franzgrote , Conrad Harris, Elizabeth Lim-Dutton, Robin Zeh, Anca Nicolau, Susan Shumway, Fritz Krakowski, Sophie Arbuckle, Gregor Kitzis, Laura Seaton, Mineko Yajima (violin); Louise Schulman, Ann Roggen, Sarah Adams, Lois Martin, Liuh-Wen Ting (viola); Daire Fitzgerald, Rosalyn Clarke, Arthur Fiacco, Maxine Neuman (cello); Sheryl Henze (flute, piccolo); Elizabeth Mann (flute); Gerhardt Koch , Jon Manasse (clarinet); Melanie Fedl (oboe, English horn); Stephen Taylor (oboe); Thomas Sefcovic, Marc Goldberg (bassoon); Louis Hanzlik, Carl Albach (trumpet); John D. Rojak, Michael Powell (trombone); Kyle Turner (tuba); David Byrd-Marrow, Alana Vegter, Stewart Rose (horns); Margaret A. Kampmeier (piano, celesta); Brian Cassier, Anthony Falanga, Gregg August (double bass); Maya Gunji (timpani, percussion); Barry Centanni (percussion).
Audio Mixer: Lawrence Manchester.
Recording information: Avatar Studios, New York, NY; Mr. Small's Funhouse, Pittsburgh, PA.
Director: Angela DeGregoria.
Photographer: Keith Munyan.
At only 11 years old, crooner Jackie Evancho wowed audiences with her considerable pipes on her 2010 debut EP, O Holy Night. Released just a few months after her first full-length outing, Dream of Me, Heavenly Christmas revisits the yuletide splendor of O Holy Night. At ten songs, it manages to expand her seasonal repertoire, and while the set leans hard on standard Christmas fare ("The First Noel," "O Come All Ye Faithful," "O Little Town of Bethlehem," and "White Christmas"), Evancho's vocals are impressive as always, and the arrangements are mostly tasteful, with only occasional moments of bombast that threaten to wash the pint-sized soprano out to sea. ~ James Christopher Monger