Festina Lente is one of his best short orchestral pieces, and compares favourably to the most well-known piece of this type, Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten.

Sarah Was Ninety Years Old is a radical reworking of the 1976 piece Modus. I've heard the original (never officially released) and I can happily report that this 1990 reworking is vastly superior. Like Miserere, this is both peaceful and - when the organ comes in at the end - awesome.

All in all, one of the best Arvo CDs out there.

What is most clearly manifest in this musical anthology is Figueras' professionalism and her Catalan background. Unlike the operatic divas who have deigned to release popular renditions, she demonstrates how someone who truly understands the music of mountain villages or plains communities in any nation can elevate even the most "common" music. The selections range over five centuries or more, reinforcing the impression that nothing exceeds the capacity of her elegant voice to convey feeling to the enraptured listener. Each of us will likely settle on a favourite selection. Predictably, my own is a Catalan piece of an anonymous composer. Perhaps because the lullaby is in her native tongue, the richness of Figueras' rendition evokes intense emotional response. Would that i'd been born a Catalan!

Alia Vox was launched to give fresh impetus to the recordings of Figueras, her husband Jordi Savall and the groups they have created together. This CD will remain a testimony to their efforts to produce the highest quality discs. The sound is excellent, clearly imparting voice and background instruments alike. With 18 selections from a variety of eras and locations, the notes for this CD are extensive. The text of each tune is given in the original and seven other languages. Could scholarship and the universality of music be given finer endorsement? [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

Christmas wouldn't be the same without those cheesey

Christmas novelty songs. We all admit to hating them any other time of the year, but is there anyone out there who can resist singing along to Slade's, "Merry Christmas Everybody", Roy Wood's, "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" or even Gary Glitter's, "Rock N Roll Christmas" when the party season gets underway?

Jive Bunny and the Master Mixers have collected the very best Christmas songs ever released and mixed them into this essential party album. Here you'll find contributions from artists as diverse as The Beach Boys, Elton John, Wham!, Elvis, Mariah Carey, Paul McCartney and a whole host of others (albeit sound-a-likes).

Why I enjoy this album so much is that with all the hits intertwined together into an elongated megamix, Jive Bunny seems to breathe new life into old songs. And because it's a megamix, "....Spectacular Christmas" doesn't become boring (as many of the regular Christmas compilations seem to be).

If there's ever been a quintessential Christmas album, then this has to be it. My only complaint is with it being described as a party album. It is in many respects, but mellow tracks such like, "White Christmas", "When A Child Is Born", Mary's Boy Child" and "Silent Night" aren't exactly the type of songs you want played at a party!

Notwithstanding the more mellow -- but equally good -- tracks on "...Spectacular Christmas", this is one of those 'must-have' albums, and again with it being offered at such a low price, can your CD collection do without it? I think not!

Jon.