Album: John Rutter, The Colours of Christmas (Decca)

Nobody knows more about Christmas carols than John Rutter, and this collection oozes class. The opening "Ding Dong! Merrily on High" sets the scene: full of fluttering woodwind and horns dancing around tinkling percussion.

The young vocal nonet Over the Bridge, meanwhile, are best represented on arrangements of "Riu, Riu, Chiu" and "I Wonder As I Wander".

Rutter's own title-track is accompanied by his arrangements of standards such as "Silent Night" and "The Christmas Song", while the Bach Choir contributes arrangements by its former leader David Willcocks of "O Come All Ye Faithful" and "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing".

DOWNLOAD THIS: Ding Dong! Merrily on High; Riu, Riu, Chiu; Silent Night; Hark! The Herald Angels Sing