On November 15th 2010, Anúna, Ireland’s National Choir, release a new Christmas album CHRISTMAS WITH ANÚNA (Danú 028). All of the music on the record is written or arranged by founder/director Michael McGlynn. The CD features “Away in a Manger”, “The First Noel”, “Jingle Bells”, “Ding Dong Merrily on High” alongside Medieval classics “Angelus ad Virginem”, “Noel Nouvelet” and “Ecce Quod Natura”. Featured also are Michael’s first carol “Angels are Singing” and his most recent one “Christmas Memories”.
“Recording this new album has been a brilliant experience for me. The opening track ”Away in a Manger”, my favourite carol, features the voice of my daughter Aisling, who is six years old. I tried to make this record as real as possible, avoiding over-use of studio gimmickry and employing only the minimum number of singers on most of the tracks. I have found that many modern recordings sound too perfect, too smooth and bland. I really wanted to avoid that on an album that is so personal. The reason we all love these carols is because they have always formed part of Christmas, and can reawaken the innocent joys that we try so hard to carry into our adult life. On this album I wanted to recapture some of that innocence and wonder”
In early December, as part of a Japanese tour, they will perform to children in Fukushima province, performing many of these pieces against the background of the terrible events of early 2011. Material from this album will feature heavily in their legendary Christmas Concerts, this year at Saint Bartholomews Church, Ballsbridge, Dublin on December 22nd and 23rd (tickets from HERE). The choir will embark on a twelve-date tour of the Netherlands beginning in Amsterdam on January 5th 2012, their first performances for the 25th Anniversary.
For further information contact us at info@anuna.ie