One of the most tiresome and turgid of Christmas carols is “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” You could waste years of your life listening to that carol. For one thing, it is almost always too slow, and dully rendered.
Actually, singing “The Twelve Days of Christmas” — with on-the-news lyrics — has become something of an NR holiday tradition.
Anyway, there is one very, very spiffy version of “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” I’m speaking of an arrangement by Douglas Gamley, sung by Joan Sutherland with the Ambrosian Singers and the New Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by Richard Bonynge (i.e., Mr. Sutherland). It is brilliant — dazzling — and goes by like the wind.
To experience it, go here.
I omitted this track from the Christmas show I did yesterday — which has just seven tracks. In truth, I “omitted” hundreds. But there’s always next year, and I thought I would point to Dame Joan and “Twelve Days” now.
P.S. “La Stupenda” was Sutherland’s nickname. It does not mean that she was stupid; rather, it means that she was stupendous.
A Great Version of 'The Twelve Days of Christmas'