Release Date: 24 October 2025
Song Count: 21
Rating: 6.7/10
Description:
Oh, look, another two albums in a row released on the exact same day - and two that could not be more different in terms of genre. Of course, this is not the reason I chose to listen to this album today, but instead due to someone requesting that I review a special Christmas-themed album for this day and occasion (at least, where I'm from, as families open presents and engage in all of the main traditions on the evening of the 24th, rather than the 25th like a lot of English-speaking countries do) and me managing to find this rare and out-there gem in the wild to listen to.
This peculiar record is a recreation of a collection of pieces from historical Italian, Spanish and Mexican composers from the baroque era of classical music, replayed and reconstructed by the Kölner Akademie, an orchestra from Köln, Germany led by Michael Alexander Willens since 1996. Released pre-emptively for the holiday season, the album contains pieces from Ignacio de Jerusalem, Manuel de Zumaya, Francisco Corselli and José de Nebra, all composers who have released and developed their musical works in the same approximate time period as all-timers such as J. S. Bach, but were comparatively largely left unappreciated in the mainstream conscience revolving around classical music.
Though my ear for classical music is yet untrained and so the commentary on the music itself may appear to be relatively shallow compared to more familiar and near genres, it is still undeniable that the work and dedication put into these recreations are beyond remarkable in terms of quality. From the strings, pianos and blowing instruments to the resonant opera styled singing and harmonious choirs, every aspect of the orchestra aims to faithfully restore the seemingly simple yet musically and culturally rich and vivid compositions of the original musicians from centuries ago that have passed the torch over. The different ways in which these moving parts all interact with each other in the music itself adds a further level of complexity and artistry into the grand scheme, from layering above each other and syncing in spite of the different melodical lines being followed at certain times to reflecting a classic call-and-response sort of dynamic and order at others.
Listening to a full hour of this specialised compilation from some mostly forgotten yet still talented composers has revealed two things: one is that I not only should, but also have a wish to listening to more classical works in the future for the sake of this project so I can assess music in unfamiliar territory better than I currently am able to; the second is that orchestras, academies and other sorts of groups like these that seek to revitalise older and lesser renowned pieces from long ago and bring them to further public light deserve far more respect and credit than is commonly given to them. And even without extensive exposure to this particular style of music in general, it would be wrong to claim anything other than the fact that this album is a greatly made project that embodies the spirit of the holidays in a less conventional yet nevertheless delightful manner.
Merry Christmas, Frohe Weihnachten, and Feliz Navidad.