For your listening pleasure, here are some best ever performances of some best ever Christmas music.

I was introduced to Handel’s Messiah when I was in high school. It was a tradition for our premier chorus, the Tower Singers, to sing the Hallelujah Chorus, along with all chorus alumnae, at the annual winter holiday concert. I go to live performances of Messiah whenever I can. (But not this year. Maybe next year)

Another favorite for Christmas is The Nutcracker Ballet. We went as a family several times when our children were young.

When I attended Duquesne University, our Music School Chorus performed Daniel Pinkham’s Christmas Cantata. I still get chills when I hear it.

Benjamin Britten wrote this lovely Ceremony of Carols:

J.S. Bach Christmas Oratorio:

Here is just one small portion of Hector Berlioz’ L’Enfance du Christ:

British composer John Rutter has written many carols. You may want to visit this playlist from his Christmas Album.

Edward Elgar, best known for “Pomp and Circumstance,”played at graduations, also wrote this beautiful “A Christmas Greeting”:

Camille Saint-Saëns wrote this Oratorio de Noël: