I found a two-CD classical holiday compilation a few years ago that I've bought many copies of and sent to friends and family. It's The Greatest Christmas Show on Earth with performances by Domingo, Pavarotti, Sutherland, Te Kanawa, and others, along with several outstanding choirs. It's put out by London.

A brand new discovery, and a total pleasure, is a CD called Christmas Through the Ages given to me on Thursday by an acquaintance at the university. He works in the campus print shop and does a lot of the graphic design for publications we produce for the library. As MMario will tell you, they also copy CDs (they did the Blue Bottle Special if anyone is looking for a last minute gift!). He was copying and packaging these CDs when I walked in, and I lucked out on a spontaneous gift. Jason Renken is a bass with the group Paradigm (if you visit the site there are a few samples of this latest CD). The music they've done so far is of religious content, but their next CD will be one with all secular works. That's the one I'll be looking for. These folks recorded their first two CDs in the Meyerson in Dallas--for those of you familiar with the accoustics of this new music hall, that speaks volumes. Visit the site and enjoy a couple of songs. (If you get this newest CD, Jason has a solo on track 13, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.") I am so pleased to make this discovery about this friend!

SRS