Carnival Films, producers of Downton Abbey, together with Warner Music TV today confirm the release of CHRISTMAS AT DOWNTON ABBEY, an official collection of festive hymns and classic carols evoking a simpler time, from the much loved, award-winning television series.
The 45 track double CD includes seven exclusive recordings by members of the cast. Elizabeth McGovern who plays the Countess of Grantham sings ‘It Came Upon A Midnight Clear' and performs a duet of ‘The First Noel' with fellow co-star Julian Ovenden who plays Charles Blake.
Fans may already know that when not playing the part of Cora, Elizabeth performs regularly with her acclaimed folk band Sadie and the Hotheads. Earlier this year they played a special gig at Highclere Castle (where Downton Abbey is filmed), to mark the 100 year anniversary of the First World War.
Carnival Films, producers of Downton Abbey, together with Warner Music TV today confirm the release of CHRISTMAS AT DOWNTON ABBEY, an official collection of festive hymns and classic carols evoking a simpler time, from the much loved, award-winning television series.
The 45 track double CD includes seven exclusive recordings by members of the cast. Elizabeth McGovern who plays the Countess of Grantham sings ‘It Came Upon A Midnight Clear' and performs a duet of ‘The First Noel' with fellow co-star Julian Ovenden who plays Charles Blake.
Fans may already know that when not playing the part of Cora, Elizabeth performs regularly with her acclaimed folk band Sadie and the Hotheads. Earlier this year they played a special gig at Highclere Castle (where Downton Abbey is filmed), to mark the 100 year anniversary of the First World War.
Elizabeth said, "It was so exciting for me to have been given the opportunity to sing two songs in a totally different context to that which I'm accustomed. Without my guitar, without my band! And I didn't write them! But thank heaven for the extraordinary talent and expertise of Julian Ovenden, The Budapest City Orchestra & The Budapest Choral Voices, Kipper Eldridge, Nick Patrick and the Warner Brothers production team. I'm very proud to be a part of this album."
Julian Ovenden, also a professional singer and musical performer in his own right delivers a solo rendition of ‘O Holy Night' and ‘Sussex Carol' and ‘Silent Night'. He also performs the ‘Twelve Days of Christmas' as a duet with up-an-coming classical singer Katie Marshall.
Julian says, "I'm a huge music fan and like Elizabeth I have a separate music career that runs alongside the acting. To do this album is therefore a massive honour and something I've really enjoyed doing."
Mr Carson (played by Jim Carter) delivers a spoken word piece. His rendition of the Christmas poem ‘T'was The Night Before Christmas' is captivating and evocative.
For an extra Downton touch, composer John Lunn, who wrote the Downton Abbey Theme Song, has penned a new & exclusive extended seasonal suite version of the Downton Abbey theme music and Part 1 & Part 2 open each disc. This has been exclusively recorded by The Budapest City Orchestra and The Budapest Choral Voices.
The rest of the album is made up 36 classic Christmas carols from the huge Warner Music classics archive including Dame Kiri Te Kanawa ‘Good King Wenceslas', the Choir Of Kings College, Cambridge ‘In The Bleak Midwinter', ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing', ‘Oh Come, All Ye Faithful', Alexander Lazarev ‘March from The Nutcracker Suite' and many more.
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