VA - A Merry Feast with Music (2025)

Celebrate the most spirited week of the year with A Merry Feast with Music, a curated collection of classical gems designed for that golden window between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. From the sun-drenched taverns of Mendelssohn’s Italy to the grand, candlelit banquets of Strauss’s Vienna, this compilation captures the joy of the communal table. Whether you are hosting a formal dinner or sharing a catch by the fire, let the music provide the perfect soundtrack to your end-of-year festivities. Raise a glass, savor the music, and toast to the year ahead!

Tracklist
[1:11] 1. London Philharmonic Orchestra - The Nutcracker, Op. 71, Act 2: No. 12a, Divertissement. Chocolate, Spanish Dance
[1:31] 2. Jean-Pierre Armengaud - 25 Scottish Songs, Op. 108: No. 1, Music, Love and Wine
[0:40] 3. Alexandre Tharaud - Le champagne (Extrait de "Pousse l'amour")
[1:39] 4. Xaver Meyer - Canon for 3 Voices, K. 234 "Essen, trinken"
[1:38] 5. La Simphonie Du Marais - Le mariage de la grosse Cathos: Air des ivrognes
[0:44] 6. Concentus Musicus Wien - Mer hahn en neue Oberkeet, BWV 212 "Peasant Cantata": No. 22, Aria. "Und daß ihr's alle wißt"
[1:36] 7. Ensemble Gilles Binchois - Et c'est assez pour m'esjouir (Instrumental Version)
[0:50] 8. The King's Singers - Mellange d'Orlande: No. 8, O vin en vigne
[2:00] 9. Paavo Järvi - Divertimento for Orchestra: V. Turkey Trot
[2:07] 10. Marc Minkowski - Orphée aux enfers, Act 2: Chœur infernal. "Vive le vin ! Vive Pluton !" (Chœur)
[0:55] 11. John Ogdon - 4 Preludes, Op. 48: No. 4, Festivamente
[1:14] 12. The King's Singers - Lustgarten neuer teutscher Gesäng: No. 20, Tanzen und springen
[1:14] 13. New Philharmonia Orchestra - Lady Caroline Lamb: The Banquet
[1:16] 14. Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Mensa sonora: Pars No. 3 in A Minor: I. Gagliarda. Allegro
[1:18] 15. The King's Singers - So trinken wir
[1:51] 16. Mariam Batsashvili - 6 Polish Songs, S. 480: No. 4, Bacchanal (After Chopin, Op. 74 No. 4)
[1:18] 17. José Van Dam - Odes anacréontiques, Op. 31: No. 2, Qu'il faut boire
[0:43] 18. Yehudi Menuhin - 44 Duos for Two Violins, Sz. 98: No. 31, New Year's Greeting IV
[1:27] 19. Georges Prêtre - La jolie fille de Perth, WD 15, Act 2: Chanson à boire. "Tout boit, amis, dans ce monde" (Duc, Choeur)
[2:06] 20. Maurice André - Divertissement, Op. 7 No. 1: Ouverture
[1:28] 21. Michel Plasson - Faust, Act 5: "Doux nectar dans ton ivresse" (Chœur, Mephistophélès, Faust)
[1:37] 22. Nina Walker - Captain Stratton's Fancy
[2:09] 23. London Classical Players - Music for the Royal Fireworks, HWV 351: IV. La réjouissance
[1:42] 24. Joël Cohen - Airs de différents auteurs mis en tablature de luth, Livre sixième: No. 55, Qui veut chasser une migraine
[1:12] 25. Les Arts Florissants - Ayant bu du vin clairet, H. 447
[2:15] 26. Manuel Barrueco - Sonatina meridional: III. Fiesta. Allegro con brio
[1:44] 27. The King's Singers - Balletts to Five Voyces, Book 1: No. 4, Sing We and Chaunt It
[2:12] 28. Jean-François Paillard - Symphonies pour les soupers du roi: Suite No. 6 "Premier caprice dit de Villers-Cotterêts": IV. Suitte de l'ancien - Doucement - Vivement
[1:47] 29. José Carreras - The Student Prince, Act 1: Drinking Song. "Drink to Eyes That Are Bright as Stars" (Karl Franz, Chorus)
[2:21] 30. Hespèrion XX - Banchetto musicale, Suite No. 6 in A Minor: III. Courente à 5
[1:48] 31. Les Arts Florissants - Psyché, LWV 56: Chœur. "Chantons les plaisirs charmants" (Chœur)
[2:28] 32. Ingrid Fliter - Waltz No. 11 in G-Flat Major, Op. Posth. 70 No. 1
[1:54] 33. Kent Nagano - Don Quichotte à Dulcinée, M. 84: No. 3, Chanson à boire
[2:28] 34. Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra - Tafelmusik, Pt. 3: Ouverture-Suite in B-Flat Major, TWV 55:B1: III. Allégresse. Vite - Meno mosso
[2:08] 35. Michael Collins - Wild Violets, Act 2: "Wine in Our Glasses" (Paul, Chorus)
[2:32] 36. Olivier Baumont - Livre de pièces de clavecin: XII. Les festes de Passy
[2:15] 37. Marcello Viotti - L'elisir d'amore, Act 2: "Cantiamo, facciam brindisi" (Belcore, Dulcamara, Giannetta, Adina, Coro)
[2:57] 38. John Eliot Gardiner - Suite d'orchestre No. 6 "Scènes de féerie": IV. Bacchanale
[2:12] 39. Baccholian Singers of London - 6 Choruses, Op. 53: No. 3, Drinking Song
[2:54] 40. André Previn - Suite from Lieutenant Kijé, Op. 60bis: IV. Troika
[2:20] 41. Jonathan Lemalu - Love Blows As the Wind Blows: III. Fill a Glass With Golden Wine
[3:13] 42. Lucienne Renaudin Vary - Soirées musicales: No. 8, La danza (Version for Trumpet & Orchestra)
[2:23] 43. Arnold Schönberg Chor - Trinklied vor der Schlacht, D. 169
[3:13] 44. La Simphonie Du Marais - Symphonies pour le festin royal du comte d'Artois, Suite en sol mineur: VII. Contredanse
[2:27] 45. Willy Mattes - Im weißen Rössl, Act 3: "Laßt uns Champus trinken" - "Im weißen Rössl am Wolfgangsee" (Josepha, Leopold, Ottilie, Siedler, Chor)
[3:15] 46. Armin Jordan - Feurefest, Op. 269
[2:30] 47. Riccardo Muti - I puritani, Act 1: "A festa!" (Coro)
[3:24] 48. Philip Jones Brass Ensemble - Homage to the Noble Grape: III. Chianti
[2:35] 49. Sir Simon Rattle - Love Songs of Hafiz, Op. 26: No. 7, Drinking Song
[3:23] 50. Jean-François Paillard - Divertimento for String Quartet in D Major, P. 93: III. Menuetto. Allegretto (Orch. Paillard)
[2:39] 51. The Swingle Singers - The Drunken Sailor
[3:25] 52. Vernon Handley - The Wasps, an Aristophanic Suite: III. March-Past of the Kitchen Utensils
[2:39] 53. Franck Pourcel - La chauve-souris, Act 2: Couplets. "Versez-nous le champagne" (Orlofsky, Arlette, Gaillardin, Chœur)
[3:36] 54. Il Seminario Musicale - Cantates françaises et italiennes, Livre IV: No. 5, Les festes bolonnoises: Prélude
[2:45] 55. Wolfgang Sawallisch - Abu Hassan, J. 106: "Liebes Weibchen, reiche Wein" (Fatime, Abu Hassan)
[3:32] 56. Alexander Lazarev - Suite No. 1 from Spartacus: III. Variation of Aegina - Bacchanalia
[2:48] 57. John McGlinn - Show Boat, Act 2: "Let's Make the New Year Far from a Blue Year" (Chorus)
[3:46] 58. Anneleen Lenaerts - Sonata for Flute and Harp: III. Allegro festoso
[2:52] 59. Riccardo Muti - Cavalleria rusticana: "Viva il vino spumeggiante" (Turiddu, Coro, Lola)
[3:50] 60. Olivier Baumont - Second livre de pièces de clavecin, Septième ordre: V. Les amusemens
[2:53] 61. Johnny Douglas - Bitter Sweet, Act 2: "When We're Thoroughly Wined and Dined" (Captain Lutte, Officers)
[3:51] 62. Melbourne Symphony Orchestra - Fireworks, Op. 4
[2:58] 63. Kurt Graunke - Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Act 2: Trinklied. "Als Büblein klein an der Mutter Brust" (Falstaff)
[3:52] 64. Jeanne Loriod - Fête des belles eaux: VIII. Feux d'artifice final
[2:57] 65. Antonino Votto - La Gioconda, Op. 9, Act 1: "Feste e pane!" (Coro, Barnaba)
[3:56] 66. Kent Nagano - Coppélia, Act 2: No. 13, Chanson à boire et scène
[3:12] 67. Maria Callas - La traviata, Act 1: Brindisi. "Libiamo ne'lieti calici" (Alfredo, Violetta, Coro)
[4:09] 68. José Serebrier - The Seasons, Op. 67, Pt. 4 "Autumn": No. 14, Bacchanal
[3:20] 69. Patricia Petibon - Les Indes galantes, Quatrième entrée "Les sauvages": Air. "Régnez, plaisirs et jeux !" (Zima)
[4:17] 70. Aurélien Pontier - Polka de W. R. (After Behr’s La rieuse, Op. 303)
[3:27] 71. New World Show Orchestra - The Vagabond King, Act 1: Drinking Song. "A Flagon of Wine" (Tabarie, Chorus)
[4:30] 72. Paavo Järvi - Holberg Suite, Op. 40: V. Rigaudon
[3:35] 73. Issay Dobrowen - Boris Godunov, Act 1: Drinking Song. "Kak vo gorode bylo vo Kazani" (Varlaam, Grigoriy, Misail)
[4:29] 74. Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra - Andante festivo (Orchestral Version)
[4:10] 75. Joël Cohen - Carmina burana: No. 200, Bacche, bene venies (After British Library MS Egerton 2615 "Manuscrit de Beauvais")
[4:47] 76. Alicia de Larrocha - Danzas fantásticas, Op. 22: III. Orgía
[4:38] 77. John Nelson - Béatrice et Bénédict, H 138, Act 2: "Le vin de Syracuse" (Somarone, Chœur)
[5:00] 78. Riccardo Muti - Feste romane, P. 157: IV. La Befana
[5:01] 79. Thomas Hampson - Seven Lively Arts: "Drink"
[5:13] 80. Cristina Ortiz - Ciclo brasileiro, W374: No. 3, Festa no sertão
[5:18] 81. Rudolf Kempe - Die verkaufte Braut, Act 2: Chor. "Wie schäumst du in den Gläsern" (Hans, Kezal, Chor)
[5:54] 82. Andrew Litton - Festive Overture, Op. 96
[3:29] 83. Cyril Diederich - Les Huguenots, Acte 1: L'orgie. "Bonheur de la table" (Chœur)
[6:38] 84. London Philharmonic Orchestra - Nocturnes, CD 98, L. 91: No. 2, Fêtes
[6:26] 85. Nikolaus Harnoncourt - The Seasons, Hob. XXI:3, Autumn: No. 31, Chor des Landvolks. "Juhe, juhe! der Wein ist da" (Chor)
[6:57] 86. Bertrand Chamayou - Bacchanale
[6:51] 87. Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra - The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act 1: Scene of the Drunken Poet. "Fill up the Bowl"
[6:58] 88. Georges Prêtre - Samson et Dalila, Op. 47, Act 3: Bacchanale
[7:22] 89. Aldo Ciccolini - Cerdaña "5 Études pittoresques": No. 2, Les fêtes "Souvenir de Puigcerdà"
[9:29] 90. Yvon Leenart - La veuve joyeuse, Act 1: Finale. "Cotillon, c'est l'heure du cotillon" - "C'est la valse, écoutez"
[7:38] 91. Michel Plasson - Le roi malgré lui, Act 2: Fête polonaise
[9:35] 92. Quatuor Cherubini - Notturno, Op. 47: V. Ach, wer möchte einsam trinken - O Einsamkeit! Wie trink' ich gerne - Heerwagen, mächtig Sternbild der Germanen
[7:47] 93. Marie-Claire Alain - 3 Danses, Op. 6: No. 1, Divertissement
[9:40] 94. Philip Brunelle - Paul Bunyan, Op. 17, Act 2: The Christmas Party. "Another Slice of Turkey" (Chorus, Fido, Moppet, Poppet, Inkslinger, Tiny, Slim, Hel, Shears, Western Union Boy)
[7:46] 95. Theodor Guschlbauer - Servizio di tavola
[9:49] 96. Klaus Tennstedt - Das Lied von der Erde: I. Das Trinklied vom Jammer der Erde
[8:23] 97. City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra - Bacchanale
[9:39] 98. Carlo Maria Giulini - Carnival Overture, Op. 92, B. 169
[11:03] 99. Giuseppe Sinopoli;Deborah Voigt - Der Wein
[12:32] 100. Sir Mark Elder - Tannhäuser: Venusberg Music
[12:42] 101. Pierre Dervaux - Divertissement sur des chansons russes, Op. 2
[14:47] 102. Liverpool Philharmonic Choir;Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra;Charles Groves - The Black Knight, Op. 25: Scene 4, To the Sumptuous Banquet
[14:51] 103. Andre Previn;Gervase De Peyer - Rhapsody in Blue (Orch. Grofé)
[3:46] 104. The Sixteen - Chanson à boire, FP 31
[2:59] 105. Claudio Scimone - Concerto for Two Horns in F Major, RV 539: I. Allegro
[10:29] 106. Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment;Sir Charles Mackerras - Symphony No. 4 in A Major, Op. 90, MWV N16 "Italian": I. Allegro vivace
[9:33] 107. Christoph von Dohnányi - Academic Festival Overture, Op. 80
[3:44] 108. Sir Neville Marriner - The Snow Maiden, Act 3: Dance of the Tumblers
[17:45] 109. Rudolf Kempe - Walzerfolgen aus "Der Rosenkavalier" (Arr. Kempe)
[3:57] 110. Accentus - Laurence Equilbey - 4 Gesänge, Op. 59: No. 2, Am Bodensee