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"... 'lavish orchestral arrangements' is no exaggeration! There’s plenty of percussion: wood block, xylophones, tambourines and other jingly things, plus a liberal helping of harp, rich brass and soaring strings ... there is some superb saxophone playing ... quite superbly sung ... always beautifully in tune, with plenty of zest when required, these young singers give the impression that they are thoroughly enjoying themselves, as does, for that matter, each and ever member of the Lahti Symphony Orchestra. As for the sound quality, I think this is one of the most beautiful recordings I’ve ever encountered, though I seem to find that each time I hear a BIS CD." - MusicWeb International Esa Heikkilä leads the Lahti Symphony and Laulupuu Choir on this programme of Finnish Christmas classics in lavish orchestral arrangements. Just as the joyous season knows no boundaries, many of the favourite songs associated with the Finnish Christmas are international. Hidden here behind exotic-sounding titles are Jingle Bells as well as Rejoice, O Daughter of Zion from Handel’s Messiah. But there are also local offerings, the most familiar probably being a Christmas song by Sibelius, performed by internationally known saxophonist Jukka Perko. All these arrangements are original, as indeed are a couple of the compositions themselves.