Holiday Pops  (Audio CD) 
by Mark Oswald

The collections greatest strength is the lush sound of the orchestra and Lockhart's excellent handling of the ensemble. No matter what he selected as music for this album, it probably would have worked rather well. The track has a "Gloria" that was commissioned by the Boston Symphony. There are also familiar arrangements in the style associated with the Boston Pops of Christmas waltzes, a track called "Frosty All the Way," "Good Swing Wenceslas," and perhaps the best track on the disc "Tomorrow Is My Dancing Day." The chorus adds to numbers such as "The shepherd's Chorus," "Sleigh Ride," and John William's "Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas" from HOME ALONE 2.

Lockhart's style differs greatly from the legendary Arthur Fiedler and his successor John Williams, but for those who love the Boston Pops, especially at Christmastime, will not have a complete collection without this disc.

4 of 4 found the following review helpful:

Thank you, Keith Lockhart  Dec 05, 2001
In an age of Christmas artists like Mannheim Steamroller and Trans-Siberian Orchestra (Who came up with these names anyway?), it's a blessing that we still have artists who have become as timeless as the Christmas music that they play. For many years, the Boston Pops Orchestra has had an annual tradition of performing Holiday Pops concerts in December, with the audiences enjoying champagne and refreshments on the floor. And Keith Lockhart has certainly done an excellent job of carrying on the tradition long maintained by Arthur Fiedler and John Williams.

This CD is an excellent compilation of the Boston Pops at its finest. From the opening "Gloria" to "Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas," each selection has its own unique touch applied to it. My favorites are "Gloria," "Christmas Waltzes," "Carol of the Bells," "The Shepherds' Chorus," "Christmas Time Is Here," and the swinging compilation "Frosty All The Way!"

He also presents a different version of the tune "Sleigh Ride," long a Pops Holiday staple, but I still think it sounds better without the lyrics. Fortunately, I have other recordings by Fiedler and Williams of this work. But other than this, it's a great CD overall. Thank you, Keith Lockhart, for keeping the tradition of great holiday music going. Your orchestra certainly has the timelessness that Mannheim Steamroller will never have.