Georges Thill - Cantique de Noel - O Holy Night

[Modeste1902]

Mon interprétation préférée. Tendres souvenirs de ma jeunesse, en Algérie.

George Till restera surement le ténor disparu, le plus apprécié de tous les mélomanes Français.. Admirons sa parfaite diction.

Merci au site Youtube de nous permettre d'écouter toutes ces belles voix dont fait partie George Till.

[abracadabranque]

Ma préférée,même si le dernier aigu est un peu asthmatique.

[violinthief]

This is one of many videos I have uploaded that has been subjected to a phony copyright claim by "Orchard Music". This is a public domain recording. Please do not click on any links below the video. This criminal conduct by Orchard Music should not be rewarded.

[Pi10sco]

If hearing this man's voice and understanding these lyrics does not send a hope thrilling through your heart, your soul must be dead.

[OnPurposeInstitute]

"Cantique de Noel" is, without competition, my all-time favorite song, to listen to and to perform. I have listened to many versions in French and English. I have sung "Cantique de Noel" every Christmas season for 30 years, singing the first verse in French and then the third verse in English. I thought I had plumbed the depths of its possibilities. When I hear this version by Georges Thill, arguably France 's greatest Tenor, I find so much more than I ever thought possible. Magnifique!!!

[intelegentable]

Thill was incredible! I love this version best of all the non english language versions. What a unique sound he possessed. Extraordinary! He is one of my favorite Tenors of all time.

[enilegnave21]

And I erred when I said Verreault. Forgive me Georges!!!

[enilegnave21]

In chills and with tears of overwhelming emotion, I hear this for the first time and make out the stirring French lyrics.  The voice that sings - so pure and true - cuts through the darkness of the world and returns to us again, this season, the Redemer we may have, for a moment, forgotten. Halleluia!! "Let us Sing the Redemer!"

[007krugger]

Timbre très près de celui de Richard Verreault, dans l'école française des ténors.

[NosHabebitHumus]

The original French words to this hymn of liberation are essential to understanding why Thill sings as he does. Here is a somewhat literal translation:

"Midnight, Christians, is the solemn hour when the God-man came right down to us to wipe out the original stain and stop his Fahter's wrath. The whole world leaps with hopeful expectation on this night which gives it a Savior..People, on your knees! Await your deliverance! Nowell, Nowell! Here is the Redeemer!."

[NosHabebitHumus]

@NosHabebitHumus "The Redeemer has broken every shackle. The earth is free and heaven is open. He sees a brother where there was only a slave. Love unites what irons held in chains. Who will tell him our thanks? It is for all of us that he is born, suffers and dies. People, ARISE, sing your deliverance. Nowell! Nowell! Let us sing the Redeemer!"

[charleswhiterhodes]

The most forthright earnest version ever. Pure art, no artifice. Unparalleled singing.

[ThePerle44]

C'est beau, c'est beau, c'est BEAU!!!

[CharlotteinWeimar]

Glorious and inspiring from everyone.Thank you.

[danmessias]

Extraordinaire.

[2011plocher]

For me there are 3 "Greats" in the performance of this carol: Caruso (French), Björling (Swedish) and this Thill performance. All of them immortal.

But isn't this one played a bit too fast ???

[ikey14]

This glorious rendition, with the noble sound in Georges Thill's voice and the dramatic contribution from the organ, gives me chills. Now I want to hear this music sung only in French!

[Docdogs1]

@ikey14 The organ makes HUGE difference; doesn't it??

Should be done more often that way :)

[MoBooks2]

I adore how he sings this - the word to best describe it to me is TRIUMPHANT. This song should be sung with emotion which he does magnificently.

[Teddyb1939]

Different to most recordings I have heard and a revelation. the soprano coming in adds something also the powerful organ, magic stuff!!!

[31122051]

Una delle più belle voci tenorili di tutti i tempi : tonalità liriche assolutamente straordinarie che si fondono alla perfezione con un impeto drammatico che, nella storia del melodramma, trova ben pochi precedenti.

SUBLIME GEORGES THILL !!!

[Sumeiyeh]

This is absolutely beautiful! 

[mrgreynomore]

His voice is beautiful, though I find this version a little too speedy, and the choir a bit painful. It's lovely to hear such beautiful French though.

[organpipe]

Does anyone have any idea where this recording was made? The organ sounds incredible as does the tenor.

[Katyclarinet]

@organpipe It was recorded in Paris in 1930. I'm not sure of the exact venue, but considering how big the organ sounds, I'm guessing it was at one of the big cathedrals.

[giannab]

Just listened to Thill's, Caruso's and Bjorling's renditions back-to-back and I think I'm in heaven!

[fleurdeclaudia]

Georges Thill is amazing!

[Outverb]

Incredibly beautiful. Back off on the "Caruso's version is better!" No, Pee Wee Herman's version is better" useless debate, and appreciate!

[diablo5308]

What a great voice. Thanks for posting this.

[jeff62rey]

Has anyone ever heard of the miracle of the Christmas Truce of 1914 associated with this beautiful song?

[TheIhealme]

@jeff62rey I have. been a while, but as memory serves, on christmas eve, a german soldier began singing this beautiful song. I was over heard by the brittish acrossed "no-mans" land. they joined in and the two sides joined in "no-mans" land to enjoy the holiday before striking up hostillities the 26th.

[Ariero22]

@TheIhealme i thought he sang "silent night"?

[talmadge1926]

@Ariero22 Yes quite right it was Silent Night. Oh Holy Night is only known in England as a concert piece. It is never sung in church collectively and the Tommys of 1918 would not have known the words or had even the remotest ability to sing this tune (most of them probably hever heard it) I cant imagine where this myth sprang from

[rakerd100]

C'est la version la plus belle de cette chanson! Simply wonderful!

[rabidx]

My mom is thankful for this very much, she is french and much prefers to hear this song in french.

[CD122344]

Replying to FlowerGirl9016 - Caruso will never be schooled he is the teacher - he invented that type of singing. Bjoerling is my other favorite tenor. I love Thill's version. As I said a week ago - Magnificent! I like maxhansendk's comment - room for both. It's possible that Thill's faster version(RoyKa2010) is due to space limitations on the record.

[philipvanlidth]

@CD122344 I would say that while Caruso was the first really major exponent of that type of singing that has become the gold standard, establishing that standard via his recordings (he was the first recording superstar), he didn't invent this type of singing. It had been developing ever since Louis-Gilbert Duprez sang a "do di petto" or high c in chest voice in a performance of Rossini's William Tell at the Grand Opera de Paris in 1837. It was such a cause celebre that others took it up...

[idasusanhedges]

This comes from the age when songs were declaimed, especially the French songs! Everyone else was busy singing legato.

[masonbarge]

I take this version over Bjorling's. Real authority and great pronunciation ;)

[FlowerGirl9016]

This is now my favorite version...Sorry, Caruso. You've been schooled.

[tomfroekjaer]

@FlowerGirl9016:This version is much too fast. I have heard a far better much slower Thrill version than this.

And ...as far as schooling goes, please get the dates right: 1. Caruso; 2. Björling; 3. Thrill

So who learned from who ?

[Katyclarinet]

@tomfroekjaer Are you sure about who came before whom? Also, this is the only Thill recording I know of this piece.

[Katyclarinet]

@tomfroekjaer Oh - my bad. You're talking about a complete other singer named "Thrill". Never heard of him, but I'd love to hear his slower, better recording than Thill. Ditto with the dates - Thrill might actually have recorded this after Bjorling, as opposed to Thill, who sang it decades earlier. =)

[CD122344]

Magnificent!

[maxhansendk]

Jussi björlings version is still the best there is!

[RoyKa2010]

@maxhansendk I saw a similar comment by you on another Thill video. Feeling slightly threatened now, are we, my fellow Björling fan? ;) I have enough room for both giant master-singers, as their versions, and their overall approaches to singing are so different, that a comparison can't really be drawn. I like each for merits that may not always be found in the other. TY

[suffes]

@maxhansendk Which one???

[garyfernbay]

i agree with sillyboydeux. This is a man bearing his soul in such a stirring way.If my hair stands on the back of m y neck then I am truly lifted in spirit. This man sings with great passion

[RoyKa2010]

I think the tempi are rather fast, and this hasn't done M. Thill any favor. IMO, his timbre is a colorful one, a timbre whose beauty isn't perhaps immediately felt like Wunderlich's or Di Stefano's, so it might need some space to show its full glamor.

If you have this version, try listening to it in a slightly lower speed (10% percent or so). It gets so much better!

[qklq42]

So, so, so, so beautiful. Le roi des tenors francais.

Hans NL

[sillyboydeux]

All we ever talk about is VOCAL QUALITIES. HOW DULL. The beauty of this man's SOUL comes through in every note he ever sang. Rich in texture, impassioned, convinced by the sacred nature of his art, adored in France then as we have adored the Elvises and Michael Jacksons. Et le re en haut, c'est franchement miraculeux!

[Manrico9]

This is a wonderful rendition of the song. I also love Bjoerling's. Franco Corelli sang it well too. At risk of seeming ignorant and less sophisticated than many of the other responders my personal favorite remains Mario Lanza's .

[garub122]

Sorry but no one comes CLOSE to the great Caruso the depth and power of his voice

is unmatched. Thill and Bjorling are good but they cannot even match Pavarotti. They have nice voices but have to force the high notes that come so easily to Caruso.

[zgopify]

@garub122 Carusos is the best version, spectacular legato singing. But I find it strange that you actually prefer Pavarotti to Bjoerling and Thill in this song. Highnotes or no highnotes, the rest of the interpretation? Pavarotti is not singing well. Thill sings magnificently. I don't agree that Bjoerlings highnotes are more forced than Pavarottis. Bjoerling sings it in the high version which is more difficult. Still Pavarotti is one of the greatest opera singers, make no mistake about that...

[legatofancier]

@violinthief - Excellent point! Thill's version makes a fascinating comparison to Bjoerling's recording. As much as I love Bjorling, I agree that his reputation is not enhanced when Bjorling fans insist on trashing other tenors. Admittedly, I have my own blind spots. Occasionally I have stated a negative opinion in order to stimulate discussion. It's merely a way to learn. However, I prefer not to attempt to enhance one artist's reputation at the expense of another.

[CREQUIE]

Cette interprétation malgré son ancienneté, est l'une des meilleures avec celles de Mario LANZA et de Björling

Guy CREQUIE

[zgopify]

Although I perhaps regard Bjorlings version as the finest ever (although he is not the really greatest singer in my book), this is certainly no 2. The voice, sung in the right language of a real frenchman. And what a voice! It's not so spectacularly beautiful as Bjorlings and di Stefanos, but the noblesse, his bearing, his interpretation. I've got goosepimples all over me...

[Jnobiii]

This reminds me of Edith Piaf !!

rest their souls... :(

[hashatz]

This is great singing by any standard. The staightforward interpretation adds strength and vigor to a beautiful Christmas Carol. There is plenty of warmth too.

[baltoman24]

One of Thill's most glorious recordings- and one of the greatest tenors of all time! Thank you for posting this, French as it was meant to be sung. As George Jellenek said, Thill is one of the immortals!

[Bla7695976565486]

@violinthief Did Del Monaco o Corelli ever record this ?, if not that might be one reason, the other might be that some Björling fans feel threatened as this is pretty damn good :)

[lIlUsernamelIl]

Wow.. I still gotta give a slight edge to Bjorling as my personal favorite but this is a damn good rendition too and certainly worth comparing to JB.

[TheLorenzo57]

Great!!!

[Irmaherms]

Love the Organ at the beginning, and a very fine recording

[Repulsion100]

Violinthief! My favorite version is Björlings but Thills together with Carusos is also up there so no discussion there! I´m reacting on your remark about Björlings fans. It looks like you have not red so many comments here on YT. If you regards JB:s fans as trolls you should read Corellis - they are famous, Del Monacos - they can be uggly and Carusos - the most ignorant who even suggests that it should be forbidden for other tenors to sing the same arias as Caruso. So i think JB can R.I.P!

[LordMgls]

I believe since a recording is good, it is good to be heard. Not just about 'being the best'. I think myself Caruso had little best renditions - but everything he did was so awesome. That's why there are so many masterpieces and why I reject every YT opera singer cult (Pav cult specially, because those retardeds can be really annoying).

[contrabajissimo]

This beautiful sound lifts the spirits. I also like Bjeorling's, Caruso's, Lanza's and probably have the capacity to like dozens of others. Why choose??

[Zva26]

I'm a great fan of the Bjoerling version, but this one is different.

The approach is more straightforward, the Thill voice more dramatic (Bjoerling's was more lyrical), and the recordings were made at different times. Both are very beautiful. No need to build up one artist by bashing another.

[Servilio1000]

Maravillosa voz e interpretación. Fantástico..

[catinger]

Mes vœux sincères à tout le monde pour 2010!

Thank you for the gift of the glorious voice and technique of maestro Thill.

[dododumpling1]

I agree with violinthief. Both versions are sublime in their own right. I like this version because it is in the original French. Does anyone know which cathedral it was recorded in? It must have been awesome to hear it live.

Merry Christmas and a Happy and Peaceful New Year.

[sashaCanadian]

to me this is the most beautiful and emotional Christmas carol and this voice is truly the best ever.

not my holiday but I make a point of listening to the precious voice of Georges Thill; I could put this on repeat play for hours...

thank you for posting this glorious rendition on YouTube.

2009 -- Christmas Day, gentle snow falling in Montreal, Canada.

Merry Christmas to all celebrants

May 2010 bring the best to all.

[vpo2g2]

A very good version, but not within hailing distance of Bjorling's

[sauerkrauten]

Superb! BUT, no one can beat Jussi Björling..

[catinger]

Interprétation magnifique ! L'énonciation, la tonalité et le lancement sont perfection. C'est celui par rapport auquel tous les autres doivent mesurer leur exécution. En plus il est Francais !

Joyeux Noel a tous!

[Ginotti]

Has a more noble voice ever existed?

[talmadge1926]

I used to think that Jussi Bjørling had the ultimate version of this but i am going to have to rethink! Which year was this recorded? And where? The organ sounds like one of the great french cathederals.

[clo12clo]

It was recorded in 1932. But I don't know where.

[1988gvc]

Il ne faut surtout pas oublié les versions de Raoul Jobin et Richard Verreau, pour moi ce sont les deux meilleurs interprètes du minuit chrétien avec un très léger avantage à celle de Jobin.

[catinger]

Jobin et Verreau sont souvent mis, avec Bjorling commes les maîtres mais je crois que Thill éclipse tous. Sa passion, sa tonalité, sa prononciation Parisien sont tout simplement parfait.

Joyeux Noel!

[nanny1951]

mon père un irréductible athé a bercé mon enfance avec ce chant à cause de la voix majestueuse du chanteur

Que notre Dieu soit béni car aujourd'hui nous sommes tous à LUI :)

Dieu vous bénisse

[tomfroekjaer]

Three versions of this carol stand out: Georges Thill, Enrico Caruso and Jussi Björling .. and the best may well be that of Georges Thill...

[LokiusMaximus]

@tomfroekjaer I am a big fan of Andrea Bocelli and Bing Crosby's versions. Though I do admit I like this one as well.

[MaloxMoment]

Georges Thill sang Cantique de Noel the way it should be sung! God bless his soul.

[InformedListener]

We have been schooled!!! I really like the way he declaims the text in a triumphant way. Could it be that the original French text conveys far more excitement than our English version does? I'm tired of these sedated performances of O Holy Night that are all about the big B-flat at the end and nothing else. Georges Thill makes you sit up and pay attention throughout. Thanks for posting!

[cestTRESjfoekun]

it's true. everything sounds better in french than in english.

[ElPiconeroalCognac]

Yes, really agree! He's committed from the beginning to the very end.

[jaynus006]

@InformedListener not to discount Thill's ability to hit that big note at end!

[wattever333]

@InformedListener the original has very little to do with the English version, other than the music. there is nothing intimate in the original. it is solemn, grand and joyful. un point, c'est tout.

[iamzbacku]

This is the first time I have heard of Georges Thill. I must say that he ranks right up there with the best tenors of history. Such a magnificent voice.

[lennie0707]

j'adore! je suis content quand j'écoute cette chanson.

[Bivolari]

The very French Georges Thill reclaims this most french of Christmas songs. The almost military command of "Peuple, a genoux! attends ta delivrances" rings forth in all its Gallic Glory. Truly divine, inspirational singing.

[mirlitonneux]

"Gallic Glory" ?

[InformedListener]

French Glory...

[pyramidteabag]

Just so good, I wish more of our modern singers could sound so good

[marchanjd]

une interpretation magnifique et profondement emouvante. Quelle voix splendide! Merci.

[TheAlbertM]

Exceptionnel!!!

[catinger]

La voix glorieuse d'un maitre augmentent la beauté de cette gemme musicale.

Sans pareil!

[cayr7272]

Quand Thill venait chanter à Notre Dame (je crois) , il ne venait pas là pour faire de la figuration. Il chantait à fond !

[Esceha57]

G R E A T !!

(Granddaddy) Cor

Netherlands

[theme45]

1. verse:

Minuit, chrétiens, c'est l'heure solennelle,

Où l'Homme-Dieu descendit jusqu'à nous

Pour effacer la tache originelle

Et de Son Père arrêter le courroux.

Le monde entier tressaille d'espérance

En cette nuit qui lui donne un Sauveur.

Peuple à genoux, attends ta délivrance.

Noël, Noël, voici le Rédempteur,

Noël, Noël, voici le Rédempteur !

[mexicano61]

Tanks for lirycs. it is a beatiful song

[aguacun]

thanks

[theme45]

2. verse: Le Rédempteur a brisé toute entrave : La terre est libre, et le ciel est ouvert. Il voit un frère où n'était qu'un esclave, L'amour unit ceux qu'enchaînait le fer. Qui Lui dira notre reconnaissance, C'est pour nous tous qu'Il naît, Qu'Il souffre et meurt. Peuple debout ! Chante ta délivrance, Noël, Noël, chantons le Rédempteur, Noël, Noël, chantons le Rédempteur !

[dominiclorange]

Pour être précis, ce verset est le troisième. Le deuxième couplet n'est jamais chanté à cause de caractère trop sévère d'une partie du couplet « À votre orgueil, cest de là quun Dieu prêche,courbez vos fronts devant le Rédempteur »

[dominiclorange]

Voici donc le deuxième couplet :

De notre foi que la lumière ardente

nous guide tous au berceau de lenfant.

Comme autrefois, une étoile brillante

Y conduisit les chefs de lOrient.

Le Roi des Rois naît dans une humble crèche,

Puissants du jour, fiers de votre grandeur,

À votre orgueil, cest de là quun Dieu prêche,

Courbez vos fronts devant le Rédempteur.

[serotine9]

très belle version de ce cantique de Noël. Merci d'avoir posté....:)

[urmorph]

This is very nice, but there are two things I can't find on YouTube: a performance of all three verses of this sonf (each is musically slightly different) and a performance of Ellen's Third Song (Ave, Maria) in the original language--English! The choir here, by the way, is at best totally superflous.

[48gp]

Espérons que dans un Monde meilleur Maestro Thill chantera ce cantique de Noël avec Maestro Pavarotti !

[joyeuxmariniers]

Minuit Chrétiens! Magnifique! Toute mon enfance....

[petrof4056]

merry christmas thanks to THILL

[stepludo]

A truly wonderful voice and a moving performance.

[Singeril]

This is perfectly sung French. Spoken French and Sung French are two different things due to elisions. Also, when singing, in any language, vowel modifications are sometimes made in order to help facilitate resonance and other vocal matters. Maestro Thill's French pronunciation is, of course, impeccable.

[catinger]

Sorry! En Anglais -NO! His accent and diction is made with crystal clarity and precision. He enunciates each word with a beauty to match his superb voice.

[catinger]

NON ! Son accent et prononciation est fait avec la clarté et la précision en cristal. Il déclare chaque mot avec une beauté pour assortir sa voix superbe.

[Jextxadore]

Perhaps he was raised with a different way of talking - I suppose, like English, there are slightly different ways

[Jextxadore]

No disrespect to him but is his pronunciation a bit strange?

[preruminator]

Who on earth criticizes an immaculate French?

Thill, famous for singing silvery clear.

[VictoireduNord]

Prononciation parfaite! Rien à voir avec le français approximatif de certains autres ténors comme Luciano Pavarotti.

[squirtyflowers]

@Jextxadore - it's just his accent!! He also rolls his r's which is common in many accents, particularly in the south of France!

[maloune63]

magnifique. Une des plus belles versions avec Grandes orgues et Choeurs, même si elle est ancienne et grésille un peu. Montez le son et laissez-vous porter par vos souvenirs d'enfant...la magie de Noël opère à chaque fois ! Merci

[joliepetitecerise]

je suis tout à fait d'accord avec toi !!

shalom

Cerisette

[catinger]

Sans pareil!

[10000dresses]

Very clean. I like it!

[GermanOperaSinger]

Splendid, the best rendition of the song. Graceful voice, one of my favorites...very nice French stylist too.

[vonnegutx]

This songs sounds more pristine, it sounds more natural in French. I was originally written in French... no wonder!

[scarhand18]

very god videoyeah:,D!!!

[catinger]

A mon avis, the finest tenor ever. His power, phrasing and musicality are in the highest echelon. The 'Tingle Factor' is in all his recordings.

Merci Maestro! Magnifique! Sans pareil!

[jhvorotin]

je suis d'accord. Bien meilleur que cet Alagna, selon moi. Mais, je trouve que c'est trop vite. Ca perd un peu le caractere sacré du Minuit Chrétien

[catinger]

Oui d'accord. C'est comme Canteloube lui a dit sur la repetition ils font ensemble d'une chanson de l'opera inconnu! (aussi sur youtube). Cela dit, son accomplicement c'est magnifique, magnifique quand meme! Gloire a Dieu! Je suis Anglais et j'espere que vous me comprenez! Pour moi, Maestro Thill c'est le meilleur tenor, en rond, que j'ai jamais entendu! J'aimerais bien savoir s'ilya autres video de lui. Merci encore Maestro et mes meilleurs voeux a mes amis Francais!

[pasfresh123]

Il fallait que ça fasse sur une face de 78 tours. Et ils ont choisi d'inclure les interventions du choeur et la reprise. Cependant la version d'Adam a 3 couplets, donc ce serait encore plus long. Mais le 2e couplet (qu'on ne chante jamais) est ennuyeux.

[63Attila]

I like a slower tempo but this is marvelous singing and will listen to at Christmas next year again if not sooner.

[kimromanji]

Merci a tous ! Merci! Gloire a notre Dieu !

Comme ce chant est beau!

[sschimel]

of all the things I've ever sung, this is my absolute favorite. The melody is gorgeous, and I can actually play the piano well enough to sing and play at the same time (but only on this). He has a beautiful voice. It's the first time I've heaqrd him sing, though I've heard of him.

[kenwolman]

A bit heavy on the orchestration, it reminds me what way of what Berlioz did to the Erlkonig...but the effect is tremendous all the same. I would love to have heard Thill singing this in a large church, organ, choir, and all. Even on computer speakers with 1930s sound, the fingers go right up your back.

[zelefant]

Merry Christmas for everybody all the World!

[semakitty]

thanx merry christmas to u too

[Ivanhoe2]

Most enjoyable,,a fine voice. Thanks for posting it.

[SimSutcliff]

Ce Minuit, Chrétiens avec Georges Thill est un classique de Noël pour moi et de nombreux francophone dans le monde... Je l'écoute depuis mon enfance à chaque retour de la neige...

[stefakamelpash]

Greatest tenor France ever produced, without question.

[qklq42]

C,est vrai !!!!!!!

Hans NL

[grandmagrumpy]

Rich voice. The tempo seems a bit too fast for me. But I can adjust!

For such an old recording, the clarity is amazing. Great arrangement, the organ is a plus.

Thanks!

[rmbarge]

Formidable!

[ancestralyuba]

Very beautiful. I like the faster tempo.

[Tempeldragen]

Fantastic!! I was taken completely by surprise!! His voice is outstanding and his phrasting and timbre very close to Jussi Björling's. Nice discovery. I also like his version of Nessun Dorma.

The Dragon

[Milordvega]

Thanks for posting! I have always wanted to hear this sung by a French tenor.

[saltburner]

Recorded in Paris on 24 September 1932. Always a favourite with French singers, an early classic version was made by the great bass, Pol Plancon.

[meltzerboy]

Plancon was indeed one of the greatest bassos on record. His version of the song is beautiful and one of my favorites, along with those of Caruso and Bjorling. Thill's performance is also splendid and his Parisian French exemplary.

[wattever333]

why his "Parisian" French? why not just say his French? or even better his diction.

[Kerlerot]

Because "Paris c'est la France"

Paris is France.

I'm Breton and, it's wrong for me, natürlich ;-)

[MaryStuart53]

Bonne réponse. LoooL!

[ellandelachapelle]

Wow this suddenly sounds like a revolutionary song! With this fast tempo and evocational rendering (almost like Allons enfants de la patrie). In fact, the Christian message IS revolutionary! (funny story: in Sweden it is called "Adam´s Christmas song" - and I think many Swedes thinks it has something to do with the first man ever! because Adam is pronounced in Swedish.) ("oh so he composed a Christmas song did he??")

[Chevrondazur]

It is considered the ultimate rendition of «Minuit, Chrétiens».

[gbnordstrom]

Incroyable! What a beautiful rendition of this wonderful Christmas anthem which has been slaughtered by so many. Jussi Bjorling, sings in Swedish, is very lovely as well, but no one sings in French like the French themselves. Thill is neither appreciated nor known as he ought to be I wish I had access to the "Le Cid" aria "O Souverein, O Juge, O Père"

[Ivanhoe2]

A fine artist. One always expects a good solid performance from Thill.

[DavidMJordan]

Excellent. I needed this after listening to sacrilege by Mariah Carey. It needed sucha superb rendition to balance my faith in music.

[CraigFrancisSoto]

This is a wonderful version of this inspirational Adam piece.The tempo seems to be much faster than Bjorling's Swedish version.Thill was a superb lyric tenor.He recorded a marvellous interpretation of "O souverain" from Le Cid in 1933.Hopefully someone will post it on Youtube soon. Grazie mille for sharing this with us.

[rmbarge]

Magnifique!

[moorfan1]

Exactly how this song was to be sung, by the master French tenor.

[strangkille]

Excellent, thanks!

[RickManchester]

superb thank you for posting!