Album:  

Writer

Adolphe Adam

Length:

4:23

Notes:

I'm going to need a bigger thesaurus. How else can I keep describing Katie's brilliance without sounding like a broken mp3? The thing is though, this version of the classic carol is just about as close as you'll get to distilling Christmas into a pure essential oil. Not since Enya's Oíche Chiúin (Silent Night) has the spirit been so beautifully captured. (Though if your idea of Christmas spirit centres around Roy Wood and Slade then you're probably in the wrong place right now.)
The song itself is based on an old French poem, "Minuit, chrétiens", written by poet and wine merchant (good combination) Placide Cappeau. It was premiered in 1847 by opera singer Emily Laurey, and perfected in 2016 by Katie Melua (;-)

YouTube:

Official video. Sumptuous. Katie must really get in the zone not to be put off by having a ruddy camera in her face throughout. It also contains the most impressive 15-second "ooh" in the history of music at 3:37 O Holy Night. But, can she perform it live without the Gori Women's Choir? Course she can. If anything, this is even better! O Holy Night (for German TV)

Sheet Music:

If you fancy having a go at this yourself next Christmas then take a look at Oxford University Press where you can buy the sheet music for this and other "In Winter" songs.

Lyrics:

O Holy Night