As we enter the season where you run stark raving mad out of stores screaming, “I liked ’Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’ the first 139 times!” and when even Handel’s Messiah starts to sound a bit old, allow me to recommend one of my favorites that too few seem to know about: Hector Berlioz’s L’Enfance du Christ. The knock-out piece is “L’Adieu des bergers a la Sainte Famille” (The Shepherds’ Farewell to the Holy Family), here performed by a massive choir with the Académie de musique de Paris:

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The entire work is three parts, of which the first one, about Herod, is on the too-operatic-to-appeal-to-most side of things. But the second and third parts contain some absolutely glorious moments. The best version I know of is on the Harmonia Mundi label, by another French group under the direction of Philippe Herreweghe. The late Sir Colin Davis also has a version, which I’m sure is excellent. Here he is sharing his knowledge of the entire work.

Berlioz was no Christian, but he had a feel for the Biblical story. The Hamonia Mundi liner notes correctly say L’Enfance du Christ reflects “Berlioz’s desire to return to the religious emotions of his own childhood,” and tell us that he referred to it as “my little sanctity.” So you can take it as a compliment to, or a tonic to wash away the taste of, the “Matilda Mother” Pink Floyd song discussed below. In any case, it’s great Christmas music.