Probably my favourite disc this year comes from the Theatre of Voices and Ars Nova Copenhagen under Paul Hillier. Inspired by the much-loved Christmas Eve service of ‘Nine Lessons and Carols’, Hillier has found and chosen a wide variety of musical sources to tell the Christmas Story. Ranging from plainchant and motets to 17th Century dialogues and contemporary carol settings, it sounds like it may come across as a bit of a hotchpotch. But it doesn’t at all and with singing of the absolute highest calibre I was transfixed for the whole hour. If you only want to buy one Christmas disc this year, this would be my top recommendation.