If ever a man deserved a knighthood it is Paul McCreesh, any of the early music works to which he applies himself becomes ethereally transcendant and in this he is superlatively assisted by the magificent Gabrielli Consort and Players, paragons everyone.
Anything I could add to the words of previous reviewers would merely be gilding the lily, thus I can only add that this is not just for Christmas, this should be played at moments of great stress or melancholy, in fact at any time. I played this early on Easter morning and despite the greyness outside I felt a great glow within.
I have made this recording a part of a playlist on my iPod which, together with 'A Venetian Christmas', 'A Venetian Coronation' and 'Music for the Duke of Lerma' give a playing time of approximately five hours and forty minutes, enough time to cruise to West Sussex from oop north in a state of almost sublime grace, untroubled by snarling, gesticulating idiots in an assortment of maniacally driven conveyances. I know I have just done it, a round trip of 594 miles with a beatific smile upon my visage, and oh doesn't that upset the nutters on the M62; M1; and M25 ; ).

This is not just for novice monks/nuns; clergymen/priests; religious maniacs; Giralamo Savonarola or the like but for anyone with an ear for beautiful music.

It's a shame they can't give six stars.
G Gabrieli; de Rore: A Venetian Christmas /Gabrieli Consort & Players · McCreesh
A Gabrieli; G Gabrieli: A Venetian Coronation 1595
Music for the Duke of Lerma /Gabrieli Consort · McCreesh