Dream a Dream: Charlotte Church in the Holy Land

Filmed on location at the Dormiton Abbey and on location in the Holy Land, Dream a Dream: Charlotte Church in the Holy Land was broadcast as a PBS special during the 2000 Christmas season. With a beautiful if inevitably immature voice and rather saccharine arrangements, Church performs a selection of favorite hymns, carols, and spiritual songs, including “The First Noel,” “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” “Silent Night, and “O Come All Ye Faithful.” These are interspersed with short clips of the young singer discovering what it is like to wear traditional dress from the time of Christ, riding a camel and a donkey, and visiting locations associated with the Nativity, including the site some believe is the very place Jesus was born. Church is likable and natural in these sections, and given that program lasts only 48 minutes, it is a shame these were not extended. Fans of her albums will love this release, which is sure to be on Christmas lists for years to come. –Gary S. Dalkin, Amazon.co.uk