''Celtic Woman: Home for Christmas'' is the eighth studio album released by the group

Celtic Woman Celtic Woman is an all-female Irish musical ensemble conceived and created by David Kavanagh, Sharon Browne and David Downes, a former musical director of the Irish stage show ''Riverdance.'' In 2004, Downes recruited five Irish female music ...

, released on 9 October 2012.Celtic Woman: Home for Christmas on official website
It is the third Christmas album released by the group, but only the second available for international purchase. ''Home for Christmas'' features vocalists Chloë Agnew, Lisa Lambe, Méav Ní Mhaolchatha, and fiddler Máiréad Nesbitt. This is the first album to feature Ní Mhaolchatha since her departure from the group in 2007 following the release of the DVD and PBS special accompanying the group's first Christmas album, ''

A Christmas Celebration A Christmas Celebration may refer to: * ''A Christmas Celebration'' (Celtic Woman album) * ''A Christmas Celebration'' (Gladys Knight album) See also * ''Christmas Celebration ''Christmas Celebration'' is a compilation album by Mannheim Steam ...

''. It is also the first album not to feature founding member Lisa Kelly, who was at the time on maternity leave (though she appears on the bonus track included with the Japanese edition of the album).

Track listing

PBS special, DVD and Blu-ray release background

The accompanying concert special to the album, entitled ''Home for Christmas: Live from Dublin'', was recorded live at the Helix Theatre in Dublin, Ireland on 7 August 2013 in front of an invited audience. Unlike the album, the line-up of performers was slightly different; former member Chloë Agnew announced prior to the recording of the special that she would be leaving Celtic Woman to focus on solo projects. Since a replacement for Agnew wasn't announced beforehand, Méav Ní Mhaolchatha again returned to take her place with current members Lisa Lambe,

Susan McFadden Susan McFadden (born 8 February 1983) is an Irish actress and singer. She is best known for playing the roles of Sandy in '' Grease'' and Elle Woods in ''Legally Blonde the Musical'' in London's West End and being a member of Celtic Woman from ...

, and Máiréad Nesbitt, for the recording of the special. The album was re-released on 29 October 2013 in a combo pack containing a DVD copy of the concert, while separate DVD and Blu-ray copies were also issued on the same day. The DVD and Blu-ray releases also include four bonus tracks recorded as part of an acoustic session in the venue prior to the concert with pianist and musical director David Downes.

DVD and Blu-ray track listing

Personnel

Per the liner notes:
Featured performers * Chloë Agnew – vocals * Lisa Kelly – vocals (Japanese edition only) * Lisa Lambe – vocals * Máiréad Nesbitt – fiddle * Méav Ní Mhaolchatha – vocals Musicians * David Downes – grand piano,

whistles Whistling without the use of an artificial whistle is achieved by creating a small opening with one's lips, usually after applying moisture (licking one's lips or placing water upon them) and then blowing or sucking air through the space. The a ...

, uilleann pipes, percussion, keyboards, orchestrations, choral arrangements, programming * Anthony Byrne – bagpipes * Andrew Boland – buann-xa-perqua The Irish Film Orchestra * Caitríona Walsh – orchestra contractor * John Page – conductor * Therese Timoney – concertmaster * Martin Johnston – solo cello * David Agnew –

cor anglais The cor anglais (, or original ; plural: ''cors anglais''), or English horn in North America, is a double-reed woodwind instrument in the oboe family. It is approximately one and a half times the length of an oboe, making it essentially an alto ...

Irish Philharmonic Choir * Paul McGough – choral contractor * David Leigh – choral director Production * Produced and arranged by David Downes * Engineered and mixed by Andrew Boland (additional engineering by David Downes) * Recorded and mixed at STUDIOTWO, Dublin, Ireland * Orchestra and choir recorded at RTÉ STUDIO ONE, Dublin, Ireland * Mastered by Ray Staff at Air Lyndhurst, London, United Kingdom * Bonus tracks mastered by Kevin Bartley at Capitol Mastering, Hollywood, California, United States

Charts

The album was officially certified Platinum around 7 March 2013.

References

{{Authority control Celtic Woman albums 2012 Christmas albums Christmas albums by Irish artists Manhattan Records albums Celtic Christmas albums