"The Birth of Christ," Dec. 1, public television

NEW YORK (CNS) -- In Dublin's Christ Church Cathedral, a block from where Handel first unveiled his classic "Messiah," this new Christmas cantata by Andrew T. Miller is given a beautifully filmed airing on public television stations beginning Dec. 1 (check local listings).

Conducted by the composer and hosted by actor Liam Neeson, who also offers vivid and reverential readings from Luke's Nativity passages between arias, duets and choruses, the chorus for the international premiere of the work is comprised of Catholic and Protestant singers who put aside their sectarian differences to give musical life to the events that anchor both faiths.

Using the same Protestant choirs employed by the Catholic Handel centuries ago -- that is, those of Christ Church and St. Patrick's Cathedral -- the present group is augmented by Catholic members of St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral Choir.

The excellent soloists include Amy Bills, Kelley O'Connor, Robert McPherson, John B. Cooper, Owen Gihooly and Robin Tritschler.

The letterboxed presentation filmed in August 2006 was directed by Michael McNamara, and produced by Raymond Arroyo for public station WLIW New York. The fluid camerawork and attractive production design add visual interest.

Neeson speaks admiringly of this music's "power to unite" the two not-so-disparate groups and calls the stirring and absorbing cantata "transcendent in its beauty." He's right on both counts.

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Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops