CHRISTMAS Australian Brandenburg Orchestra & Choir A Very Brandenburg Christmas (ABC Classics) ****Good on Paul Dyer for presenting this Christmas collection of interesting repertoire, all played with verve by his Australian Brandenburg Orchestra and choir. It opens with a burst of musical energy in Deus in adiutorium by Juan GutiÃ©rrez de Padilla (1590-1664), who, as one of many Jesuits who took Catholicism to the Americas, became director of Mexico's Pueblo Cathedral. Matthew Manchester's arrangement of Divisions on Ancient Carols Played on Cornetto with Basso Continuo leads into a traditional Ukrainian Duma & Kozak   March played on bandura by Larissa Kovalchuk who also sings Vladimir Vavilov's Ave Maria which is then taken up in a full-throated vocal and percussion arrangement. Other riches include Samuel Barber's Agnus Dei, traditional Ukrainian Near the Hill, a J. S. Bach concerto for violin and oboe d'amore, and seasonal favourites Stille Nacht - Silent Night (Joseph Mohr), Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Hugh Martin, arranged by Dyer) and a spirited O Come, all Ye Faithful, superbly delivered.