"Čestit Božić" by Josipa Lisac (1992)

Unusually subdued and restrained Christmas album by Croatian rock goddess (one critic wittily called her "mother of vocal affectation"  pointing at her trademark mannerisms) who at the time was grieving after death of her beloved Karlo Metikoš and this was her personal farewell gift for him. Lisac and Metikoš fought the windmills together for decades, arm in arm like some local version of Yoko Ono and John Lennon, they were our own rock royal couple and people accepted them as such. It might sound as paradox, but when Metikoš passed away so unexpectedly, it triggered genuine show of public affection for Lisac (soldiers sent her letters of condolences from their front lines, etc.) and for the first time I became aware that there might be others who collect newspaper articles and remember every TV appearance like me. 

Musically, "Čestit Božić" is a extremely stately and majestic collection of traditional Roman Catholic music, which made perfect sense in times of war when Croatia sought to get independence from the rest of Ex Yugoslavia and find its cultural ties with Central Europe. Outwardly we might have lived as communists but at home we sang Christmas music heavily influenced by Vienna and Prague. "Kyrie Eleison", "Silent Night" and such. For this project, Lisac engaged service of conductor Saša Britvić and organist Mario Penzar, while massive choir caresses her voice, for once surprisingly free of any mannerism - I don't recall she ever sounded so completely, consciously somber and no doubt this is closest we will ever get to hear how she might have sounded if she continued what was a promising career in classical music (she started as a member of famous classical choir, back in the 1960s). The combination of organ, classical choir and her sincere voice is quite intoxicating and although this was not commercially viable project, it obviously meant a lot to her - the love of her life apparently always wanted her to record such album and she used all her formidable status to make it happen. It does sound very gloomy and solemn at the times (its definitely not a cheerful Christmas music) but knowing the circumstances, its understandable. Very surprising, coming from a rock artist but very close to any classical recording of Christmas music, it shows Lisac as what might have been if she pursued different direction.