PREVIN HIGHLIGHTS YULE CD PACKAGE

The sounds of Christmas have swollen the classical compact-disc catalogue to the brim, bringing with them enough holiday music to overwhelm even the most devoted listener.

More than 50 CDs flood the list with no fewer than five complete “Nutcrackers,” each on two CDs (and another dozen versions of the familiar Tchaikovsky suite).

There’s Leonard Slatkin’s spirited version with the St. Louis Symphony (RCA RCD2-7005) and others by Michael Tilson Thomas and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (loud and raucous on CBS Masterworks M2K-42173); Hans Vonk and the Dresden State Orchestra (lifeless and noisy on Capriccio CDC 10071/2); Andre Previn and the Royal Philharmonic, with the Ambrosian Singers (Angel/EMI CDS 7 47267), and the newest edition with Sir Charles Mackerras and the London Symphony on Telarc (CD 80137).

Previn’s sumptuous recording takes the honors. It’s a sparkling performance that builds slowly, reaching full intensity with the liveliest group of “Nutcracker” dances on record (Spanish, Arabian, Chinese, Russian, the flutes, the flowers and the Sugar-Plum Fairy). Mackerras’ appropriately dark interpretation is the one used on the motion picture sound track.

The Telarc CD offers a dynamic range that will overwhelm most kids--watch out for the real rifle and two cannon shots during the battle between the Nutcracker and the Mouse King; if the volume is too high, ears and windows may be added to the casualties.

“The Nutcracker” comes from many sources. E.T.A. Hoffmann wrote “The Nutcracker and the King of Mice” in 1816 in Germany; Alexandre Dumas rewrote and simplified it in 1851 in France. Then the choreographer Marius Petipa rewrote the story in 1890 in Russia--it was Petipa who added the Sugar Plum Fairy, for some, the best part of the story, before giving it to Tchaikovsky.

Janet Schulman has taken bits and pieces from Hoffmann and Petipa for an American adaptation read by Claire Bloom in “The Story of the Nutcracker” on Caedmon Spoken Word Recordings (CD Z1524), with Jonel Perlea’s lackluster conducting of fragments of Tchaikovky’s music. Bloom’s tender narration is the perfect introduction to the full ballet.

If you want to celebrate Christmas by singing your favorite carols along with your favorite classical superstar, you have plenty of choices.

There’s the Yuletide battle of the two superstar tenors: “Christmas With Placido Domingo,” with Lee Holdridge and the Vienna Symphony (CBS Masterworks MK 37245) and Luciano Pavarotti’s “Oh Holy Night, Christmas Favorites” (London 424044). The lifelike CD sound puts either singer in the middle of your living room, and their booming voices turn these simple pieces of music into front-and-center showpieces. Definitely not for background music.

If you prefer sopranos, try Kathleen Battle’s “A Christmas Celebration” (with the New York Choral Artists, the Boy’s Choir of Harlem and Leonard Slatkin conducting the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Angel/EMI CDC 47587) and Kiri Te Kanawa’s “Christmas With Kiri” (with Carl Davis conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra and the London Voices, London 417449). The Battle CD is the best bargain: 19 carols and 62 minutes of music. Both sopranos bring tenderness and affection to this traditional music.

“We Wish You a Merry Christmas” (CBS Masterworks MK 39093) offers Christmas carols sung by no less than Domingo, Marilyn Horne, Elly Ameling, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the Gregg Smith Singers, and performed by the New York Philharmonic and the Cleveland Orchestra, among others.

Superstar instrumentalists are also out in force. There’s “James Galway’s Christmas Carol” (with the Chapel Choir of King’s School, Canterbury, the BBC Singers and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Galway, RCA RCD1-5888), which combines the flute and children’s voices to make some of the happiest Christmas sounds on CD. The audio is crisp and full. “Maurice Andre Wishes You a Merry Christmas” (with the Saint-Laurent Children’s Choir and Instrumental Ensemble, directed by Francois Rauber, Erato/RCA ECD 88160) substitutes Andre’s trumpet for the flute with merry results in English (“White Christmas”), French and German.

The panpipes go back to antiquity, and that may explain why “Merry Christmas With Zamfir” (Philips 822571) is so reassuringly pleasant. Gheorghe Zamfir’s pan flute often sounds clumsy in transcriptions, but seems quite at home on these Christmas classics.

If you prefer guitar, try Liona Boyd’s “A Guitar for Christmas” (CBS Masterworks MK 37248); if you want the organ, there’s Simon Preston’s “Christmas Carols” (with the Choir of Westminster Abbey, Deutsche Grammophon 413590). Lynn Larsen pounds “The Magnificent Paramount Theater Organ” in “Pipes of Christmas” on an album recommended only for popular-organ fanciers (Pro Arte CDD 282). If you believe the harp is a more appropriate instrument for Christmas, the New York Harp Ensemble’s “A Pastoral Christmas” (Musicmasters MMD 60098) won’t disappoint you.

Christmas always brings out the brass.

The popular Canadian Brass has two collections of Christmas music (CBS Masterworks MK 39740 and one with John Grady playing the organ of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, RCA RCD1-4132). The RCA CD is a bit overwhelming with a wide dynamic range that fills the house with too-loud organ and brass sounds.

The Philadelphia Brass offers a rousing “Festival of Carols in Brass’ (CBS Masterworks MK 7003); the Gailliard Brass Ensemble has “Christmas Brass” (Musicmaster MMD 60106); the lesser known but superb Ludwig Guttler Brass Ensemble has “Christmas Carols” (with the Choir of St. Thomas Church, Capriccio CD 10014), but “Christmas With the Chicago Chamber Brass and the Glenn Ellyn Children’s Chorus” steals the show (Crystal CD 430, nearly 54 minutes of music). It has a natural, almost improvised quality, as if the group just happened to show up outside your home to serenade you. No pretensions, just good music.

The nation’s pops orchestras offer their over-arranged interpretations of your Christmas favorites:

John Williams and the Boston Pops’ “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” (Philips 416287); “Christmas at the Pops” with Erich Kunzel and the Rochester Pops Orchestra (Pro Arte CDD 220). More appropriate are two CDs performed by Robert Shaw and the Atlanta Symphony and Chorus--a program of traditional favorites (Moss Music Group MCD 10033) and “The Many Moods of Christmas” (a sparkling Telarc CD, 80087). “The Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Album” (American Gramaphone AGCD-1984) and Orchestra Manhattan’s “Digital Christmas--A CD Musical Celebration” (Manhattan CDP 7-46334) offer overblown arrangements.

If you’d rather have an old-fashioned Christmas music celebration, there’s the Robert De Cormier Singers performing “Christmas Eve” (Arabesque Z6527), “The First Nowell” (Arabesque Z6526) and “A Victorian Christmas” (Arabesque Z6529), warm, evocative portraits of Christmases past in too-brittle sound. The Western Wind’s “An Old Fashioned Christmas--Caroling With the Western Wind” (Nonesuch 79053) is a joyous outing without much fuss; the Boston Camerata offers a “Renaissance Christmas” (Nonesuch 79134), as does the Waverly Consort (“A Renaissance Christmas Celebration,” CBS Masterworks MK 34554). Both are pleasing.

No doubt about it. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir knows how to sell a holiday record. “Silent Night--The Greatest Hits of Christmas” (CBS Masterworks MK 37206), the ultimate “Greatest Hits” album, has the big, booming, commercial sound the choir’s fans have come to expect. Even more impressive is the Mormon Tabernacle Choir teaming up with the Philadelphia Brass Ensemble and Percussion with Alexander Schreiner playing the organ (CBS Masterworks, MK 30077). If that CD doesn’t bring down the house, nothing will.

Choirs from around the world are well-presented on CD with moving and authentic versions of Christmas music. Nothing innovative here, just lovely singing.

“A Festival of Christmas Carols” features the John Alldis Choir with Colin Davis conducting the London Symphony (an extraordinary Philips CD). The Vienna Boys Choir’s “Merry Christmas” (Philips 412551) has just the right touch of innocence and freshness Christmas carols cry out for. David Willcocks and the Royal College of Music Chamber Choir and Brass Ensemble perform more than 40 Christmas carols on two CDs (Rykodisk RCD 1004-5). There’s also the King College Choir’s “Come All Ye Faithful” (London 414042); the Cambridge New College Choir sings “Christmas Carols” (CRD CD 1143); the Oxford New College Choir sings “Carols From New College” (CRD CD 3443); the authentic Consilium Musicum’s “Old German Christmas Songs” features Ernst Haefliger (Claves CD 8408).

There is, of course, the music written by the great composers for the occasion. These include Bach’s “Christmas Oratorio” (two fine performances: one by Nikolaus Harnoncourt and the Concentus Musicus, Teldec 8.35022, three CDs, and another conducted by Michael Corboz on Erato/RCA 880593, three CDs); Charpentier’s “Christmas Oratorio” (William Christie conducting the Les Arts Florissants on Harmonia Mundi HM 5130); Corelli’s “Christmas Concerto” in a splendid edition by Christopher Hogwood conducting the Academy of Ancient Music (L’Oiseau Lyre 410179); “The Play of Daniel” (Shola Hungarica, Hungaroton HCD 12457); Heinrich Schuetz’s “Christmas Oratorio,” ably performed on Erato/RCA 88155.

Two splendid collections are “Christmas Concertos” by Corelli, Manfredini, Torelli and Locatelli performed by I Musici on Philips, and “Baroque Christmas Cantatas and Concertos” featuring music for orchestra and two voices by Scarlatti, Torelli and others is performed by Capella Savaria on Hungaroton (HCD 12561).

If you’re tired of all the traditional Christmas music and want to drive your classical friends crazy, there is the Hampton String Quartet’s “What If Mozart Wrote ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ ” (RCA Red Seal CD 5621). The idea--traditional carols in the styles of Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Debussy and Mozart--is funnier than the execution, but no matter. This is a cheery change-of-pace. What if Mozart had written “White Christmas” or Beethoven “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”? This CD makes the best tonic yet to ease saturated ears.

Better yet, pick up a copy of Dylan Thomas’ “ ‘A Child’s Christmas in Wales’ And Other Poems” (Caedmon Z1002), read by the author. The sound, even on CD, shows its age (1952), but Thomas’ voice is the best music of the season as he recalls the sights and smells and sounds of Christmas. After listening to “White Christmas” for the umpteenth time, “A Child’s Christmas in Wales” will restore your balance and get you ready to face holiday madness with a semblance of sanity.