‘Downton Abbey’ cast featured on new Christmas album

Warner Bros. Records today announced the relase of “Christmas at Downton Abbey,” a collection of holiday hymns and carols featuring seven recordings by cast members of the PBS hit series.

The 45-track, double CD includes:

Elizabeth McGovern (Countess of Grantham) singing “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear” and a duet of ‘The First Noel’ with fellow co-star (and professional singer) Julian Ovenden (Charles Blake). In real life, McGovern performs with the folk band Sadie and the Hotheads.

Julian Ovenden sings “O Holy Night,” “Sussex Carol” and “Silent Night,” as well as a duet of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” with classical singer Katie Marshall.

Jim Carter (who portrays the stalwart Mr. Carson) delivers the spoken word piece “T’was the Night Before Christmas.”

In addition, each CD opens with a new, extended “seasonal suite version” of the “Downton Abbey” theme song penned by its composer John Lunn and recorded by The Budapest City Orchestra and The Budapest Choral Voice.

The rest of the album is made up 36 classic Christmas carols.

The album, which will be released Nov. 11, is currently available for pre-order Christmas at Amazon.com.