THE 12 BEST FESTIVE PROGRAMMES
St John’s Advent Carol Service
Anticipating the festive season ahead, the Advent service from the Chapel of St John’s College, Cambridge will follow its traditional four-section format, with readings, prayers and music, led by director of music Andrew Nethsingha.
Radio 3, 28 November, 3pm
Music Matters: West Side Story celebrations
To tie in with the release of Steven Spielberg’s Hollywood remake of West Side Story, Radio 3’s Music Matters looks at the cultural relevance of the original 1961 film, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. Tom Service and Kate Molleson will explore how the film adaptations of Bernstein’s hit musical resonate in the world today. Radio 3, 4 December, 11.45am
Handel’s Messiah
The BBC National Orchestra of Wales and conductor John
Butt kick off the festivities with one of the season’s best-loved choral works. They will be joined by a stellar line-up of soloists including mezzo Helen Charlston, one of Radio 3’s latest intake of New Generation Artists.
Radio 3, 16 December, 7.30pm
Venice between the Bells
Follow the canals and alleyways of Venice in this episode of
Slow Radio, which traces a day in the bustling city with its 107 bell towers. The deep, resonant sounds of the bells of the Marangona in St Mark’s Basilica will bookend the programme. Radio 3, 19 December, 10.30pm
Breakfast Carol Competition
Amateur composers have been invited to set the words to Christina Rosetti’s seasonal poem Love Came Down At Christmas to a new carol in any musical style. Six shortlisted entries will be turned into fully arranged carols, with the help of composer and choral director Ken Burton. These will then be performed live by the BBC Singers on the Breakfast programme on 15 December, with the winner announced the following week.
Radio 3, 15 & 22 December, 6am
Classical Christmas with the Kanneh-masons
We join the Kanneh-mason family as they prepare for their traditional Anglo-afro-caribbean Christmas at home in Nottingham. The seven string instrument-playing siblings will perform together and share gifts. BBC Two, date and time TBC
BBC Singers on Christmas Night
To mark the 21st anniversary of the reintroduction of the role of the Royal Harpist, the BBC Singers will be joined by
Catrin Finch, the first player to hold the title. They’ll come together for a performance of Britten’s Ceremony of Carols at St Peter’s Church on Eaton Square. Stephen Fry makes an appearance to read the story of The Snowman, with music by Howard Blake from the much-loved 1982 animation. Radio 3, 24 December, 7.30pm
A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
After the choristers of King’s College, Cambridge were forced to record their famous festive service to an empty chapel last year, due to Covid-19 restrictions, they now hope to return with a live congregation. Radio 4 and BBC World Service: 24 December, 3pm;
Radio 3: 25 December, 1pm
Four Peaks Sound Walks
Horatio Clare returns to Radio 3 for his annual Christmas walk, this time climbing the four highest peaks of the four UK nations: Ben Nevis in Scotland, then to Northern Ireland to climb Slieve Donard, onto England’s Scafell Pike and finally to
Wales for Snowdon. As well as the sounds of birds, wind and descriptions of the landscape, there will be music by Bach, Janácˇek, Ólafur Arnalds, Sibelius and Richard Strauss.
Radio 3, 25-29 December, 4pm
Opera on 3 Christmas Special
There’s a dose of deliciously dark comedy in the Royal Opera House’s acclaimed production of Hänsel and Gretel, starring Diana Damrau and Angelika Kirchschlager. Humperdinck’s catchy folk songs and lush orchestrations are the perfect way to see out Christmas Day. Radio 3, 25 December, 6.30pm
Gareth Malone’s Christmas Concert
In 2019, choirmaster Gareth Malone pitched up at Watford General Hospital to host a concert for patients, staff and families. This year, he pays tribute to NHS staff following the Covid-19 pandemic, visiting two towns badly affected by the virus: Blackburn and Bolton. This new documentary will follow him on his musical journey across northwest England.
BBC Two, date and time TBC
Jacqueline Wilson’s Wonderful World
The much-loved children’s author Jacqueline Wilson (see p122) and actors from the CBBC adaptations of her books come together with the BBC Symphony Orchestra for a special family concert this Christmas. This multimedia spectacular will see the orchestra playing works by Rautavaara, Stravinsky, Mason Bates and Anna Clyne that help bring Wilson’s characters to life. Radio 3, 31 December, 7.30pm