Pass the Baton!

This Sunday, 27 November, Radio 3's schedule will be taken over by the BBC orchestras and choirs with a jam-packed day of live music and archive gems that show off their incredible contribution to the cultural life of the UK.

Join us from 9am as each ensemble plays a solo turn, before passing the baton on to the next in the musical relay...

To start the day, Nicola Heywood Thomas presents a series of stand-out archive recordings of the BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales, including music by Havergal Brian, Leonard Bernstein and Jean Sibelius, plus discussion and features about the orchestra’s extensive learning work, its soundtrack recordings and international touring role.

BBC NOW on their trip to Patagonia in 2015

Nicola is joined by guests in the studio, including Nick Capaldi (Chief Executive of Arts Council of Wales) and the composer Huw Watkins – as well as members of the orchestra themselves.

At 10am, Principal Guest Conductor Xian Zhang picks up a physical baton to conduct the orchestra and BBC National Chorus of Wales in a live concert from Hoddinott Hall in Cardiff, including music which reflects the orchestra’s role in the BBC’s Ten Pieces and its commitment to new music.

At 11am, the baton is passed to the BBC Singers for a special feature presented by Fiona Talkington, exploring the group’s history and role in the UK’s cultural life. The programme includes the world premiere broadcast of extracts of Philip Moore’s Requiem, alongside interviews with members of the BBC Singers.

The BBC Singers outside Broadcasting House

Alos in the interviewee's chair is the group's Chief Conductor, David Hill, and we hear from former conductors including Stephen Cleobury and Simon Jolly, plus composers closely associated with the group including Judith Weir, Judith Bingham, Gabriel Jackson and Bob Chilcott.

Them, from 12pm, Ben Palmer conducts the BBC Singers in a concert live from their home at BBC Maida Vale Studios, featuring music by composers including Tippett, Chilcott, Gurney, Britten and John Rutter.

The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra takes up the next lap of celebrations as Jamie MacDougall and Kate Molleson present recordings of the orchestra, including music by Berlioz, Nielsen and Purcell.

The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

Jamie and Kate also introduce discussion and features and hear from the orchestra’s current principal conductor, Thomas Dausgaard, on connections with the Scottish landscape. There's also a look at the ensemble’s work with the Sistema Scotland social change project, and at its role in the conductor Ilan Volkov’s pioneering Tectonics Festival.

From 2pm, The BBC SSO performs live from Glasgow’s City Halls. Sir James MacMillan conducts the orchestra in works by living Scottish composers, including his own Confession of Isobel Gowdie.

Taking up the baton after a special Advent episode of Choral Evensong, live from St John's college Cambridge, the BBC Concert Orchestra and BBC Singers perform live in concert from the Barbican in London, as part of the BBC Symphony Orchestra’s Total Immersion Richard Rodney Bennett weekend.

The BBC Concert Orchestra live in concert

Then, from 5.30pm, Sarah Walker presents recordings of the BBC Concert Orchestra including music by Charles Williams and Clean Bandit. There are also features and live discussion about the orchestra’s history and its work with young musicians at this year’s WHY Festival, plus an interview with chief conductor Keith Lockhart.

Now on the penultimate stretch of our mighty musical relay, Penny Gore presents recordings, features and discussion around the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. She hears from the leading contemporary composers Charlotte Bray and Colin Matthews, who both discuss the groups’ contributions to new music.

The BBC Symphony Orchestra in concert

Then from 7.30pm, the BBCSO are live in concert – once more from the Barbican in London, as part of the BBC Total Immersion Richard Rodney Bennett weekend.

The final leg of Pass the Baton! is taken up by the BBC Philharmonic with a live performance from MediaCity UK in Salford Quays, featuring present and graduate singers from BBC Radio 3’s New Generation Artist scheme in a programme of music by Stravinsky.

The BBC Philharmonic in session with Clean Bandit

Finally, from 9.30pm, BBC Philharmonic violinist Julian Gregory reflects on key moments in the history of this ever-evolving ensemble, introducing some of the special recordings and some of the special people who have been an important part of the orchestra’s life.