At Home

English composer Sir John Rutter is one of the biggest names in the 20th and 21st century choral world, whose music, for many listeners, represents the sound of Christmas. Also an international conductor, editor, arranger and record producer, he describes himself as a musical 'magpie'. Donald Macleod visits John at his home in the Cambridgeshire countryside, amidst the celebrations of his 80th birthday, to discuss the twists and turns of his extraordinary career. Across the week, we delight in some of his hallmark carols, and hear about the full breadth and depth of his musical life across his eight decades, with some of his hot-off-the-press recordings.

Today, in the afterglow of his 80th birthday, John reflects on his place as a composer and shares some of his more recent creative ventures, like releasing his first all-orchestral album this year. For a man so associated with Christmas, we hear about his genuine love of the season, and about his efforts to form a new choir in his back garden... a choir of swans.

When Icicles Hang: Good Ale
The Cambridge Singers
City of London Sinfonia
John Rutter, conductor

Bird Songs: If I were an Owl
BBC Singers
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Nil Venditti, conductor

Dancing Tree (In My Garden; Dandelion)
The Cambridge Singers
Catrin Finch, harp
John Rutter, conductor

Suite Lyrique (Aria; Waltz; Chanson;)
Catrin Finch, harp)
Sinfonia Cymru
John Rutter, conductor

Celebration Overture
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
John Rutter, conductor

All the Stars Looked Down; All Bells in Paradise
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge
Britten Sinfonia
Daniel Hyde, conductor

Carol of the Magi
Clare College Choir
Morwenna del Mar, cello
Graham Ross, conductor

Produced by Amelia Parker for BBC Audio Wales and West