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A live carol concert from the BBC Singers

The BBC Singers perform a programme of festive vocal music live from Temple Church, London and Mark Forrest introduces music from Belfast International Arts Festival.

Mark Forrest brings you an afternoon of exclusive music-making. The BBC Singers, conductor Sofi Jeannin and organist Ashley Grote perform Christmas Carols live from Temple Church in the heart of the City of London. This highly popular concert in the BBC Singers’ calendar brings together works old and new to celebrate the festive season.
Plus, the theme of dance explored throughout the week is continued with Verdi's Le Quattro Stagioni, ballet music, from 'I vespri siciliani' performed by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Riccardo Muti. There will also be highlights from the Belfast International Arts Festival. Today, pianist Katya Apekisheva explores the end of the year with with 4 pieces from Tchaikovsky's The Seasons.

Giuseppe Verdi
Le Quattro Stagioni, ballet music, from 'I vespri siciliani'
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Riccardo Muti (conductor)

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
4 pieces from The Seasons, Op. 37a
May (Starlit Nights)
June (Barcarolle)
September (The Hunt)
December (Christmas)
Katya Apekisheva (piano)

Leonard Bernstein
Symphonic Dances West Side Story
BBC Philharmonic
Anja Bihlmaier (conductor)

***

BBC SINGERS LIVE FROM TEMPLE CHURCH

Karl Jenkins: Gaudete
Becky McGlade: O come, O come, Emmanuel
Sally Beamish: In the stillness
Helen Neeves: O Emmanuel (BBC Commission)
Cecilia McDowall: Of a Rose
Jamie W Hall: Balulalow
Thomas Hewitt Jones: And Jesus was his name
Bernard Hughes: Let in the new light
Carl Rutti: My Dancing Day
Garth Edmundson: Toccata "Von Himmel hoch"
Paul Edwards: No Small Wonder
John Rutter: Star Carol
Emily Hazrati: Coventry Carol
Bob Chilcott: Mary, Mother: II. Carpentry Carol
Ashley Grote: Away in a Manger
Stuart Nicholson: I saw three ships
Lucy Walker: The Angels' Song
Errollyn Wallen: Peace on Earth
Martin Neary: We three kings of Orient are
Jonathan Wikeley: Ah! Quel grand mystère!

Ashley Grote (organ)
BBC Singers
Sofi Jeannin (conductor)

To listen to this programme (using most smart speakers) just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Live'.

6 days left to listen

2 hours, 56 minutes

Last on

Fri 19 Dec 202513:00
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Giuseppe Verdi

    I vespri siciliani: Le Quattro Stagioni

    Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Riccardo Muti.

  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    The Seasons, Op. 37a - May

    Performer: Katya Apekisheva.

  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    The Seasons, Op. 37a - June

    Performer: Katya Apekisheva.

  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    The Seasons, Op. 37a - September

    Performer: Katya Apekisheva.

  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    The Seasons, Op. 37a - December

    Performer: Katya Apekisheva.

  • Edward Elgar

    The Snow, Op. 26/1

    Performer: Hannover Girls' Choir. Performer: NDR Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. Performer: Andreas Felber.

  • Leonard Bernstein

    Symphonic Dances from West Side Story

    Performer: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Performer: Anja Bihlmaier.

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Waltz in A flat major, Op 64 No 3

    Performer: Garrick Ohlsson.
    • Chopin: Waltzes: Garrick Ohlsson.
    • Helios.
    • 8.

  • Anonymous

    Gaudete! Gaudete! Christus Est Natus - Carol

    Music Arranger: Karl Jenkins. Choir: BBC Singers. Conductor: Sofi Jeannin.

  • Becky McGlade

    O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

    Choir: BBC Singers. Conductor: Sofi Jeannin.

  • Sally Beamish

    In The Stillness

    Choir: BBC Singers. Conductor: Sofi Jeannin.

  • Helen Neeves

    O Emmanuel

    Performer: Ashley Grote. Choir: BBC Singers. Conductor: Sofi Jeannin.

  • Cecilia McDowall

    Of A Rose

    Choir: BBC Singers. Conductor: Sofi Jeannin.

  • Jamie W. Hall

    Balulalow

    Choir: BBC Singers. Conductor: Sofi Jeannin.

  • Thomas Hewitt Jones

    And Jesus Was His Name

    Performer: Ashley Grote. Choir: BBC Singers. Conductor: Sofi Jeannin.

  • Bernard Hughes

    Let In The New Light

    Choir: BBC Singers. Conductor: Sofi Jeannin.

  • Carl Rütti

    3 Carols ; No.3; My Dancing Day

    Performer: Ashley Grote. Choir: BBC Singers. Conductor: Sofi Jeannin.

  • Garth Edmundson

    Toccata On 'Von Himmel Hoch'

    Performer: Ashley Grote.

  • Paul Edwards

    No Small Wonder

    Performer: Ashley Grote. Choir: BBC Singers. Conductor: Sofi Jeannin.

  • John Rutter

    Star Carol

    Performer: Ashley Grote. Choir: BBC Singers. Conductor: Sofi Jeannin.

  • Emily Hazrati

    Coventry Carol

    Choir: BBC Singers. Conductor: Sofi Jeannin.

  • Bob Chilcott

    Mary, Mother ; Ii. Carpentry Carol

    Choir: BBC Singers. Conductor: Sofi Jeannin.

  • William James Kirkpatrick

    Away In A Manger - Carol

    Music Arranger: Ashley Grote. Choir: BBC Singers. Conductor: Sofi Jeannin.

  • England.Traditional

    I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In - Carol

    Performer: Ashley Grote. Choir: BBC Singers.

  • Lucy Walker

    The Angels' Song

    Choir: BBC Singers. Conductor: Sofi Jeannin.

  • Errollyn Wallen

    Peace On Earth

    Performer: Ashley Grote. Choir: BBC Singers. Conductor: Sofi Jeannin.

  • John Henry Hopkins, Jr.

    Three Kings Of Orient (We Three Kings)

    Performer: Ashley Grote. Music Arranger: Martin Neary. Choir: BBC Singers. Conductor: Sofi Jeannin.

  • Jonathan Wikeley

    Ah, Quel Grand Mystere

    Performer: Ashley Grote. Choir: BBC Singers. Conductor: Sofi Jeannin.

  • Peter Graham

    Mill Town Revival

    Ensemble: Black Dyke Band. Conductor: Nicholas Childs.

  • Victor Hely-Hutchinson

    Carol Symphony (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: German Symphony Orchestra Berlin. Conductor: Pietari Inkinen.
    • Festklänge.
    • SWR Classic.
    • 9.

Broadcast

  • Fri 19 Dec 202513:00
    BBC Radio 3