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A festive album release and music by the great Romantics

Strauss’s Metamorphosen and Rachmaninov’s Symphony No. 2 feature alongside Helen Grime’s Ivors Classical Award win and seasonal music from the Choir of St John’s, Cambridge.

Richard Strauss’s Metamorphosen, written towards the end of the Second World War, is performed by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
Helen Grime speaks about her second Ivors Classical Award win for her orchestral work FOLK. 

Seasonal music by Sally Beamish, John Rutter and Errollyn Wallen, performed by the Choir of St John’s, Cambridge, under Christopher Gray.
The search for the BBC Radio Scotland Young Classical Musician 2026 is underway. Get your entries in by noon on Monday 5 January 2026.

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1 hour, 55 minutes

Last on

Sun 14 Dec 202519:00
BBC Radio Scotland

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Music Played

  • Malcolm Arnold

    The Holly and the Ivy, Fantasy on Christmas Carols

    Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Christopher Bell.
    • A Christmas Festival.
    • Linn Records.
    • 1.

  • Sally Beamish

    In The Stillness

    Performer: Alexander Robson. Choir: Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge. Director: Christopher Gray.
    • O Holy Night.
    • Signum.
    • 2.

  • John Rutter

    There is a Flower

    Choir: Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge. Director: Christopher Gray.
    • O Holy Night.
    • SIGNUM CLASSICS.
    • 5.

  • Errollyn Wallen

    Peace on Earth

    Performer: Alexander Robson. Choir: Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge. Director: Christopher Gray.
    • O holy Night.
    • SIGNUM CLASSICS.
    • 11.

  • Strauss

    Strauss: Metamorphosen

    Orchestra: Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Maxim Emelyanychev.

  • Richard Bissill

    A Christmas Carnival

    Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Christopher Bell.
    • A Christmas Festival.
    • Linn Records.
    • 15.

  • Helen Grime

    Everyone Sang

    Orchestra: The Hallé. Conductor: Jamie Phillips.
    • NMC Recordings Limited.

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Symphony No. 2 in E minor

    Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Martyn Brabbins.

Broadcast

  • Sun 14 Dec 202519:00
    BBC Radio Scotland