Christophe Rousset talks Handel's Messiah

Expires on Monday 12:00pm

Tom Service with guests, stories and the perfect classical soundtrack for the weekend. Baroque's hot ticket, conductor and harpsichordist Christophe Rousset joins Tom to talk all things Messiah ahead of a run of performances with the Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists. He also discusses his recent album "Baroque Christmas", featuring music by Marc-Antoine Charpentier who blends French folk carols with sacred music in his "Messe de Minuit". Tom chats to musicians Eliza Carthy and Jon Boden as they take their wassail tour around the country, performing seasonal and traditional songs, telling Christmas tales and spreading good cheer! They talk about the history of wassailing, how they find the repertoire and the importance of singing together. Plus they perform an impromptu festive song to get us in the spirit. We catch up with organ builder and restorer Martin Renshaw as he delves into the pipework and woodwork of his latest project and hear about the current situation with church pipe organs around the country which are in danger of falling silent or being scrapped. To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Saturday Morning”.