Programme Information

Programme information

Saturday 5th December to Friday 11th December 2020

WEEK 50

THE CLASSIC FM CONCERT with JOHN SUCHET

Friday 11th December, 8pm to 10pm

John takes us across the pond tonight for a toe-tapping Christmas celebration from the Boston Pops Orchestra under Keith Lockhart, joined by the Tanglewood Festival Chorus and recorded live at Boston Symphony Hall in 2011. We hear popular seasonal favourites including ‘Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer’ and Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride, alongside traditional hymns like ‘Hark! The Herald Angel’s Sing’.

The rest of the programme continues to focus on Boston as Seiji Ozawa conducts the Boston Symphony Orchestra in a suite of music from Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty and Issac Stern performs Beethoven with the same orchestra.

Classic FM is available across the UK on 100-102 FM, DAB digital radio and TV, on Global Player on your smart speaker (“play Classic FM”), iOS or Android device and at ClassicFM.com.

1 WEEK 50

SATURDAY 5TH DECEMBER

3pm to 5pm: MOIRA STUART’S HALL OF FAME CONCERT

Moira celebrates the 150th anniversary of the birth of Vítězslav Novák, composer and teacher, best known for his Slovak Suite, which we hear today played in full by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra under Libor Pešek.

Elsewhere, Moira marks the first weekend in December with selection of her favourite Christmas carols, there’s a film favourite by John Williams, and Martha Argerich is the soloist in Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No.1.

William James Kirkpatrick ‘Away in a Manger’ Organ: James Sherlock Nigel Short conducts Tenebrae

Ralph Vaughan Williams 5 Variants of ‘Dives and Lazarus’ Richard Hickox conducts the London Symphony Orchestra

Edward Elgar Chanson de matin Opus 15 No.2 Pinchas Zukerman conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto in B-flat minor Opus 23 Piano: Martha Argerich Claudio Abbado conducts the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Richard Storrs Willis ‘It came upon the midnight clear’ Joseph Jennings conducts Chanticleer

Antonio Vivaldi Four Seasons Opus 8 – Winter Rachel Podger directs Brecon Baroque from the violin

John Williams Harry Potter – Hedwig’s Theme John Williams conducts a studio orchestra

Vítězslav Novák Slovak Suite Libor Pešek conducts the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

2 SATURDAY 5TH DECEMBER

5pm to 7pm: SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES with ANDREW COLLINS

In a year like no other, where most have turned to the small screen for entertainment, Andrew dedicates two hours to the best television shows of 2020.

The music includes the theme to The Crown, written by Hans Zimmer, classical music from the Emmy Award winning Unorthodox, Netflix sensation The Haunting of Bly Manor, eerily scored by the Newton Brothers, as well as the music to The Great British Bake-Off.

7pm to 9pm: COWAN’S CLASSICS WITH ROB COWAN

Rob embraces the festive spirit this evening with two separate sleigh rides, from Mozart and Delius, and plays one of favourite moments from The Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky.

Elsewhere, Rob explores a lesser-known Elgar work, Dream Children, which may have begun life as sketches for a symphony.

9pm to 10pm: BEETHOVEN: THE MAN REVEALED with JOHN SUCHET (48 / 52)

The drama of Beethoven’s temperamental relationship with his nephew continues this week. As Karl, while enrolled at business school, continues to see his mother in defiance of Beethoven’s wishes, John plays his deep and intense String Quartet No,13, that reflects the composer’s hurt at the time; a piece that one of his friends said, “cost him tears in the writing”.

John also uncovers the rare canon that Beethoven wrote for his doctor as his ill health continued, Doktor sperrt das Tor dem Tod, and we hear his String Quartet No.15; a piece that was premiered in the stiflingly hot upstairs room of a hotel, with the composer – almost totally deaf by now – snatching a violin from a player to demonstrate how the work should played. John then describes how Beethoven let his hair down with his friends at the after-show party, thanks to a drinking song!

3 SUNDAY 6TH DECEMBER

3pm to 5pm: JOHN HUMPHRYS

John marks what would have been the 87th birthday of Polish composer Henryk Gorecki, by playing the second movement of a piece which – much to the surprise of its composer – sold more than a million copies; his haunting Symphony of Sorrowful Songs.

Then, to mark his first programme in December, John plays a traditional carol to accompany any festive decorating, from the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge.

5pm to 7pm: DAVID MELLOR

Classic FM has officially switched on the sound of Christmas – so join David as he celebrates some of his favourite festive music.

Tonight he features Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride and a wonderful medley of seasonal tunes performed by Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Orchestra.

7pm to 9pm: SMOOTH CLASSICS AT SEVEN with CHARLOTTE HAWKINS

Charlotte presents a selection of laidback music, specially selected to provide a moment of calm and relaxation at the end of the weekend.

Charlotte Hawkins features the violinist Charlie Siem as her Young Classical Star. Siem began to play the violin at the age of three after hearing a broadcast of Yehudi Menuhin playing Beethoven’s Violin Concerto, and since then, the London-born musician has performed across the globe, including appearances with the London Symphony Orchestra and at the Sydney Opera House. He has recorded four albums and after a six-year break has recently released his latest album, Between the Clouds.

9pm to 10pm: MOIRA STUART MEETS… ANDRE RIEU (4 / 6)

Moira Stuart continues the second series of her interview programme, Moira Stuart Meets…where she speaks to some of the biggest names in arts and entertainment. During each episode she invites her guest to select the classical music that has played an important part in their life.

This evening, Moira is in the company of the Waltz King Andre Rieu, who talks to her from his home in Maastricht. Andre discusses how much his audiences mean to him and reveals the logistical challenges of staging one of his flamboyant concerts. Moira will also play a selection of favourite festive hits from his brand new album, Jolly Holidays.

MONDAY 7TH DECEMBER

8pm to 10pm: THE CLASSIC FM CONCERT with JOHN SUCHET

As we’re well into Advent, John includes lots of Christmas music favourites this week. He opens today’s programme with a traditional Ukrainian carol, which has seen huge popularity in the last few years because of its atmospheric use in numerous TV adverts: Carol of the Bells. Holst is usually heard at this time of year for his carol ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’, but today we celebrate gift-giving, with his St Paul’s Suite, written in tribute to the St Paul’s Girl’s School.

The gift-giving continues with Liszt’s Christmas Tree Suite, which he dedicated to his first grandchild, and there’s an excerpt from Handel’s Messiah, re-orchestrated by Andrew Davis.

Mykola Leontovych Carol of the Bells Robert Prizeman conducts Libera & a studio orchestra

Frederick Delius Sleigh Ride John Rutter conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Gustav Holst St. Paul’s Suite Opus 29 No.2 Richard Hickox conducts the City of London Sinfonia

George Frederic Handel ‘Worthy is the Lamb’ (From Messiah) Andrew Davis conducts the Toronto Symphony Orchestra & Toronto Mendelssohn Choir

Patric Standford A Christmas Carol Symphony Gavin Sutherland conducts the City of Prague Philharmonic

Helen Habershon Winter Arrives Anthony Halstead conducts London Primavera

John Goss ‘See Amid the Winter’s Snow’ Organ: Huw Williams Malcolm Archer conducts the St Paul’s Cathedral Choir

Franz Liszt The Christmas Tree Suite Gavin Sutherland conducts the RTÉ Concert Orchestra

TUESDAY 8TH DECEMBER

8pm to 10pm: THE CLASSIC FM CONCERT with JOHN SUCHET

John has a full programme of festive treats, perfect for an evening of tree-decorating and Christmas card-writing. To begin, music from a seasonal classic that is nearly 300 years old, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, before a favourite by Berlioz, who was born on this day in 1803.

Elsewhere, there’s a new recording of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake from Santtu-Matias Rouvali and the Philharmonia Orchestra, recorded live at the Royal Festival Hall in November 2019; a symphony of carols arranged by Victor Hely-Hutchinson; and we also enjoy John Williams’ score to the seasonal film favourite Home Alone.

Johann Sebastian Bach Christmas Oratorio BWV.248 – Sinfonia Nikolaus Harnoncourt conducts Concentus Musicus, Vienna

Hector Berlioz The Shepherd’s Farewell (From L’enfance du Christ) Benjamin Nicholas conducts the Choir of Merton College, Oxford and Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra

Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky Swan Lake: Suite Santtu-Matias Rouvali conducts the Philharmonia Orchestra

Victor Hely-Hutchinson Carol Symphony Gavin Sutherland conducts the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra

John Williams ‘Somewhere in my Memory’ (from the film Home Alone) Christopher Bell conducts the Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Sergei Prokofiev Winter Bonfire Opus 122 – Suite José Serebrier conducts the Scottish Chamber Orchestra & Paisley Abbey Boy Choristers

WEDNESDAY 9TH DECEMBER

8pm to 10pm: THE CLASSIC FM CONCERT with JOHN SUCHET

The seasonal celebrations continue with a firm festive favourite: A Christmas Overture by Nigel Hess. John then embarks on a seasonal tradition; a trip to the theatre, but from the comfort of our own homes. Richard Bonynge directs the National Philharmonic Orchestra in Chopin’s Les Sylphides, and we hear a suite of music from Rimsky- Korsakov’s rarely performed opera Christmas Eve.

John also shines the spotlight on star violinist Joshua Bell, who celebrates his 53rd birthday today, with his virtuosic performance of Schumann’s Violin Concerto.

Nigel Hess A Christmas Overture John Rutter conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Frédéric Chopin Les Sylphides Richard Bonynge conducts the National Philharmonic Orchestra

George Frederic Handel ‘For unto us a child is born’ (from Messiah) Stephen Cleobury conducts the Brandenburg Consort and Choir of King’s College, Cambridge

Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov Christmas Eve Suite Neeme Järvi conducts the Scottish National Orchestra

Richard Storrs Willis ‘It came upon the midnight clear’ Joseph Jennings conducts Chanticleer

Robert Schumann Violin Concerto in D minor Opus Posth. Violin: Joshua Bell Christoph von Dohnanyi conducts the Cleveland Orchestra

THURSDAY 10TH DECEMBER

8pm to 10pm: THE CLASSIC FM CONCERT with JOHN SUCHET

This evening’s programme begins with one of the most recognisable melodies associated with Christmas, the ‘Troika’ from Prokofiev’s Lieutenant Kijé, before the centrepiece of the evening: Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols, performed by the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge under the great David Willcocks.

We stay seasonal with a selection of music from festive films, including a nostalgic arrangement for string quartet of the music from Howard Blake’s perennial hit The Snowman, and there’s music from The Polar Express by Alan Silvestri.

John also marks another event, as former child prodigy Sarah Chang celebrates her 40th birthday, with her recording of Paganini’s virtuosic Violin Concerto No.1.

Sergei Prokofiev Troika (from Lieutenant Kijé Opus 60) Neeme Järvi conducts the Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Frédéric Chopin Etude in A minor Opus 25 No.11 (‘Winter Wind’) Piano: Leif Ove Andsnes

Howard Blake The Snowman – Suite Paavo String Quartet

Benjamin Britten A Ceremony of Carols Opus 28 Soloists: James Clark, Julian Godlee & Osian Ellis David Willcocks conducts the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge

Philip Lane Old Christmas Music Gavin Sutherland conducts the Royal Ballet Sinfonia

John Rutter Nativity Carol John Rutter conducts the City of London Sinfonia & Cambridge Singers

Niccolò Paganini Violin Concerto No.1 in D major Opus 6 Violin: Sarah Chang Wolfgang Sawalisch conducts the Philadelphia Orchestra

Alan Silvestri The Polar Express: Suite Alan Silvestri conducts a studio orchestra

FRIDAY 11TH DECEMBER

8pm to 10pm: THE CLASSIC FM CONCERT with JOHN SUCHET: CHRISTMAS IN BOSTON

Felix Mendelssohn ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’

Traditional ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’

Don Sebesky A Christmas Scherzo

Johnny Marks Holly Jolly Jingle

Johnny Marks Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Katherine Kennicott Davies Carol of the Drum

Mel Torme ‘Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire’

Leroy Anderson Sleigh Ride

Anon 3 Christmas Spirituals Soprano: Melinda Doolittle

Keith Lockhart conducts the Boston Pops Orchestra and Tanglewood Festival Chorus

Continued…

FRIDAY 11TH DECEMBER

8pm to 10pm: THE CLASSIC FM CONCERT with JOHN SUCHET: CHRISTMAS IN BOSTON

Continued…

Felix Bernard Winter Wonderland Arthur Fiedler conducts the Boston Pops Orchestra

Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky Sleeping Beauty – Suite Seiji Ozawa conducts the Boston Symphony Orchestra

George Gershwin I Got Rhythm Variations Piano: Earl Wild Arthur Fiedler conducts the Boston Pops Orchestra

Frank Churchill Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – Fantasy Arthur Fiedler conducts the Boston Pops Orchestra

Ludwig van Beethoven Romance No.2 in F major Opus 50 Violin: Isaac Stern Seiji Ozawa conducts the Boston Symphony Orchestra

Engelbert Humperdinck Hansel & Gretel – Dream Pantomime Arthur Fiedler conducts the Boston Pops Orchestra

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Die Schlittenfahrt (‘Sleigh Ride’) Arthur Fiedler conducts the Boston Pops Orchestra