Programme information
Saturday 12th December to Friday 18th December 2020
WEEK 51
THE CLASSIC FM CONCERT with JOHN SUCHET: BEETHOVEN – A 250TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
Wednesday 16th December, 8pm to 10pm
On the 250th anniversary of the birth of one of the greatest classical composers who ever lived, John Suchet presents an exclusive concert in honour of Ludwig van Beethoven. The Philharmonia Orchestra performed behind closed doors at the Royal Festival Hall in London under Pablo Heras-Casado last month and tonight, Classic FM gives its listeners a chance to hear this special concert in full.
We hear two of Beethoven’s most joyful works, written only a few years apart. First, his Symphony No.2. Described at its premiere as “a hideously writhing, wounded dragon that refuses to die” by a critic, it is now celebrated as one of his most upbeat symphonies.
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 51
SATURDAY 12TH DECEMBER
3pm to 5pm: MOIRA STUART’S HALL OF FAME CONCERT
Today’s programme opens with music that depicts the snowy climes of Finland from Sibelius, and we hear one of Beethoven’s best known works, in anticipation of the composer’s 250th anniversary on 16th December. Daniel Barenboim conducts the Staatskapelle Berlin in a rousing performance of the Symphony No.5.
Elsewhere, Stephen Hough plays all the right notes in the right order in Grieg’s Piano Concerto, there’s a Mozart favourite, and the Choir of Royal Holloway sings a perennial English carol.
Jean Sibelius FInlanda Opus 26 Mariss Jansons conducts the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra
‘The First Nowell’ Cello: Peter Gregson Howard Goodall conducts Enchanted Voices
Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No.5 in C minor Opus 67 Daniel Barenboim conducts the Staatskapelle Berlin
Jay Ungar The Ashokan Farewell Major J R Perkins conducts the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines
Anon ‘The Holly and the Ivy’ Rupert Gough conducts the Choir of Royal Holloway
Edvard Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor Opus 16 Piano: Stephen Hough Andrew Litton conducts the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Eine Kleine Nachtmusik K.525 Andrew Manze conducts The English Concert
5pm to 7pm: SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES with ANDREW COLLINS
An all-Disney programme is on the menu, as Andrew Collins presents an afternoon of family–friendly favourites. Musical highlights include Frank Churchill’s score from Snow White and the Seven Dwarves – the very first feature length animation. The Sorcerer's Apprentice by Dukas used in Fantasia also features, as does music by husband-wife partnership Robert and Kristen Lopez from the modern-day classic, Frozen.
2 SATURDAY 12TH DECEMBER
7pm to 9pm: COWAN’S CLASSICS WITH ROB COWAN
Rob embraces the festive spirit today, with a selection of music perfect for a Saturday night in. Rob plays music from a little-known suite by Massenet from his ballet Cinderella, Kathleen Battle sings excerpts from Handel’s Messiah, and George Szell conducts the Cleveland Orchestra with a stunning performance of the traditional Christmas Carol, ‘Deck the halls with boughs of holly’.
9pm to 10pm: BEETHOVEN: THE MAN REVEALED with JOHN SUCHET (49 / 52)
John paints a picture of a sad, withdrawn Beethoven who, approaching his final year, found conversation impossible because of his deafness, and whose health was in terminal decline.
John explains how Beethoven’s student nephew Karl continued to resent his uncle, and dreaded him visiting, embarrassed by his erratic behaviour. He also reveals how the composer was spying on Karl, and why he intended to set up a game of billiards to determine whether he was fit to carry forward the family name.
Even at this stage of this life, Beethoven continues to compose masterful music. John plays a piece one critic described as “Incomprehensible, like Chinese, a confusion of Babel”; his Grosse Fuge. Then, his String Quartet No.131; a work so full of depth and intensity, Schubert said of it, “After this, what is left for us to write?”
3 SUNDAY 13TH DECEMBER
3pm to 5pm: JOHN HUMPHRYS
John gets into the spirit of the season, and marks the birthday of Phillip Brooks, the clergyman and author who wrote the lyrics to the traditional Christmas Carol, Oh Little Town of Bethlehem, with a recording sung by Winchester Cathedral Choir.
After, he plays an acclaimed performance of the Adagietto from Mahler’s Symphony No.5 from the New York Philharmonic Orchestra under Bruno Walter.
5pm to 7pm: DAVID MELLOR
On the second Sunday of Advent, David continues to celebrate some of his festive favourites.
Bryn Terfel sings the traditional Austrian carol ‘Still, Still, Still’, and John Williams directs the Boston Pops Orchestra in some light music classics, before David selects some of his favourite Beethoven recordings to mark the great composers upcoming 250th anniversary.
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 young Ukrainian pianist Anna Fedorova as her Young Classical Star. Anna started taking piano lessons aged just five, and has gone on to study at the International Piano Academy in Italy and the Royal College of Music in London.
Her international career has taken her to the stages of Carnegie Hall in New York, London's Cadogan Hall, The Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and La Sala Verdi di Milano.
4 MONDAY 14TH DECEMBER
8pm to 10pm: THE CLASSIC FM CONCERT with JOHN SUCHET: A HALLÉ CHRISTMAS
John gets the week off to a festive start, presenting an evening with the Hallé Orchestra and Chorus, one of the country’s most prestigious ensembles. The orchestra plays arrangements of carols including ‘Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day’ and ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’, before Claire Rutter joins the orchestra for Jay Livingston’s Silver Bells and a beautiful Bach chorale.
Several of the orchestra’s finest recordings complement the seasonal music. We hear the Hallé Orchestra’s performance of Elgar’s Wand of Youth Suite No.1, and Brahms’ Variations on a Theme of Haydn.
Richard Bissill A Christmas Carnival Stephen Bell conducts the Hallé Orchestra
John Gardner ‘Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day’ Stephen Bell conducts the Hallé Orchestra and Chorus
Adam Saunders Fairytale Sleigh Ride Stephen Bell conducts the Hallé Orchestra John Rutter Angel’s Carol Stephen Bell conducts the Hallé Orchestra and Chorus
Harold Darke ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’ Stephen Bell conducts the Hallé Orchestra and Chorus
Roderick Elms Noel Stephen Bell conducts the Hallé Orchestra
Edward Elgar The Wand of Youth Suite No.1 Mark Elder conducts the Hallé Orchestra
John Ireland ‘The Holy Boy’ Stephen Bell conducts the Hallé Orchestra and Chorus
Traditional ‘In Dulci Jubilo’ (arr. Pearsall) Stephen Bell conducts the Hallé Orchestra and Chorus
Continued…
5 MONDAY 14TH DECEMBER
8pm to 10pm: THE CLASSIC FM CONCERT with JOHN SUCHET: A HALLÉ CHRISTMAS
Continued…
Henry Smart ‘Angels from the Realms of Glory’ Soprano: Claire Rutter Carl Davis conducts the Hallé Orchestra
Jay Livingston Silver Bells Soprano: Claire Rutter Carl Davis conducts the Hallé Orchestra
Johann Sebastian Bach ‘Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring’ Soprano: Claire Rutter Carl Davis conducts the Hallé Orchestra
Hugh Martin Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Soprano: Claire Rutter Carl Davis conducts the Hallé Orchestra
Carl Davis The Most Wonderful Birthday of All Soprano: Claire Rutter Carl Davis conducts the Hallé Orchestra
Johannes Brahms Variations on a Theme of Haydn Opus 56a James Loughran conducts the Hallé Orchestra
Anon ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’ Stephen Bell conducts the Hallé Orchestra and Chorus
6 TUESDAY 15TH DECEMBER
8pm to 10pm: THE CLASSIC FM CONCERT with JOHN SUCHET: CHRISTMAS IN LIVERPOOL
John takes us to Liverpool for a festive programme shining the spotlight on the wealth of the city’s musical talent.
First, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra share the stage with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir for a selection of traditional Christmas favourites including ‘Silent Night’ and ‘The Boars Head’, before we hear from the two cathedral choirs of Liverpool: the Liverpool Cathedral Choir and the Choir of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral.
Elsewhere, there’s folksong arrangements by Vaughan Williams, and a trip to the theatre with music from My Fair Lady.
Traditional ‘Ding dong merrily on high’
Harold Darke ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’
Edgar Pettman ‘The Infant King’
Traditional ‘The Boar’s Head’
Traditional ‘Deck the Halls’
Traditional ‘O little one sweet’
Edmund Walters ‘Little Robin Redbreast’
Franz Gruber ‘Silent Night ‘
John Francis Wade ‘O come, all ye faithful’
Soprano: Jocelyn Bell Edmund Walters conducts the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir & St Ambrose R.C Junior School Choir
Frederick Loewe My Fair Lady – Symphonic Picture Carl Davis conducts the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Continued…
7 TUESDAY 15TH DECEMBER
8pm to 10pm: THE CLASSIC FM CONCERT with JOHN SUCHET: CHRISTMAS IN LIVERPOOL
Continued…
Peter Warlock ‘Adam lay ybounden’ Organ: Ian Wells Ian Tracey conducts the Liverpool Cathedral Choir
Martin Howarth ‘Angels and Shepherds’ Organ: Ian Wells Ian Tracey conducts the Liverpool Cathedral Choir
Traditional ‘A Maiden Most Gentle’ Organ: Ian Wells Ian Tracey conducts the Liverpool Cathedral Choir
Herbert Howells ‘A Spotless Rose’ Organ: Ian Wells Ian Tracey conducts the Liverpool Cathedral Choir
Traditional ‘Joys Seven’ Organ: Ian Wells Ian Tracey conducts the Liverpool Cathedral Choir
Traditional ‘Angelus ad Virginem’ Organ: Ian Wells Ian Tracey conducts the Liverpool Cathedral Choir
David Forshaw ‘Still the dark lies’ Organ: Ian Wells Ian Tracey conducts the Liverpool Cathedral Choir
Bernard Sims ‘If you had been to Bethlehem’ Organ: Ian Wells Ian Tracey conducts the Liverpool Cathedral Choir
Continued…
8 TUESDAY 15TH DECEMBER
8pm to 10pm: THE CLASSIC FM CONCERT with JOHN SUCHET: CHRISTMAS IN LIVERPOOL
Continued…
Morten Lauridsen O Magnum Mysterium Organ: Ian Wells Ian Tracey conducts the Liverpool Cathedral Choir
Ralph Vaughan Williams English Folksong Suite John Wilson conducts the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
James MacMillan ‘O Radiant Dawn’ Christopher McElroy conducts the Choir of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral
9 WEDNESDAY 16TH DECEMBER
8pm to 10pm: THE CLASSIC FM CONCERT with JOHN SUCHET: BEETHOVEN – A 250TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
On the 250th anniversary of the birth of one of the greatest classical composers who ever lived, John presents an exclusive concert in honour of Ludwig van Beethoven. The Philharmonia Orchestra performed behind closed doors at the Royal Festival Hall in London under Pablo Heras-Casado last month and tonight, Classic FM gives its listeners a chance to hear this special concert in full.
We hear two of Beethoven’s most joyful works, written only a few years apart. First, his Symphony No.2. Described at its premiere as “a hideously writhing, wounded dragon that refuses to die” by a critic, it is now celebrated as one of his most upbeat symphonies.
After, Beethoven’s only Violin Concerto, which was unsuccessful at its premiere but is now one of the most important works in the violin repertoire. International star Nicola Benedetti joins the Philharmonia Orchestra on stage.
Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No.2 in D major Opus 36
Ludwig van Beethoven Violin Concerto in D major Opus 61 Violin: Nicola Benedetti
Pablo Heras-Casado conducts the Philharmonia Orchestra
10 THURSDAY 17TH DECEMBER
8pm to 10pm: THE CLASSIC FM CONCERT with JOHN SUCHET: CHRISTMAS IN VIENNA
John whisks us away to the Christmas markets, fairy-tale village squares and snow- topped mountains of Austria, with a Viennese Christmas special. There’s favourites by the Strauss family from the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra under their esteemed conductors, and the Vienna Boys’ Choir bring moments of angelic calm.
Later, the late great Leontyne Price joins Herbert von Karajan on stage for some loved carols, and we take a walk in the countryside with Beethoven’s ‘Pastoral’ symphony, performed by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra under Simon Rattle.
Traditional Christmas Prologue (arr. Christian Kolonovits) Steven Mercurio conducts the Vienna Symphony Orchestra
Traditional ‘Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly’ Lucio Golino conducts the Vienna Boys’ Choir
Traditional ‘Still, Still, Still’ Uwe Christian Harrer conducts the Vienna Boys’ Choir
Henry John Gauntlett ‘Once in Royal David’s City’ Peter Marschik conducts the Vienna Boys’ Choir and studio musicians
George Frideric Handel Joy to the World Peter Marschik conducts the Vienna Boys’ Choir and studio musicians
Josef Strauss Winterlust Polka Opus 121 Gustavo Dudamel conducts the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Johann Strauss Junior Russian March Fantasy Opus 353 Lorin Maazel conducts the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Franz Gruber ‘Silent Night’ Soprano: Leontyne Price Herbert von Karajan conducts the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra & Vienna Singverein
Continued…
11 THURSDAY 17TH DECEMBER
8pm to 10pm: THE CLASSIC FM CONCERT with JOHN SUCHET: CHRISTMAS IN VIENNA
Continued…
J H Hopkins ‘We Three Kings’ Soprano: Leontyne Price Herbert von Karajan conducts the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra & Vienna Singverein
Traditional ‘O Tannenbaum’ Soprano: Leontyne Price Herbert von Karajan conducts the Vienna Singverein
Carl Michael Ziehrer Viennese Citizens Waltz Opus 419 Mariss Jansons conducts the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No.6 in F major Opus 68 (‘Pastoral’) Simon Rattle conducts the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Johann Strauss Junior Roses from the South Opus 388 Manfred Honeck conducts the Vienna Symphony Orchestra
Christian Kolonovits Announcing Christmas Steven Mercurio conducts the Vienna Symphony Orchestra
Adolphe Adam ‘O Holy Night’ Soprano: Leontyne Price Herbert von Karajan conducts the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra & Vienna Singverein
12 FRIDAY 18TH DECEMBER
8pm to 10pm: THE CLASSIC FM CONCERT with JOHN SUCHET: A JOHN RUTTER CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
John Suchet presents a very special exclusive evening of Christmas music from the nation’s favourite choral composer and conductor, John Rutter. This concert, broadcast exclusively for the first time on Classic FM tonight, was given behind closed doors in St Albans Cathedral a few weeks ago.
John Rutter himself directs a star-studded line up of musicians including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Voces8, Roderick Williams and Simon Callow narrates.
We hear traditional favourites including ‘Ding Dong! Merrily on High’ and ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’, alongside modern classics such as John Rutter’s Candlelight Carol and The Christmas Song by Mel Tormé.
Anon ‘Ding Dong! Merrily on High’ John Rutter conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Voce8
Anon ‘The Truth from Above’ Baritone: Roderick Williams John Rutter conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Voce8
Michael Praetorius ‘Es ist ein’ Ros’ Entsprungen’ John Rutter conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Voce8
Anon ‘I Wonder as I Wander’ Mezzo soprano: Melanie Marshall John Rutter conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Anon ‘I Saw a Maiden’ John Rutter conducts Voces8
Luke 2: V.1–20 Narrator: Simon Callow
Anon ‘Rise up, Shepherd and Follow’ Baritone: Roderick Williams John Rutter conducts Voce8
Michael Head ‘The Little Road to Bethlehem’ John Rutter conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Continued…
13 FRIDAY 18TH DECEMBER
8pm to 10pm: THE CLASSIC FM CONCERT with JOHN SUCHET: A JOHN RUTTER CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
Continued…
John Rutter Star Carol John Rutter conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Voce8
John David ‘Born on a New Day’ John Rutter conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Voce8
John Rutter Candlelight Carol John Rutter conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Voce8
Harold Darke ‘In the Bleak Mid-Winter’ Baritone: Roderick Williams John Rutter conducts Voce8
Anon ‘The Holly and the Ivy’ John Rutter conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Voce8
A.A. Milne King John’s Christmas Narrator: Simon Callow
Anon ‘We Wish you a Merry Christmas’ John Rutter conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Voce8
Mel Tormé The Christmas Song John Rutter conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Voce8
Anon ‘Deck the Halls’ John Rutter conducts Voce8
Ralph Blane ‘Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ Mezzo soprano: Melanie Marshall Baritone: Roderick Williams John Rutter conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Voce8
Continued…
14 FRIDAY 18TH DECEMBER
8pm to 10pm: THE CLASSIC FM CONCERT with JOHN SUCHET: A JOHN RUTTER CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
Continued…
Felix Mendelssohn ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’ Mezzo soprano: Melanie Marshall Baritone: Roderick Williams John Rutter conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Voce8 and the Stay at Home Choir
15