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