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Organist and conductor Anna Lapwood with music that sparkles

Organist and conductor Anna Lapwood reveals familiar and unfamiliar works in a new light, easing us into Christmas with favourites from choral to jazz.

Anna Lapwood shares Christmas memories alongside some of her favourite festive music. There’s technical agility and precision with a recording of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Trinity College Choir, Cambridge, and a fresh approach to ensemble playing with saxophonist Jess Gillam and friends playing Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence.

Anna also finds tracks which will give you that warm Christmassy feeling, including the Ayoub Sisters’ A Christmas Fantasy, Anna’s favourite version of Silent Night and a cheeky take on Tchaikovsky by Duke Ellington.

Plus, two different Sleigh Rides will whisk you off to winter wonderland…

A series in which each week a musician explores a selection of music - from the inside.

A Tandem Production for Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Radio 3

Photo credit: Charlotte Levy

1 hour, 56 minutes

Music Played

  • Franz Xaver Gruber

    A Christmas Fantasy

    Composer: James Lord Pierpont. Ensemble: Ayoub Sisters. Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Paul Campbell.
    • DECCA.
  • Hugh Martin

    Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

    Lyricist: Ralph Blane. Music Arranger: Owain Park. Choir: The Choir Of Trinity College, Cambridge. Conductor: Stephen Layton.
    • HYPERION.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 (Cantata No. 2: I. Sinfonia)

    Orchestra: Dunedin Consort. Conductor: John Butt.
    • LINN.
  • Caitríona O’Leary

    Ye Sons of Men

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    German Dances, K605 (No. 3, 'The Sleigh Ride')

    Orchestra: Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
    • DG.
  • Leroy Anderson

    Sleigh Ride

    Orchestra: Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Leonard Slatkin.
    • NAXOS.
  • Ryuichi Sakamoto

    Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence

    Performer: Jess Gillam. Performer: Oscar Holch. Performer: Rowena Calvert. Performer: Sam Becker. Performer: Lysandre. Music Arranger: John Metcalfe.
    • DECCA.
  • John Rutter

    What Sweeter Music

    Choir: The Cambridge Singers. Orchestra: City of London Sinfonia. Conductor: John Rutter.
    • COLLEGIUM.
  • Olivier Messiaen

    La Nativité du Seigneur (IX. Dieu parmi nous)

    Performer: Olivier Latry.
    • DG.
  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Sugar Rum Cherry (Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy)

    Composer: Duke Ellington. Composer: Billy Strayhorn. Ensemble: Duke Ellington and His Orchestra.
    • COLUMBIA.
  • Errollyn Wallen

    Peace on Earth

    Performer: Catrin Meek. Choir: Girl Choristers of Merton College, Oxford. Conductor: Benjamin Nicholas.
    • DELPHIAN.
  • Trad.

    Ding Dong Merrily on High

    Ensemble: Brighouse and Rastrick Band.
    • ISLAND RECORDS.
  • Gustav Holst

    In the Bleak Midwinter

    Performer: Alexis Ffrench. Music Arranger: Alexis Ffrench.
    • SONY.
  • Erich Wolfgang Korngold

    Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35 (II. Romanze)

    Performer: Andrew Haveron. Orchestra: RTÉ Concert Orchestra. Ensemble: Sinfonia of London Chamber Ensemble. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • CHANDOS.
  • Samara Joy

    Warm in December

    • VERVE.
  • EÌ„riks EsÌŒenvalds

    Stars

    Lyricist: Sara Teasdale. Ensemble: VOCES8.
    • DECCA.
  • Engelbert Humperdinck

    Hansel Und Gretel (Overture)

    Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Charles Mackerras.
    • CHANDOS.
  • Trad.

    Ballade de Jesus Christ

    Performer: Huw Wiggin. Performer: Oliver Wass. Music Arranger: John Lenehan.
    • BLUE CLOUD MUSIC.
  • Antonio Vivaldi

    The Four Seasons: Winter

    Composer: Max Richter. Performer: Daniel Hope. Performer: Raphael Alpermann. Orchestra: Konzerthaus Kammerorchester Berlin. Conductor: André de Ridder.
    • DG.
  • Franz Xaver Gruber

    Silent Night

    Music Arranger: Jonathan Rathbone. Ensemble: Tenebrae. Conductor: Nigel Short.
    • SIGNUM.
  • John Gardner

    Tomorrow shall be my dancing day

    Performer: Mark Shepard. Choir: Birmingham Bach Choir. Ensemble: Fine Arts Brass Ensemble. Director: Paul Spicer.
    • Birmingham Bach Choir: There Shall A Star.
    • Birmingham Bach Choir.
    • 6.

Broadcast

  • Sat 23 Dec 2023 13:00

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