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Christmas Party with the Kings Singers

Jess Gillam dons her Christmas jumper and is joined by The King's Singers, a fairylight bedecked studio and several packets of party rings to share their favourite Christmas music.

Jess Gillam dons her Christmas jumper to throw a This Classical Life Christmas Party. She's joined by The King's Singers, a fairy light bedecked studio, several packets of party rings and plenty of good tidings as they all share their favourite Christmas music and talk about their festive traditions.

From Nick's love of the 'Daniel Craig of the choral classics' Bach's Christmas Oratorio, to Pat's championing of the backing group in an Ella Fitzgerald Christmas tune. Jess, of course, manages to find a David Bowie track even at Christmas and Johnny shares a Beach Boys hit that encapsulates the Christmases of touring musicians.

Playlist:

ELLA FITZGERALD: Santa Claus is Coming to Town
MORTEN LAURIDSEN: O Magnum mysterium [Chamber Choir of Europe/ Nicol Matt]
YAZOO: Only You
PROKOFIEV: Lietenant Kijé Suite, op.60 – Troika [Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Claudio Abbado]
WIZZARD: I Wish it Could be Christmas Everyday
TRAD IRISH: The Wexford Carol [Susannah Vango (sop) Ex Cathedra/Jeffrey Skidmore]
DAVID BOWIE/BING CROSBY Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy
JS BACH: "Herr, wenn die stolzen feinde schnauben" from Christmas Oratorio [Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, RIAS Kammerchor/René Jacobs]
THE BEACH BOYS: God Only Knows

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Sat 17 Dec 2022 12:30

Music Played

  • Darius Milhaud

    Brazileira (Scaramouche)

    Performer: Jess Gillam. Performer: Andee Birkett. Performer: Zeynep Özsuca. Ensemble: Tippett Quartet.
    • Decca Classics.
  • Leroy Anderson

    Sleigh Ride

    Music Arranger: Alexander L’Estrange. Ensemble: The King’s Singers.
    • Signum.
  • Ella Fitzgerald

    Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town

    • Verve.
  • Morten Lauridsen

    O Magnum Mysterium

    Ensemble: Chamber Choir of Europe. Conductor: Nicol Matt.
  • Yazoo

    Only You

    • Mute.
  • Sergey Prokofiev

    Lieutenant Kije - suite for orch .... (Op.60), Troika

    Orchestra: Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Claudio Abbado.
    • Prokofiev: Lieutenant Kije / Alexander Nevsky: Abbado/Chicago SO.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
  • Wizzard & The Stockland Green Bilateral School First Year Choir

    I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day

    • Harvest.
  • Traditional Irish

    The Wexford Carol

    Singer: Suzzie Vango. Ensemble: Ex Cathedra. Conductor: Jeffrey Skidmore.
    • Orchid Classics.
  • David Bowie & Bing Crosby

    Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy

    • RCA.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Weihnachts-Oratorium BWV.248: Pt.6, no.54; Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde

    Choir: RIAS Chamber Choir. Orchestra: Academy for Ancient Music Berlin. Conductor: René Jacobs.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
  • The Beach Boys

    God Only Knows

Broadcast

  • Sat 17 Dec 2022 12:30

Why are more young people listening to classical music?

Why are more young people listening to classical music?

20yo classical musician and presenter Jess Gillam is here to improve your playlist game.

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