EBU Christmas Around Europe - Episode 1

Andrew McGregor presents a musical celebration of Christmas, with concert performances from seven countries. BBC Radio 3 joins an international network of radio stations for a seasonal selection of choral and orchestral music. En route, Andrew reflects on our own Christmas customs, past, present and future. 12.00pm USA A Christmas concert from the popular American a cappella group Chanticleer, which celebrates its thirtieth anniversary in 2008. The group comes home to California to perform traditional and well-loved Christmas vocal music, from Gregorian chant to gospel. Virga jesse floruit (Gregorian chant, from the Gradual of Eleanor of Brittany) Perotin: Ex semine rosa Praetorius: In dulci jubilo Mateo Flecha: El jubilate Gaspar Fernandes: Xiocochi xicochi conetzintie Juan Garcia de Zespedes: Convidando esta la noche Part: O spross aus Isais Wurzel (Seven Magnificat Antiphons) Vytautas MIskinis: O Radix Jesse (Seven O-Antiphons) William Kirkpatrick: Away in a manger Mykola Leontobych: Carol of the Bells Joseph Jennings: Medley of Christmas Spirituals Chanticleer Joseph H Jennings (director) 1.00pm Sweden Song-and-dance man Fredrik Lycke is the special guest in a Christmas concert from Stockholm's Berwaldhallen. Stenhammar: Midvinter Rehnqvist: Don't be afraid of the darkness Pereric Moraeus: Holy Night Trad, arr. Ingvar Karkoff: Christmas from Dalecarlia Trad, arr. Gunnar Hahn: Prepare the Royal Highway Adam, arr. Martin Ostergren: O Holy Night Gruber, arr. Ingvar Karkoff: Silent Night Britten: Men of Goodwill - Variations on God Rest Ye Merry Fredrik Lycke (vocalist) Swedish Radio Chorus and Symphony Orchestra Andreas Hanson (conductor) 2.00pm Austria A feast of seasonal music from the Baroque period, in the spectacularly elaborate Baroque interior of the cathedral of St Polten. The cathedral choir joins forces with a group of instrumentalists from across the Slovakian border. Franz Schneider: Transeamus usque ad Bethlehem Rathgeber: Cum quietum silentium Murschhauser: Aria pastoralis variate, for organ Frantisek Brixi: Pastores loquebantur Albrechtsberger: Jubilemus salvatori Albrechtsberger: Der Tag, der ist so freudenreich, for organ Franz Aumann: Seid frohlich, ihr Schafer Paisiello: A Christmas Motet Konigsberger: Two Pastoral Arias, for organ Franz Krenn: Bone Jesu Michael Haydn: Parvulus filius Albrechtsberger: Pastorale in C, for organ Ludwig Lusser (organ) Domkantorei St Polten Solamente Naturali 3.00pm Finland Choral music from eight countries, from Kallio Church in Helsinki, including the world premiere of a new work for Christmas by Einojuhani Rautavaara, who celebrates his eightieth birthday in 2008. Janacek: Graduale in festo purificationis BVM Martinu: The Annunciation (Four Songs on Virgin Mary) Brahms: Der englische Jager Sibelius: Now, beside the manger of the little one Matthew Whittall: In the bleak midwinter Selim Palmgren: Prince of Peace Leevi Madetoja: Cast your everyday cares aside Gallus: Mirabile mysterium Jonathan Harvey: The Angels Victoria: O magnum mysterium Toivo Kuula: Prayer, Op 34b No 1 Rautavaara: Our Joyful'st Feast (first performance) Poulenc: Seeing the Star; Hodie Christus natus est (4 motets pour les temps de Noel) Helsinki Chamber Choir Nils Schweckendiek (conductor).