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Vienna, Copenhagen, Madrid, Tartu, Helsinki and Reykjavik

Fiona Talkington is our guide for the first part of Christmas Around Europe, featuring concerts from Vienna, Copenhagen, Madrid, Tartu, Helsinki and Reykjavik

It's the 25th anniversary of the European Broadcasting Union's special day of Christmas music from around Europe. Part 1 features live and pre-recorded concerts from Vienna, Copenhagen, Madrid, Tartu, Helsinki and Reykjavik. Presented by Fiona Talkington.

9am – HOFBURG CHAPEL, IMPERIAL PALACE, VIENNA, AUSTRIA
A concert featuring Advent and Christmas music from Lower Austria

MATTHIAS LIENER (1991): Was soll’s bedeuten – Fanfare for Advent
RICHARD STRAUSS (1864-1949): Durch Einsamkeiten, AV 124
ANTON REIDINGER (1839-1912): Es wird scho glei dumpa
ANTON HEILLER (1923-1979): Heidi pupeidi
TRAD. (Austria) arr. U.C. Harrer: Ein Kind geboren gar wunderschön
TRAD. (Germany): Maria durch ein Dornwald ging
TRAD. (Austria): Gegrüßt seist, Maria, jungfräuliche Zier
HINDEMITH (1895-1963): Erster Schnee
TRAD. (Austria): Du schöne Morgenröt
TRAD. (Austria) arr. M. Schneider: Göttliches Kind, was soll‘s bedeuten
- Hollensteiner Jodler
EDUARD EBEL (1839-1905): Leise rieselt der Schnee
IRVING BERLIN (1888-1989) arr. G. Mancusi: White Christmas
THOINOT ARBEAU (1520-1595) arr. C. Wood: Ding Dong Merrily on High
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) arr. J.W. Tumundo: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
JOSÉ FELICIANO (1945): Feliz Navidad
ADOLPHE ADAM (1803-1856) arr. U. Theimer: Cantique de Noël

Trombone Attraction
Chorus Viennensis
Michael Schneider (conductor)

10am – BISTRUP CHURCH AT BIRKERØD, COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
An English Christmas from Copenhagen

TRAD. (England) arr. D. Willcocks: The Sussex Carol
TALLIS (c.1505-1585): Gloria from 'Missa Puer natus est nobis'
ANON arr. R.L. Pearsall: In dulci jubilo
HAROLD DARKE (1888-1976): In the Bleak Midwinter
TALLIS: Sanctus-Benedictus, from 'Missa Puer natus est nobis'
BOB CHILCOTT (1955): The Shepherd's Carol
JOHN RUTTER (1945): What Sweeter Music
TALLIS: Agnus Dei, from 'Missa Puer natus est nobis'

Danish National Vocal Ensemble
Graham Ross (conductor)

11am – TEATRO MONUMENTAL, MADRID, SPAIN
Christmas polyphony, along with carols by Antonio Soler

VICTORIA (1548-1611): O magnum mysterium
PALESTRINA (c.1525-1594): O magnum mysterium
GUERRERO (1528-1599): La tierra s'está gozando
- Zagales, sin seso vengo
- Pastores loquebantur
PALESTRINA: Hodie Christus natus est
ANTONIO SOLER (1729-1783): A Belén se van corriendo
- Ya de noche y por las calles
- A Belén a ver al niño
- Por caer las navidades

RTVE Chorus
Members of the RTVE Symphony Orchestra
Lorenzo Ramos (conductor)

12pm – ST PAUL'S CHURCH, TARTU, ESTONIA – LIVE
Estonian folk hymns and melodies from the earliest Baltic manuscript hymn collection

TRAD. (Estonia): Rõõmsaks saage ristirahvas [O Rejoice Greatly, All Christians]
- Mina tahan Jehovat kiita keigest südamest [Praise the Lord]
- Mo hinge mees, mis ütlen sull’ [My Dearest Man, What Shall I Say to You?]
- Nüüd Jumalale austust [Now God be Praised]
- Üks täht läks kõndma taevateed [A Star Appeared in the Sky]
- Üks laps on neitsist sündinud [A Boy is Born]
- Nüüd ole, Jeesus, kiidetud [Praise be to You, Jesus Christ]
- Aukuningas, oh Jeesus [O Jesus, King of Glory]
- See jõulupäev on rõõmust suur [Hail to the Day! So Rich in Joy]

Ensemble Triskele

1.05pm – KALLIO CHURCH, HELSINKI, FINLAND – LIVE
A live broadcast from the now traditional Helsinki venue – Kallio Church

SIBELIUS: Bell tune of Kallio Church
TRAD. (Finland): Tule meille Tuomas kulta [Come blessed Thomas]
- Christmas music for jouhikko and kantele from Feodor Pratsu’s repertoire
- Jouluna Jumala syntyi
TEA POLSO (20th cent.): Improvised organ chorale performed on harmonium
TRAD. (Finland): - Yx lapsi synnyi Betlehemis
- Gaudete (Piae Cantiones)
HANDEL (1685-1759): Passacaglia, from Organ Concerto in G minor, HWV 310
- 'If God be for us', 'Rejoice greatly, o daughter of Zion' and 'He shall feed his flock, from Messiah HWV 56
TRAD. (Finland): Kantele Waltz, from Halsua
- On lapsi syntynyt meille, from Tiernapojat [Star Boys]
- Juottomarssi [Drinking March]
- Slumrande toner [Soft Harmonies]

Anu Komsi (soprano)
Barocco Boreale

2pm – HALLGRIM’S CHURCH, REYKJAVIK, ICELAND – LIVE
A live concert titled Lights and Sounds

TRAD. (Iceland): Hátíð fer að höndum ein
BÁRA GRÍMDÓTTIR (1960): María Drottins lilja [Marie, the Lord‘s Lily]
SIGURÐUR SÆVARSSON (1963): Magnificat
PETER PHILIPS (c.1560-1628): O beatum et sacrosanctum diem
GUNNAR ANDREAS KRISTINSSON (1976): óó [Christmas Light]
RICHARD DERING (c.1580-1630): Quam vidistis
DANÍEL BJARNASON (1979): Enn fagnar heimur [The World still rejoices]
JACOBUS GALLUS (1550-1591): Omnes de Saba
THORKELL SIGURBJÖRNSSON (1938-2013): Ljós og hljómar [Light and Sounds]
HREIÐAR INGI ÞORSTEINSSON (1978): Ég höfði lýt á jólanótt [I Bow my Head on Christmas Night]
GALLUS: Duo Seraphim
HAFLIÐI HALLGRÍMSSON (1941): Mín bernskujól [My Childhood Christmas] (premiere)

Schola Cantorum Reykjavicensis
Hörður Áskelsson (conductor)

6 hours

Music Played

  • Spanish Trad.

    Angelus

    Performer: Katia Cardenal.
  • Vasyl Barvinsky

    Oh, What a Wonder!

    Ensemble: Eesti Filharmoonia Kammerkoor. Conductor: Paul Hillier.
  • TRAD (Estonia)

    O Rejoice, All Christians (Rõõmsaks saage ristirahvas)

    Ensemble: Triskele.
  • TRAD (Estonia)

    Praise the Lord (Mina tahan Jehovat kiita kõigest südamest)

    Ensemble: Triskele.
  • TRAD (Estonia)

    My Dearest Man, What Shall I Say to You? (Mo hinge mees, mis ütlen sull')

    Ensemble: Triskele.
  • TRAD (Estonia)

    Now God be Praised (Nüüd Jumalale austust)

    Ensemble: Triskele.
  • TRAD (Estonia)

    A Star Appeared in the Sky (Üks täht läks kõndma taevateed)

    Ensemble: Triskele.
  • TRAD (Estonia)

    A Child is Born in Bethlehem (Üks laps on sündind Petlemmas)

    Ensemble: Triskele.
  • TRAD (Estonia)

    Praise be to You, Jesus Christ (Nüüd ole, Jeesus, kiidetud)

    Ensemble: Triskele.
  • TRAD (Estonia)

    O Jesus, King of Glory (Aukuningas, oh Jeesus)

    Ensemble: Triskele.
  • TRAD (Estonia)

    Hail to the Day! So Rich in Joy (See jõulupäev on rõõmust suur)

    Ensemble: Triskele.
  • Trad Finnish

    Vuotaa armo, taivaan ilo; Jouluhymni; Heinilla harkien kaukalon

    Ensemble: Rajaton.
  • Trad Finnish

    Arkihuolesi kaikki heita

    Ensemble: Savonlinnan Oopperajuhlakuoro. Conductor: Kyösti Haatanen.
  • TRAD (Finland)

    Tule meille Tuomas-kulta (Come, blessed Thomas)

    Ensemble: Barocco Boreale.
  • TRAD (Finland)

    Music for jouhikko and kantele

    Performer: Siiri Virkkala (jouhikko). Performer: Andrew Lawrence-King (kantele).
  • TRAD (Finland)

    Jouluna Jumala syntyi (The Lord was Born at Christmas)

    Ensemble: Barocco Boreale.
  • Tea Polso

    Improvisation & Yx lapsi synnyi Betlehemis

    Ensemble: Barocco Boreale.
  • TRAD (Finland)

    Gaudete from Piae Cantiones

    Performer: Tea Polso (harmonium). Ensemble: Barocco Boreale.
  • George Frideric Handel

    Passacaille from Organ Concerto HWV 310

    Ensemble: Barocco Boreale.
  • George Frideric Handel

    3 arias from Messiah HWV 56 - If God be for us, Rejoice greatly, He shall feed his flock

    Performer: Anu Komsi (soprano). Ensemble: Barocco Boreale.
  • TRAD (Iceland)

    Hátíð fer að höndum ein (A Festival Approaches)

    Ensemble: Schola Cantorum Reykjavicensis. Conductor: Hörður Áskelsson.
  • Bára Grímdóttir

    María, Drottins liljan (Mary, the Lord's Lily)

    Ensemble: Schola Cantorum Reykjavicensis. Conductor: Hörður Áskelsson.
  • Sigurður Sævarsson

    Magnificat

    Ensemble: Schola Cantorum Reykjavicensis. Conductor: Hörður Áskelsson.
  • Peter Philips

    O beatum et sacrosanctum diem

    Ensemble: Schola Cantorum Reykjavicensis. Conductor: Hörður Áskelsson.
  • Gunnar Andreas Kristinsson

    óó

    Ensemble: Schola Cantorum Reykjavicensis. Conductor: Hörður Áskelsson.
  • Richard Dering

    Quem vidistis, pastores

    Ensemble: Schola Cantorum Reykjavicensis. Conductor: Hörður Áskelsson.
  • Daníel Bjarnason

    Enn fagnar heimur

    Ensemble: Schola Cantorum Reykjavicensis. Conductor: Hörður Áskelsson.
  • Jacobus Gallus

    Omnes de Saba

    Ensemble: Schola Cantorum Reykjavicensis. Conductor: Hörður Áskelsson.
  • Thorkell Sigurbjörnsson

    Ljós og hljómar (Light and Sounds)

    Ensemble: Schola Cantorum Reykjavicensis. Conductor: Hörður Áskelsson.
  • Hreiðar Ingi Þorsteinsson

    Ég höfði lýt á jólanótt (I Bow My Head)

    Ensemble: Schola Cantorum Reykjavicensis. Conductor: Hörður Áskelsson.
  • Jacobus Gallus

    Duo Seraphim

    Ensemble: Schola Cantorum Reykjavicensis. Conductor: Hörður Áskelsson.
  • Hafliði Hallgrímsson

    Mín bernskujól (My Childhood Christmas)

    Ensemble: Schola Cantorum Reykjavicensis. Conductor: Hörður Áskelsson.

Broadcast

  • Sun 15 Dec 2019 09:00

Seven unusual Christmas traditions from around Europe

Seven unusual Christmas traditions from around Europe

Be inspired by these quirky festive practices, from folklore to TV schedules.