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Tchaikovsky's Symphony No.1 'Winter Daydreams' in Building a Library with Jonathan Cross and Andrew McGregor

Andrew McGregor picks the best new classical albums for the festive period, with Sarah Walker and Jonathan Cross, who chooses his top recording of Tchaikovsky's Winter Daydreams.

Navigating the best new classical albums of music for Christmas and the festive period.

Presented by Andrew McGregor.

2.10pm
Sarah Walker picks some of her favourite seasonal new releases.

3.00pm
Building a Library
Jonathan Cross assesses recordings of Tchaikovky's Symphony No. 1 "Winter Daydreams" and makes a top recommendation.
First performed in Moscow in 1868 after many years of soul-searching and hard graft, Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 1, entitled "Winter Daydreams", is a triumphantly atmospheric winter wonderland soundscape.

Top choice:
Boston Symphony Orchestra, Michael Tilson Thomas (conductor)
Deutsche Grammophon 4636152

3.45pm
Record of the Week
Andrew's pick of the best of the best new Christmassy releases.

17 days left to listen

1 hour, 59 minutes

Last on

Sat 20 Dec 2025 14:00
Â鶹Éç Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Heinrich Schütz

    Hodie Christus natus est SWV.456

    Ensemble: Il Pomo d’Oro. Conductor: Giuseppe Maletto.
    • Natale veneziano.
    • Arcana.
    • 1.

  • Hans Gál

    Nachtmusik Op.44

    Singer: Carolyn Sampson. Choir: Borealis Choir. Ensemble: Pixels Ensemble. Conductor: Bridget Budge.
    • Gál: Music for Voices, Vol. 3.
    • Toccata Classics.
    • 101.

  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Cuban Nutcracker Suite (Overture)

    Performer: Sarah Willis. Music Arranger: Joshua Davis. Music Arranger: Yuniet Lombida Prieto. Ensemble: The Sarahbanda.
    • Cuban Christmas.
    • 4.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

    Music Arranger: Sir David Willcocks. Choir: Choir of King’s College, Cambridge. Orchestra: Britten Sinfonia. Conductor: Daniel Hyde.
    • All the Stars Looked Down: A John Rutter Celebration.
    • King’s College, Cambridge.
    • 1.

  • Trad.

    Child in a Manger

    Music Arranger: John Rutter. Choir: Choir of King’s College, Cambridge. Orchestra: Britten Sinfonia. Conductor: Daniel Hyde.
    • All the Stars Looked Down: A John Rutter Celebration.
    • King’s College, Cambridge.
    • 12.

  • Gustav Holst

    Hymn to the Dawn (Choral hymns from the Rig Veda - group 3 Op.26 No.3)

    Performer: Lishan Tan. Ensemble: Ensemble Altera. Conductor: Christopher Lowrey.
    • Feminine Voices at Christmas.
    • Alpha Classics.
    • 4.

  • Elizabeth Poston

    Jesus Christ the Apple Tree

    Singer: Elijah McCormack. Ensemble: Ensemble Altera. Conductor: Christopher Lowrey.
    • Feminine Voices at Christmas.
    • Alpha Classics.
    • 11.

  • Alessandro Scarlatti

    O magnum mysterium

    Choir: Coro Ghislieri. Conductor: Giulio Prandi.
    • Alessandro Scarlatti: Christmas at the Bethlehem of the West. Music from Santa M.
    • Arcana.
    • 11.

  • Trad.

    O Tannenbaum

    Ensemble: Berlin Philharmonic Brass.
    • Frohe Weihnachten!.
    • Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings.
    • 9.

  • Trad.

    O TannenBRASS!

    Ensemble: Berlin Philharmonic Brass.
    • Frohe Weihnachten!.
    • Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings.
    • 1.

  • Lowell Mason

    Joy to the World

    Music Arranger: Adam Brett Ward. Ensemble: Chanticleer. Director: Tim Keeler.
    • Joy to the World.
    • Delos.
    • 101.

  • Gabriel Kahane

    Halfspent, "lo, how a rose"

    Ensemble: Miró Quartet.
    • Hearth.
    • Pentatone.
    • 110.

  • Kristina Arakelyan

    Gaudete (A Christmas offering)

    Performer: Esther Beyer. Choir: Choir of King’s College, London. Conductor: Joseph Fort.
    • A Christmas Offering.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 107.

  • Engelbert Humperdinck

    Das Mirakel (Christmas Eve in the Convent)

    Choir: Kinderchor des Georg-Friedrich-Händel-Gymnasiums Berlin. Choir: Berlin Radio Choir. Orchestra: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin. Conductor: Steffen Tast.
    • Humperdinck: Das Mirakel, EHWV 151.
    • Capriccio.
    • 201.

  • Engelbert Humperdinck

    Das Mirakel (Children outside the Church)

    Choir: Kinderchor des Georg-Friedrich-Händel-Gymnasiums Berlin. Orchestra: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin. Conductor: Steffen Tast.
    • Humperdinck: Das Mirakel, EHWV 151.
    • Capriccio.
    • 202.

  • Engelbert Humperdinck

    Das Mirakel (The Light)

    Lyricist: Karl Gustav Vollmoeller. Choir: Berlin Radio Choir. Choir: Kinderchor des Georg-Friedrich-Händel-Gymnasiums Berlin. Orchestra: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin. Conductor: Steffen Tast.
    • Humperdinck: Das Mirakel, EHWV 151.
    • Capriccio.
    • 203.

  • Engelbert Humperdinck

    Das Mirakel (Christmas carols)

    Choir: Kinderchor des Georg-Friedrich-Händel-Gymnasiums Berlin. Choir: Berlin Radio Choir. Orchestra: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin. Conductor: Steffen Tast.
    • Humperdinck: Das Mirakel, EHWV 151.
    • Capriccio.
    • 204.

  • Engelbert Humperdinck

    Das Mirakel (Holy night falls)

    Choir: Kinderchor des Georg-Friedrich-Händel-Gymnasiums Berlin. Choir: Berlin Radio Choir. Orchestra: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin. Conductor: Steffen Tast.
    • Humperdinck: Das Mirakel, EHWV 151.
    • Capriccio.
    • 205.

Broadcast

  • Sat 20 Dec 2025 14:00
    Â鶹Éç Radio 3

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