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25/12/2025

Tom McKinney presents a special festive edition of Radio 3's Breakfast show on Christmas Day. To get in touch, email 3breakfast@bbc.co.uk

Tom McKinney presents a special festive edition of Radio 3鈥檚 Breakfast show live from Salford on Christmas Day. With birdsong, Bach Before 7 and the best in yuletide classical music. You can contact the show by emailing 3breakfast@bbc.co.uk

To listen on most smart speakers, just say 'Ask 麻豆社 Sounds to play 3 Breakfast鈥�

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麻豆社 Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Henry John Gauntlett

    Once in royal David's city

    Performer: Raymond Johnston. Choir: Worcester Cathedral Choir. Conductor: Donald Hunt. Singer: Robert Stringer.
    • Christmas Carols.
    • Naxos.
    • 2.

  • Georg G枚tsch

    Still, still, still

    Music Arranger: Chris Gough. Ensemble: 麻豆社 Scottish Symphony Orchestra Brass Players. Conductor: Chris Gough.

  • Jean Mouton

    Nesciens mater virgo virum for 8 voices

    Choir: VOCES8.
    • Christmas.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 1501.

  • Trad.

    The Holly and The Ivy (Arr. for Choir by Ola Gjeilo)

    Music Arranger: Ola Gjeilo. Choir: Meridian. Conductor: Irene Messoloras.
    • A Meridian Christmas.
    • Signum Records.
    • 5.

  • Leigh Harline

    When You Wish Upon a Star (From "Pinocchio")

    Performer: Lang Lang.
    • The Disney Book (Deluxe Edition).
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 28.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 (Pt 1, No 8 Grosser Herr and No 9 Ach mein herzlieb)

    Singer: Matthew Brook. Choir: The Choir Of Trinity College, Cambridge. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Conductor: Stephen Layton.
    • Bach: Christmas Oratorio.
    • Hyperion.

  • Herbert Howells

    A Spotless Rose (3 Carol-anthems)

    Singer: Roderick Williams. Choir: City of London Choir. Conductor: Hilary Davan Wetton.
    • Music on Christmas Morning.
    • Naxos.

  • John Rutter

    Shepherd's Pipe Carol

    Music Arranger: Peter Graham. Ensemble: Black Dyke Band. Conductor: Nicholas Childs.
    • Brass at Christmas.
    • Naxos.
    • 111.

  • 脡mile Waldteufel

    The Skaters - waltz

    Orchestra: Les Si猫cles. Conductor: Fran莽ois鈥怷avier Roth.
    • Les nuits de Paris.
    • Bru Zane.
    • 10.

  • George Frideric Handel

    For unto us a child is born (Messiah)

    Choir: The English Concert Choir. Orchestra: The English Concert. Conductor: John Nelson.
    • Handel: Messiah, HWV 56.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 12.

  • Reena Esmail

    The Unexpected Early Hour (A Winter Breviary)

    Lyricist: Rebecca Gayle Howell. Ensemble: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • The Wise Men and the Star - A Christmas Collection.
    • CORO.
    • 14.

  • Gustav Holst

    In the Bleak Midwinter

    Music Arranger: Sheku Kanneh鈥怣ason.
    • Holst: In the Bleak Midwinter (Arr. Kanneh-Mason).
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 1.

  • John Foster

    While shepherds watched their flocks by night

    Choir: Psalmody. Ensemble: The Parley of Instruments. Director: Peter Holman.
    • While Shepherds Watched.
    • Hyperion.
    • 15.

  • Mykola Leontovych

    Carol of the Bells

    Ensemble: Berlin Philharmonic Brass.
    • Frohe Weihnachten!.
    • Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings.
    • 10.

  • John Fox

    Carol Fantasia

    Conductor: Gavin Sutherland. Orchestra: RT脡 Concert Orchestra.
    • Another Night Before Christmas & Scrooge.
    • Naxos.
    • 1.

  • Lowell Mason

    Joy to the world, the Lord is come

    Composer: George Frideric Handel. Performer: Darius Battiwalla. Choir: Huddersfield Choral Society. Conductor: Joseph Cullen.
    • The Carols Album.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 1101.

  • Dieterich Buxtehude

    In dulci jubilo

    Singer: Johannette Zomer. Singer: Patrick Van Goethem. Singer: Klaus Mertens. Orchestra: Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra. Director: Ton Koopman.
    • Opera Omnia V: Vocal Works 2.
    • Challenge Classics.
    • 3.

  • Malcolm Arnold

    Fantasy on Christmas Carols (from the film "The Holly and the Ivy")

    Orchestra: 麻豆社 Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Rumon Gamba.
    • Arnold: Film Music, Volume 2: Dyson, 麻豆社 Phil, Gamba.
    • Chandos.
    • 23.

  • Iain Simcock

    O little town of Bethlehem

    • Adeste Fideles: Christmas music from Westminster Cathedral.
    • Hyperion.
    • 8.

  • Trad.

    Suesser die Glocken nie klingen

    Lyricist: Friedrich Wilhelm Kritzinger. Music Arranger: Andreas N. Tarkmann. Singer: Jonas Kaufmann. Orchestra: Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg. Conductor: Jochen Rieder.
    • It's Christmas!.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 3.

  • John Joubert

    Torches

    Performer: David Dunnett. Choir: Ikon. Conductor: David Hill.
    • Venite, Gaudete!: Choral Music for Christmas.
    • Naxos.
    • 104.

  • Arcangelo Corelli

    Concerto grosso in G minor Op.6`8 'Christmas night' (Allegro and Adagio)

    Ensemble: La Pastorella.
    • Ricercar.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Hark! The herald angels sing

    Performer: David Dunnett. Ensemble: Norwich Cathedral Choir. Ensemble: Onyx Brass. Conductor: Ashley Grote.
    • Lord of the Dance: Christmas Carols from Norwich Cathedral.
    • Deux-Elles Limited.
    • 18.

  • Alan Silvestri

    The Polar Express (Suite)

    Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: Alan Silvestri.
    • The Polar Express (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).
    • Warner Records.
    • 14.

  • Juan Garc铆a de Z茅spedes

    Convidando est谩 la noche

    Ensemble: The Harp Consort. Director: Andrew Lawrence鈥怟ing.
    • Missa Mexicana.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 16.

  • Trad.

    Ar fore dydd Nadolig (On Christmas Morning)

    Performer: Seindorf Beaumaris Band. Choir: Seiriol Choir.
    • Carolau Seiriol gyda Seindorf Beaumaris.
    • Aran.
    • 10.

  • Trad.

    Taladh Chriosta

    Music Arranger: John Hearne. Choir: Cadenza. Director: Jenny Sumerling.
    • Bright Star.
    • Cadenza.
    • 21.

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Concerto for Psaltry & Organ in C Major, RV 774

    Performer: Martin Gester. Music Arranger: Olivier Four茅s. Orchestra: Arte dei Suonatori.
    • Venetian Christmas.
    • BIS.

  • Howard Blake

    The Snowman Soundtrack (extract)

    Orchestra: Sinfonia of London. Conductor: Howard Blake.
    • The Snowman.
    • Magic Star.
    • 6.

  • Benjamin Britten

    Ceremony of Carols (9. Spring Carol)

    Singer: Elijah McCormack. Conductor: Christopher Lowrey. Ensemble: Ensemble Altera.
    • Feminine Voices at Christmas.
    • Alpha Classics.
    • 23.

  • Juan de Araujo

    Los coflades de la estleya

    Ensemble: Ex Cathedra Choir. Conductor: Jeffrey Skidmore.
    • New World Symphonies - Baroque Music from Latin America.
    • Hyperion.

  • Philip Lane

    Wassail Dances

    Conductor: Gavin Sutherland. Orchestra: The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Hely-Hutchinson: A Carol Symphony: City of Prague Phil, Sutherland.
    • Naxos.

Broadcast

  • Today 06:30
    麻豆社 Radio 3