We have mince pies, sherry and crackers: it must be time for the Christmas podcast! Join us for an episode packed with Yuletide joy, beautiful new carols by Dobrinka Tabakova, Toby Young, Cecilia McDowall and Michael Finnissy, as well as our favourite festive musical jokes. Plus hear all about our Christmas isssue. Our cover feature takes a look at a masterpiece that has redefined the sound of Christmas, Handel's Messiah; we also explore the parish church choir scene, and find out what concert-hall horrors cause musicians to see red. And, of course, we've brought along a batch of the latest Christmas CDs we've been enjoying. Merry Christmas!

This episode is presented by editor Oliver Condy, who is joined by deputy editor Jeremy Pound, managing editor Rebecca Franks, editorial assisstant Freya Parr and reviews editor Michael Beek. It was produced by Ben Youatt and Jack Bateman.

Recordings:

Dobrinka Tabakova Good-will to men, and peace on Earth

Choir of Queen's College, Oxford/Owen Rees

BBC Music Magazine Christmas 2020 Cover CD

Toby Young The Owl

Choir of Queen's College, Oxford/Owen Rees

BBC Music Magazine Christmas 2020 Cover CD

Extracts from Handel's Messiah

Taverner Choir and Players/Andrew Parrott

Virgin Veritas 562 0042

Peter Warlock Bethlehem Down

Christmas at St George's Windsor

Choir of St George's Windsor/James Vivian

Hyperion CDA 68281

First Listen Choices:

Christmas at St George's Windsor

Choir of St George's Windsor/James Vivian

Hyperion CDA 68281

Advent Carols from King's College, London

Choir of King's College, London/Joseph Fort

Delphian DCD34226

Tchaikovsky The Nutcracker

State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia 'Evgeny Svetlanov'/Vladimir Jurowski

Pentatone PTC5186761

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