Everyone knows and loves Silent Night, right? But you probably haven’t heard it sound quite like this. It probably won’t actually give you nightmares, but it will certainly stay with you (Listening time 7mins). And despite the bleak music, I do wish you a happy Christmas!… Listen
Battered, bruised but not broken, Tchaikovsky’s emotional rollercoaster ride continues… Does this ride finish with squeals of terror or delight? [34 mins]… Listen
The song goes that life is a rollercoaster, baby, and few can give us all the emotional ups and downs as well as Tchaikovsky. The first part of this ride is stormy, turbulent, passionate and full of loss and yearning, as Tchaikovsky is battered by what fate and life throws at him. As the other song [almost] goes: He gets knocked down, but he gets up again! Listening time: 31 mins… Listen
Poignant, peaceful, maybe even transcendental music for choir with cello: Svyati by John Tavener is the result of a lifetime of spiritual enquiry and of perfecting a simple and profound musical style. Beautiful. Listening time: 19 mins.… Listen
Three musical geniuses really make the magic come alive in Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s adaptation of Tchaikovsky’s classic, Nutcracker. (38 mins)… Listen
So much great music to delight and enjoy in Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker. And it turns out my 7 year old daughter knows the storyline better than I did! [31 mins]… Listen
Fans of Rachmaninov describe his music as lush, passionate, romantic. They’re right! His Cello Sonata is terrific. [17′]… Listen
One of the great pieces of music for children, Peter and the Wolf by Prokofiev. Vanessa [7] loved this and is demanding repeat hearings, and I’m embarrassed at having resisted it so long… Music here: or on spotify: Listening time … Listen
There’s a big party at the palace for the prince and you’re invited. So is Cinderella, but she’s got a curfew… …with terrific music from Prokofiev. Music here (Music plus intro =31mins): Give us a, comment, share. Subscribe to the … Listen