Finland and Spain

A day-long festival of Christmas and singing from across Europe and Canada in the European Broadcasting Union’s annual Christmas music day. In a year where singing in choirs has largely been curtailed due to the global pandemic, choirs and orchestras come together in socially distant performances of music that celebrates the joy of singing and the wonder of Christmas.

Presented by Hannah French.

1pm
Live Christmas Concert with Maria Ylipää and Friends, from Helsinki. Maria Ylipää and Friends offer a stylistically versatile concert cocktail of Christmas music under the title "Star of Wonder". The concert consists of old and new music from Finland and abroad.

Jean Sibelius: Bell Tune of Kallio Church
Terre Roche: Star of Wonder
Alfred S. Burt: Some Children See Him
Joni Mitchell: River
Traditional (Sweden): Mitt hjärta vandrar alltid till platsen du blev född
Jean Sibelius: En etsi valtaa loistoa
Heino Kaski: Mökit nukkuu lumiset
Jukka Leppilampi: Aasi ja timpurin muija
Leonard Cohen: Hallelujah
Franz Xaver Gruber: Silent Night, Holy Night

Maria Ylipää, vocals
Marzi Nyman, guitar
Niko Kumpuvaara, accordion
Ville Herrala, double bass

2pm
Christmas Concert: The World of Children, with Veus - Cor Infantil Amics de la Unió, from Barcelona, together with soprano María Hinojosa and the Barcelona Symphonic Wind Band, under the baton of José Rafael Pascual-Vilaplana. Cor Infantil Amics de la Unió is winner, among other prizes, of the Silver Rose Bowl in the 2013 LTPS competition. Recorded at the Pau Casals Hall, L' Auditori, Barcelona.

Stephen Melillo: David
Nigel Hess: To the Stars!
Bert Apperpont: Celtic Child
Albert Guinovart: Suite Nadalenca

María Hinojosa, soprano
Veus - Cor Infantil Amics de la Unió
Josep Vila i Jover, chorus director
Barcelona Symphonic Wind Band
José Rafael Pascual-Vilaplana, conductor