Jess Gillam with... Lise Davidsen (This Classical Christmas)
Jess Gillam and Norwegian soprano Lise Davidsen share their favourite festive music in a very Christmassy edition of This Classical Life.
Jess Gillam is joined by Norwegian soprano and Last Night of the Proms star Lise Davidsen for a very Christmassy edition of This Classical Life. They share their favourite Christmas music and chat about what gives them that festive feeling!
Lise Davidsen has been described as “the greatest soprano in the world right now”, with a “one-in-a-million voice”. Her performance at the Last Night of the Proms 2023 received rave reviews, and she has sung at iconic venues including the Metropolitan Opera House, Royal Opera House, and Teatro alla Scala, Milan. And she’s just released a whole album of seasonal favourites and Nordic delights via Decca, called Christmas From Norway.
Lise brings along a haunting Scandinavian carol, a sugary-sweet soundtrack from a cult Christmas film, and a modern classic from Coldplay. Jess's choices include a traditional English wassail song, a rock'n'roll Rudolph from Chuck Berry, and a Christmas jig from Yo-Yo Ma and Natalie MacMaster.
PLAYLIST:
ADOLPHE ADAM – O helga natt (Adams julsång) [Jussi Björling]
NATALIE MACMASTER/ TRAD. FRENCH-CANADIAN - A Christmas Jig/Mouth of the Tobique Reel [Yo-Yo Ma, Natalie MacMaster]
CHUCK BERRY – Run Rudolph Run
KAREL SVOBODA – Drei Haselnüsse für Aschenbrödel (Three Wishes for Cinderella): Motiv - Einleitung
TRAD. ENGLISH – Wassail Song [John Kirkpatrick and friends]
SAMUEL COLERIDGE-TAYLOR – The Forest of Wild Thyme Op 74: Christmas Overture (arr. Sydney Baynes for orchestra)
TRAD. SCANDINAVIAN – Mitt hjerte alltid vanker (My Heart Forever Dwells) [arr. O. Matre for chorus]
COLDPLAY – Christmas Lights
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Music Played
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Darius Milhaud
Scaramouche (Brasiliera)
Performer: Jess Gillam. Performer: Zeynep Özsuca.- Rise.
- Decca Classics.
- 4.
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Gustaf Nordqvist
Jul, jul, strålande jul
Lyricist: Edvard Evers. Music Arranger: Christian Eggen. Singer: Lise Davidsen. Choir: Norwegian National Opera Children's Choir.- Christmas From Norway.
- Decca.
- 4.
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Adolphe Adam
O helga natt (Adams Julsång)
Singer: Jussi Björling. Orchestra: Royal Swedish Orchestra. Conductor: Nils Grevillius.- The Very Best of Jussi Björling.
- Warner Classics.
- 22.
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Natalie MacMaster
A Christmas Jig/Mouth of the Tobique Reel
Composer: Trad. French-Canadian. Performer: Yo‐Yo Ma. Performer: Natalie MacMaster. Performer: Marta Cook. Performer: J.D. Blair. Performer: Mac Morin.- Yo-Yo Ma & Friends - Songs of Joy and Peace.
- Sony.
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Chuck Berry
Run Rudolph Run
- Chuck Berry: Greatest Hits.
- AudioSonic Music.
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Karel Svoboda
Drei Haselnüsse für Aschenbrödel: Motiv - Einleitung
Orchestra: Czech National Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Jan Chalupecký.- Supraphon.
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Trad. English
Wassail Song
Performer: John Kirkpatrick. Performer: Rosie Cross. Performer: Georgina La Faux. Performer: Michael Gregory Jackson. Performer: Jane Threlfall. Performer: Carl Hogsden.- Wassail!.
- Fellside Recordings.
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Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
A Christmas Overture (The Forest of Wild Thyme, Op.74)
Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Barry Wordsworth.- NAXOS.
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Trad. Scandinavian
Mitt hjerte alltid vanker
Music Arranger: Ørjan Matre. Singer: Berit Opheim. Choir: Norwegian Soloists' Choir. Conductor: Grete Pedersen.- Ros: Songs of Christmas.
- BIS.
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Coldplay
Christmas Lights
- Capitol/Parlophone.
Broadcast
- Sat 23 Dec 2023 12:30BBC Radio 3
Why are more young people listening to classical music?
20yo classical musician and presenter Jess Gillam is here to improve your playlist game.
Podcast
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This Classical Life
Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.
