Newly-composed carols by John Tavener and Richard Rodney Bennett will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 in the days leading to Christmas. The pieces, which are both to be premiered in December, will be performed by the BBC Singers (pictured) conducted by the group’s Principal Guest Conductor Bob Chilcott and broadcast on the stations’ Breakfast programme.
The Holly and the Ivy by Richard Rodney Bennett is one of two carols that has been commissioned by the Choirs of All Saints’ Church, Northampton, for their carol service on December 19. It will be broadcast December 23.
A Cradle Song by John Tavener was commissioned by DeChorum and will receive its premiere at the choir’s annual concert in aid of Cancer Research UK at All Saints Church, Weston-super-Mare, on December 20. A setting of the poem by William Blake, and dedicated to the composer’s son Orlando, it will be broadcast on Christmas Eve.
The Bennett and Tavener carols are part of a series of modern carols to be broadcast on Radio 3 between December 18 and January 1. Bob Chilcott comments: “”In Britain we are lucky that choirs are very open to singing new carols, and consequently our composers are very alive to this. It is always exciting to have a new raft of carols to perform as in this broadcast.”