A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King's College, Cambridge is one of the world's most famous choral occasions. Taking place on Christmas Eve in the iconic chapel, the reflective, moving and ultimately joyful journey through music and scripture is broadcast annually to millions. For this special edition of the Gramophone Podcast, Editor Martin Cullingford met with Director of Music Daniel Hyde to explore what makes this service so beloved, and to talk more generally about the acclaimed choir. 

A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King's College, Cambridge is one of the world's most famous choral occasions. Taking place on Christmas Eve in the iconic chapel, the reflective, moving and ultimately joyful journey through music and scripture is broadcast annually to millions. For this special edition of the Gramophone Podcast, Editor Martin Cullingford met with Director of Music Daniel Hyde to explore what makes this service so beloved, and to talk more generally about the acclaimed choir.

Weekly conversations about classical music with leading musicians and writers

Weekly conversations about classical music with leading musicians and writers

Gramophone Classical Music Podcast

Daniel Hyde on King's College, Cambridge's Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols

Roxanna Panufnik talks to Editor Martin Cullingford about her fascinating and moving new album of Love Songs and Lullabies, released on the Signum label, as well as about her approach to composing and creativity more widely. 

Roxanna Panufnik talks to Editor Martin Cullingford about her fascinating and moving new album of Love Songs and Lullabies, released on the Signum label, as well as about her approach to composing and creativity more widely.&nbsp;

Roxanna Panufnik on 'Love Songs & Lullabies'

The conductor Philipp von Steinaecker and the Mahler Academy Orchestra recorded Mahler’s Ninth Symphony in 2024 for Alpha Classics using instruments contemporary with the composer and employing historically informed performance practices. The recording attracted much attention and engaged a lot of music lovers’ imaginations. Now, the same performers have turned to the Fifth Symphony.

Gramophone’s James Jolly talked to Philipp von Steinaecker about his history with Mahler’s music and how the Mahler Academy Orchestra created its ‘Mahler sound’ both from its instruments and its pursuit of a performance practice that the composer might have recognised. (Conductor and orchestra are bringing Mahler’s Ninth Symphony to the BBC Proms on September 11.)

The conductor Philipp von Steinaecker and the Mahler Academy Orchestra recorded Mahler&rsquo;s Ninth Symphony in 2024 for Alpha Classics using instruments contemporary with the composer and employing historically informed performance practices. The recording attracted much attention and engaged a lot of music lovers&rsquo; imaginations. Now, the same performers have turned to the Fifth Symphony.
Gramophone&rsquo;s James Jolly talked to Philipp von Steinaecker about his history with Mahler&rsquo;s music and how the Mahler Academy Orchestra created its &lsquo;Mahler sound&rsquo; both from its instruments and its pursuit of a performance practice that the composer might have recognised. (Conductor and orchestra are bringing Mahler&rsquo;s Ninth Symphony to the <a href="https://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/proms/bbc-proms-2026/mahlers-ninth-with-the-mahler-academy-orchestra">BBC Proms</a> on September 11.)

Conductor Philipp von Steinaecker on historically informed Mahler performance

In this week's episode of The Gramophone Listening Room, presented in partnership with dCS Audio, host Charlotte Gardner welcomes tenor Freddie De Tommaso and violinist Charlie Lovell-Jones to the studio to share two of their personal favourite recordings.

Freddie De Tommaso is a familiar presence on the world's opera stages, not least London's Covent Garden. Known for his verismo roles, he is an exclusive recording artist with Decca Classics. Charlie Lovell-Jones is a violinist who, beyond his soloist career, is concertmaster of John Wilson's Sinfonia of London. 

In this week's episode of The&nbsp;Gramophone&nbsp;Listening Room, presented in partnership with dCS Audio, host Charlotte Gardner welcomes tenor Freddie De Tommaso and violinist Charlie Lovell-Jones to the studio to share two of their personal favourite recordings.
Freddie De Tommaso is a familiar presence on the world's opera stages, not least London's Covent Garden. Known for his verismo roles, he is an exclusive recording artist with Decca Classics. Charlie Lovell-Jones is a violinist who, beyond his soloist career, is concertmaster of John Wilson's Sinfonia of London.&nbsp;

Daniel Hyde on King's College, Cambridge's Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols

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