Jess Gillam with... Lise Davidsen (This Classical Christmas)

Published: Dec. 23, 2023, 1 p.m.

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 \u201cthe greatest soprano in the world right now\u201d, with a \u201cone-in-a-million voice\u201d. 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\u2019s 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 \u2013 O helga natt (Adams juls\xe5ng) [Jussi Bj\xf6rling]\nNATALIE MACMASTER/ TRAD. FRENCH-CANADIAN - A Christmas Jig/Mouth of the Tobique Reel [Yo-Yo Ma, Natalie MacMaster]\nCHUCK BERRY \u2013 Run Rudolph Run\nKAREL SVOBODA \u2013 Drei Haseln\xfcsse f\xfcr Aschenbr\xf6del (Three Wishes for Cinderella): Motiv - Einleitung\nTRAD. ENGLISH \u2013 Wassail Song [John Kirkpatrick and friends]\nSAMUEL COLERIDGE-TAYLOR \u2013 The Forest of Wild Thyme Op 74: Christmas Overture (arr. Sydney Baynes for orchestra) \nTRAD. SCANDINAVIAN \u2013 Mitt hjerte alltid vanker (My Heart Forever Dwells) [arr. O. Matre for chorus] \nCOLDPLAY \u2013 Christmas Lights