Sunday 30 November, 06:30 – 18:30
From dawn to dusk, Radio 3 marks the beginning of the festive season with Carols Across the Country, celebrating the spirit of Advent and Christmas with six live broadcasts from locations across the UK. Radio 3 presenters paint vivid pictures of the places they visit and evoke themes of winter, light, memory and renewal, introducing live music by local performers and discussing seasonal traditions with guest contributors.
Mark Forrest is in the Staffordshire Peak District where he’s joined by folk musicians, explores the history of lace-making and silk trade and meets the polar bears at the Peak Wildlife Park. Sarah Walker is on the Isle of Wight, where the Benedictine Monks from Quarr Abbey sing a Gregorian Chant for Advent. Nestled in Co. Down countryside, near the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland, John Toal visits Magy’s Farm, while Shân Cothi broadcasts from the Village Hall in Bethlehem, Carmarthenshire. On the feast day of Scotland’s patron saint, St Andrew, Kate Molleson is in St Andrews – Fife, listening to carols from the University Chapel Choir and reflecting on the idea of pilgrimage.
At the heart of the day is a special Service for Advent with Carols live from St John’s College, Cambridge. The service features new and traditional music for the season and also marks the 80th birthday of one of Britain’s best-loved carol composers—Sir John Rutter.
Presenter: Mark Forrest, Sarah Walker, John Toal, Shân Cothi, Kate Molleson
Producer: Barnaby Gordon
BBC Audio
