Christmas with King’s College Choir

Few sounds are more evocative of Christmas than the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King's College Chapel, Cambridge. The almost imperceptible hush of the congregation, readings from the Old and New Testament and the mellifluous singing of King's College's world-famous Choir have made this one of the best-loved festive traditions. The service is broadcast live on BBC Radio 4 on Christmas Eve at 1500 GMT, repeated on Christmas Day on Radio 3 and syndicated throughout the world. A different recorded service is shown on BBC 2 television on Christmas Eve. The service was first held in 1918 and, since 1928, has been broadcast by BBC Radio every year except 1930. Since 1983, the year after Stephen Cleobury took up his post as Director of Music at King's College, a new carol has been commissioned every year for the service. This year the honour goes to the leading Finnish composer of his generation, Einojuhani Rautavaara, whose late modern style combines modernism with mystical romanticism.