Christmas
10 best Christmas poems
Our roundup of the 12 best and most popular Christmas poems
The 47 best Christmas carols of all time
Here's a list of the best-ever Christmas carols for the festive season, as voted for by 50 top choral experts from across the UK and US. Do you agree with their choices?
2023 BBC Radio 3 Carol Competition: submissions open
The annual competition invites budding composers and songsmiths to submit melodies to lyrics by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, for possible performance on Radio 3 in December
When was the first Christmas carol?
The first - and oldest - Christmas carol was written in the fourth century, says Jeremy Pound
The best Christmas music programmes on BBC Radio and TV this year
Here's our selection of the best festive Christmas TV and radio this year, much of it with a classical flavour
The best Christmas classical music albums and recordings
A list of the best classical music CDs, records and recordings to add to your Christmas stocking this year
Five of the best ancient Christmas carols
Director of The Sixteen Harry Christophers names his five of the oldest Christmas carols from 1600 and before
The best cathedral and abbey choirs across the UK
Our definitive guide to the best choirs from cathedral and abbeys across England, Scotland and Wales
Carol singing: when did the Christmas tradition begin?
The history of carol singing may go back as far as the medieval era, and has appeared in literature for many years, but it was during Victorian times it became really popular
Horatio Clare takes on the four highest peaks in the UK for this year's Christmas Walk on BBC Radio 3
The author and travel writer returns to Radio 3 for his annual sound walk, broadcast over the festive period. This year, he's taking on peaks in Scotland, Northern Ireland, England and Wales
The best recordings of Handel’s Messiah
We name the best recordings of of Handel’s Messiah, a choral masterpiece that should have everyone shouting Hallelujah!
Grace-Evangeline Mason's 'A Winter Carol': the exclusive score for the 2021 BBC Music Magazine Christmas carol
Composer Grace-Evangeline Mason introduces us to her brand new Christmas carol, written exclusively for the readers of BBC Music Magazine
The best Christmas ballets of all time
When the holiday season approaches, there's nothing quite like a trip to the ballet with all the family to get you in the festive spirit. We've picked out some of the best Christmas ballets to enjoy as winter draws nearer...
Six of the best pieces of Christmas choral music
What are the greatest songs and choral works written for the festive period?
A letter from Gustav Mahler to Father Christmas: a parody by comedian John Sessions
Mr Sessions imagines what Gustav Mahler would write to Santa
Christmas classical music and drink pairings
What music should you be playing to accompany the finest tipples? Oz Clarke and the BBC Music Magazine team offer you their expert advice
Download the score of our exclusive Christmas carol by composer Dobrinka Tabakova
Introducing this year's exclusive BBC Music Magazine carol
Five of the best modern Christmas carols
Composer and conductor John Rutter chooses five great Christmas works from the past 30 years
Hallelujah! The story of Handel’s Messiah
George Pratt tells the story behind Handel's best-loved oratorio, the Messiah
Composers at Christmas
We explore six composers who loved and loathed Christmas....
'The Owl' by Toby Young & Jennifer Thorp: Our 2017 Christmas commission
Sing our exclusive new Christmas carol
Works to listen to after Handel's Messiah
Looking for listening inspiration? We suggest six works to explore after Handel's Messiah
'Love came down at Christmas' by Alexander L'Estrange
Sing our exclusive new carol by Alexander L'Estrange
Victorian novels featuring Christmas classical music
Tales of Christmas music from your favourite Victorian authors.