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RNZ Concert is New Zealand’s fine music network. Concert promotes New Zealand music and composition and features live broadcasts of concerts and recitals, as well as international content from other public radio broadcasters, podcasts, and on-demand programmes.

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Festive fare from RNZ Concert

17 Dec 2025

RNZ Concert gives you the gift of music from around the world to soundtrack your summer festive season. Listen to classical concerts celebrating Christmas and the New Year in New Zealand. Here is what you can listen to, and when:

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Tuesday 23 December

12:00 AM. Music Through the Night

Mendelssohn, Felix: Hebrides Overture - Vienna Philharmonic/Christoph von Dohnányi (Decca 421 769)

Kent, Walter: I'll Be Home For Christmas - Graduate Choir/Terence Maskell (Atoll ACD 308)

Farr, Gareth: Taheke - Bridget Douglas (flute), Carolyn Mills (hrp) (Atoll ACD 709)

Bach, Johann Sebastian: Orchestral Suite No 1 in C BWV1066 (1) - Tafelmusik/Jeanne Lamon (dir) (Analekta FL 2 3134)

Brumel, Antoine: Noe, noe, noe - Orlando Consort (HARMONIA MUNDI HMU 90 7418)

Bruni, Antonio: Duo Concertante in D Book 4/4 - Natalia Lomeiko (violin), Yuri Zhislin (viola) (Naxos 8.572522)

Torke, Michael: Javelin - Atlanta Symphony Orchestra/Yoel Levi (Argo 452 101)

Brahms, Johannes: Intermezzo in Ab Op 76/3 - Michael Houstoun (piano) (Rattle RATD131)

1:00 approx

Bizet, Georges: Carmen Suite - New Zealand Guitar Quartet (Ode CDMANU 5153)

Boccherini, Luigi: String Quintet in G minor G351 - Vanbrugh Quartet, Richard Lester (cello) (Hyperion CDA 67287)

Traditional: A Merry Little Christmas - Huddersfield Choral Society, Sellers Engineering Band/Brian Kay (Chandos CHAN 4530)

Holst, Gustav: A Moorside Suite - North Texas Wind Symphony/Eugene Migliaro Corporon (GIA Publications CD655)

Tombs, Beatrice: The Legend of the Cuckoo - Robert Tucker (baritone), David Barnard (piano) (RNZ 2021-05-04)

Tárrega, Francisco: Gran Jota - Rovshan Mamedkuliev (guitar) (Naxos 8.573179)

2:00 approx

Bach, Johann Sebastian: Concerto in D minor for oboe & violin BWV1060* (2&3) - Martin Jaenecke (violin), Michael Sieg (oboe), Viva Chamber Orchestra (VIVA CO 2003A)

Schubert, Franz: Moments musicaux D780 (2) - Tessa Birnie (piano) (ABC Classics 476 6479)

Vaughan Williams, Ralph: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis - London Festival Orchestra/Ross Pople (ASV CD DCA 779)

Mathias, William: Sir Christèmas - John Finney (organ), Handel & Haydn Society Chorus/Grant Llewellyn (Avie AV 2078)

Huyssen, Hans: Mapfachapfacha muMhembero, from Concerto for an African Cellist - Heleen du Plessis (cello), Odeion School of Music Camerata/Hans Huyssen (ODE CDMANU 5158)

Vivaldi, Antonio: Trio Sonata in A RV75 - Purcell Quartet (Chandos CHAN 0511)

Arlen, Harold arr Barnett: Out Of This World - Christopher Fritzsche (countertenor), Chanticleer (Teldec 4509 96515)

3:00 approx

Tchaikovsky, Pyotr Ilyich orch Lane: Troika - RTE Concert Orchestra/Gavin Sutherland (Naxos 8.572744)

Franck, César: Violin Sonata in A (4) - Jan Tawroszewicz (violin), Diedre Irons (piano) (RNZ UB59)

Andrès, Bernard: Preludes Vol 1, extracts - Carolyn Mills (harp) (Atoll ACD 917)

Hill, Alfred arr Vidulich: Viola Concerto - Donald Maurice (viola), Massey Chamber Orchestra (HILL RECORDS 002)

Poulenc, Francis: Four Christmas Motets - Choir of New College, Oxford/Edward Higginbottom (Avie AV 2084)

Bunch, Kenji: Velocity - Marya Martin (flute), Colette Valentine (piano) (Naxos 8.559629)

Smetana, Bedřich: The Fisherman - BBC Philharmonic/Gianandrea Noseda (Chandos CHAN 10413)

Purcell, Henry: An Evening Hymn, from Harmonia Sacra - Helen Charlston (mezzo), Toby Carr (theorbo) (Delphian DCD34283)

4:00 approx

Leontovych, Mykola arr John Metcalfe: Carol of the bells - John Metcalfe, session musicians/Cliff Masterton (John Metcalfe promocarols)

Brel, Jacques arr Anderson and Roe: Mathilde, Marieke, et Madeleine - Anderson & Roe Piano Duo (Steinway & Sons STNS30006)

Shostakovich, Dmitri: Jazz Suite No 1 - Philadelphia Orchestra/Mariss Jansons (EMI CDC 5 55601)

Traditional: Joys Seven - Huddersfield Choral Society, Sellers Engineering Band/Brian Kay (CHANDOS CHAN 4530)

Bach, Johann Sebastian: Violin Partita No 3 in E BWV1006 - Rachel Podger (violin) (Channel Classics CCS 14498)

Howard, Ken / Blaikley, Alan: Theme from Miss Marple - Consort (Pickwick 550645)

Tombs, Beatrice: Thoughts of Thee - Jenny Wollerman (soprano), Bruce Greenfield (piano) (RNZ 2021-05-04)

Handel, George Frideric: Minuet, from Berenice - English Chamber Orchestra/Raymond Leppard (SONY MLK 64066)

Blake, Christopher: We all fall down - New Zealand Symphony Orchestra/Marc Taddei (Atoll ACD 403)

5:00 approx

Traditional, with text by Kathy Gillard, Christchurch arr Francis Melville, lyrics Kathy Gillard: The Kauri and the Kowhai - The Sirens and RNZ Concert Choir (RNZ 2019)

Elgar, Edward: Serenade for Strings Op 20 - ASMF/Neville Marriner (ASV CD DCA 518)

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus: Violin Concerto No 5 in A K219, Turkish (1) - Hilary Hahn (violin), Bremen German Chamber Philharmonic/Paavo Järvi (DG 4793956)

Schubert, Franz trans Liszt: Erlkönig D328 - Niu Niu (piano) (EMI 7 25332)

Gershwin, George: An American in Paris - New Zealand Symphony Orchestra/Asher Fisch (RNZ NZSO 2023-03-31)

Debussy, Claude arr Heifetz: Beau soir - Robin Wilson (violin), Kemp English (piano) (MANU CD MANU 5006)

Ponce, Manuel: Estrellita - Slava Grigoryan (guitar), Leonard Grigoryan (guitar) (ABC Classics ABC 4815101)

Josephs, Wilfred: Alice's Reverie - Jennifer Paull (oboe d'amore), Read Gainsford (piano) (Amoris AR 1003)

Chilcott, Bob: The Sleeping Child - VOCES8 (Decca 5568937)

Vivaldi, Antonio: Concerto in C for two trumpets RV537 (1) - Wynton Marsalis (trumpet), English Chamber Orchestra/Raymond Leppard (SONY SK 60804)

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