On Christmas morning I am pretty traditional, and because the incomparable Choir of King’s College, Cambridge is right up the road from my family home, I’d certainly put them on first. The sublime sound of that choir and organ in the chapel is really one of the most magical sounds in the world to me. Handel’s Messiah and Bach’s Christmas Oratorio would definitely also feature. As soon as I hear the opening melodies of these works I’m transported into a parallel world – a sparkling, rich, sometimes deep and dark, sometimes soaring and glorious, pure and intoxicating tapestry of sound. My four-year-old son provides me with the perfect excuse to go into Disney Christmas overdrive (and also we love to dance round the kitchen to this music) so my Christmas playlist also has a generous dose of Disney movie soundtracks starting off with Natalie Cole’s Jingle Bells.
Alison Balsom’s Christmas playlist
Our Christmas playlists kick off with trumpeter Alison Balsom’s festive selection, featuring Bach to Drake to Disney.