This December, Classic FM’s Orchestra in North-East England and at Sage Gateshead, Royal Northern Sinfonia offer up a classical festive feast, from Corelli’s ‘Christmas Concerto’ to Pärt’s Trisagion, plus brilliant music by Biber, Hildegard of Bingen, and Bach. After an eventful year, during which we’ve celebrated 30 years of Classic FM, 90 years of John Williams, The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and plenty more, it seems only right that we should see 2022 out in style. James – I always listen to Rimsky-Korsakov’s opera Christmas Eve. He’s a favourite composer of mine, a “musical illustrator” of fairy tales. There’s also a lovely orchestral suite from the opera, if I don’t have time for the full work. It’s lovely, sparkly, magical music.

Christmas concerts from Classic FM’s partner 10 best Christmas concerts from Classic FM’s partner

Throughout the festive period, our presenters and a selection of special guests share their own Christmas stories, bring heartwarming tales to life, and take you to the front row of some of the UK’s finest carol services – all with a generous helping of brilliant music along the way. This is the second book in the Gaspard series to be adapted for orchestra by Jonathan Dove. Gaspard’s Foxtrot was written from the outset with this in mind and so I wrote a story that had both musical and visual stimuli for Jonathan Dove to create his score and for James Mayhew to draw the illustrations. In this way it was a three-way creative process and the most exciting and rewarding project. Gaspard’s Christmas already existed as a story when the RSNO asked if they could commission Jonathan to also set that to music. It’s a more intimate and poignant story than Foxtrot, which is a musical adventure through the city by bus, but Jonathan’s score for Gaspard’s Christmas is so wonderfully rich and heartfelt, matched by James’ extraordinarily sensitive illustrations. Drawing snowy scenes at night isn’t easy!Not this year, I’ll be flying to Mexico on Christmas Day. But they do have foxes, the kit fox ( Vulpes macrotis), so I may make friends with one of Gaspard’s distant cousins although I will need to brush up my Spanish! O Holy Night’ has been the forerunner for six years in a row, but can it be beaten this year? Join us on Classic FM, to find out The Nation’s Favourite Carol in 2022. Classical Christmas tales on Classic FM On Thursday at 9pm, Zeb finds himself in St Paul’s Church in Knightsbridge, for a carol concert in aid of The Prince’s Foundation. And on Friday 23 December he presents a special evening of live carols and readings from the stunning St Paul’s Cathedral, held by the Guide Dogs charity. There’ll be music from St Paul’s Cathedral Choir, with festive readings by David Bradley, Ruth Jones, and Bridgerton star Adjoa Andoh.

Gaspard’s Christmas — Just Imagine Gaspard’s Christmas — Just Imagine

Zeb Soanes introduces our new book, ‘The Very Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra’ Classical Music Unboxed with John Suchet Described by the Telegraphas ‘the go-to person for music narration’,Zeb performs with the UK’s leading orchestras, narrating children’s classics such as Peter and the Wolfand technically demanding works such as Walton's Façadewhich he recorded to critical acclaim with John Wilson.

Christmas with the Bocellis

Zeb is now the presenter of Smooth Classics at Seven on Classic FM, the UK’s most popular classical music station.