Winter Lullabies by Howard Goodall is a beautiful cycle of six loosely interwoven movements of various languages (English, Gaelic, German, Spanish) arranged for solo harp/piano and upper voices. Although the story of the nativity lies at the core of the work - celebrating motherhood and the different moods that might be embraced by a lullaby - it also explores associated secular issues of homelessness, displacement and flight, showing the relevance that this timeless story continues to have for our modern lives.

Driven by the infectious enthusiasm of zany writer and presenter Howard Goodall, we travel to locations around the world to focus on people, their lives, individual traditions, customs and histories. The four programs set out to show how singing in groups is fundamental to the way communities express themselves. From the joyous sounds of South Africa, thro Nashville, USA, and Bulgaria, to the traditional cathedral choirs of England, the series gives a refreshing overview of some of the vastly different choral traditions of the world today. This performance special showcases seven of the world's leading choirs and their contrasting choral traditions. The rich and haunting harmonies of South African Iscathimiya - a call and response style - are performed here by Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Christ Church Cathedral Choir in Oxford and Salisbury Cathedral Girls Choir, both stalwarts of English church music, perform works by Byrd, Stanford and Bruckner. The keening, yearning tone of Bulgaria's throaty Cosmic Voices is contrasted with the joyous and heartfelt gospel of Just Us and The Temple Church Choirs in Nashville, and the clarity and purity of The Academic Female Choir of Tartu University's nationalistic folk songs in Estonia. The variety in each choir's repertory is complemented by their striking costumes.