The fifth programme in our A Choral Odyssey series explores the origins of the carol – in its earliest form it was a round dance, more secular than sacred. Mediaeval carols were for everyone from festivities in the town square or village green to celebrations in...

In March 1983, on her 29th birthday, the Russian poet, Irina Ratushinskaya, received a seven year prison sentence for expressing ‘anti-Soviet agitation and propaganda’ in her verse. Undaunted, she continued writing poems in prison, aware of the possibility of yet more...

The Glasgow School of Arts has launched an ambitious project involving seven women composers called Composeher. Due to the current situation the premieres have been postponed from May 2021 to May 2022. Cecilia McDowall collaborated with the poet, Seán Street, on this...

To mark International Women’s Day 2020, BBC Radio 3 has commissioned seven very different composers to write a movement each of an a cappella choral work entitled Seven Ages of Woman. Helena Paish; Electra Perivolaris; Samantha Fernando, Emily Hall, Deirdre...

On February 9 a performance of the cantata 'Everyday Wonders: The Girl from Aleppo' is given by Dubai Opera Festival Chorus, the Latifa School Girls' Choir, conducted by BBC Singers' own Rob Johnston. The violin solo will be performed by Eva Grasbeck and accompanied...

On 23 and 24 December at 4pm carol services at St Paul's will include Cecilia McDowall's carol, 'Before the paling of the stars'. This is the start of the Christmas season with the re-telling of the story of the birth of Christ in words and music. The Cathedral Choir...