Highlights - Saturday 6th December to Friday 12th December

OPERA NIGHT WITH PAUL HERRIOTT

Metropolitan Opera New York presents Puccini's La Bohème

With its enchanting setting and spellbinding score, the world's most popular opera is as timeless as it is heartbreaking. Franco Zeffirelli's production brings 19th-century Paris to the Met stage as Puccini's young friends and lovers navigate the joy and struggle of bohemian life. Sopranos Juliana Grigoryan is the feeble seamstress Mimì, opposite tenor Stephen Costello as the ardent poet Rodolfo. Daniele Rustioni conducts the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus in tonight's live broadcast.

RTÉ lyric fm, Saturday 6th December, 7pm-10pm

VESPERTINE WITH ELLEN CRANITCH

A seasonal trip to the magical landscape of Finland on its National Day. Music from Pekka Kuusisto, Sinikka Langeland, JPP Trio, Linda Fredriksson, Iiro Rantala and loads more. Not to mention dipping a toe into the very rich and wonderful Finnish Tango tradition, and an airing for the Cantus Arcticus of Einojouhani Rautavaara, which weaves the calls of migratory birds into a beautiful sonic tapestry of nature.

RTÉ lyric fm, Saturday 6th December, 10pm-1am

WEEKEND CLASSICS WITH CLAUDIA BOYLE

This weekend Elspeth promises lots of great music and she kicks off Christmas on Weekend Classics with entrants from this year's Choirs for Christmas competition!

RTÉ lyric fm, Sunday 7th December, 4pm-6pm

LORCAN MURRAY'S CLASSIC DRIVE

Classic Drive brings you the perfect musical soundtrack, including Lorcan's Pick of the Week: This Christmas from Lyyra. American a capella ensemble Lyyra brings some festive works this holiday season! The all-women ensemble shows the versatility of their beautiful voices to create a warm atmosphere, inviting you to slow down and enjoy the holiday season. And with news, weather and sports, Lorcan's with you all the way!

RTÉ lyric fm, Monday 8th December, 4pm-7pm

NIALL CARROLL’S CLASSICAL DAYTIME

Niall Carroll plays music from the heart of the classical repertoire, with Sounds on Screen, a piece from the big or small screen each day at 11am, and each day at midday one of Niall's Five of a Kind. This week Niall chooses five movements from the piano concertos of Sergei Rachmaninov.

RTÉ lyric fm, Tuesday 9th December, 10am-1pm

MARTY IN THE MORNING

Join Marty as he takes the chill out of your early mornings with music, news, weather and travel updates.

RTÉ lyric fm, Wednesday 10th December, 7am-10am

CULTURE FILE PRESENTS: THE COMFORT ZONE

Luke Clancy and Colm Tóibín plus a new guest each week light out for the territories, culture-wise.

A Soundsdoable production for RTÉ lyric fm
Produced and presented by Luke Clancy
Associate producer: Niamh Daly
Subscribe to the podcasts available each Friday and Wednesday

RTÉ lyric fm, Wednesday 10th December, 9pm-9.30pm

THE FULL SCORE WITH LIZ NOLAN

We'll hear a 2023 concert from the National String Quartet Foundation today as the Spero Quartet perform one of Haydn's finest and most popular quartets, his Fifths quartet from 1797. Deirdre Gribbin's fascinating 'Hearing your genes evolve' is based on DNA patterns from the 1000 Genomes project and Dvorák's E flat major quartet is one of his most gorgeous creations, full of melody and Bohemian folk spirit. Liz Nolan presents a showcase of unabridged musical masterworks, featuring live recordings of Irish and international performers, plus selections from the latest CD releases.

Haydn: Quartet in D minor Op.76 No.2 'Fifths'
Deirdre Gribbin: 'Hearing your genes evolve'
Dvorák: Quartet in E flat Op.51 'Slavonic'

Spero Quartet
Jennifer Murphy
Brigid Leman
Ali Comerford
Yseult Cooper-Stockdale

RTÉ lyric fm, Thursday 11th December, 1pm-4pm

AEDÍN IN THE AFTERNOON

A sprinkling of choral Christmas carols from Chamber Choir Ireland, Voces8 and New Dublin Voices and snowy soundtracks from Edward Scissorhands and Dr. Zhivago. Aedín dips into American pianist Christopher O'Riley's latest album Lotusland which includes his take on Over the Rainbow and the Coventry Carol. Irish vocalists Lisa Hannigan, Jack O'Rourke and Iarla Ó Lionáird are all in the mix today, as well as some tinsel wrapped jazzy numbers from Diana Krall, Laufey and Nina Simone.

RTÉ lyric fm, Friday 12th December, 1pm-4pm

RTÉ LYRIC LIVE WITH PAUL HERRIOTT

With Christmas fast approaching, Paul Herriott brings us three delightful reveries of make-believe, wishful thinking and magic with National Symphony Orchestra Ireland led by the masterful Patrik Ringborg.

Sofia Gubaidulina: Fairytale Poem
Florence Price: Piano Concerto in One Movement
Tchaikovsky: Selections from The Nutcracker

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland
Patrik Ringborg, conductor
Michelle Cann, piano

RTÉ lyric fm, Friday 12th December, 7pm-10pm