MOVIES AND MUSICALS WITH AEDÍN GORMLEY
Aedín salutes birthday boy Dick Van Dyke who celebrates his 100th birthday today with songs from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Mary Poppins. A selection of great songs from Stephen Sondheim's popular musical Into the Woods. We'll hear Mark Rylance playing the role of a Big Friendly Giant and remember Robin Williams as the genie in Aladdin. Plus, memorable scores from The Double life of Veronique and a 10th anniversary nod to Star Wars : The Force Awakens with the music of John Williams.
RTÉ lyric fm, Saturday 13th December, 1pm-4pm
OPERA NIGHT WITH PAUL HERRIOTT
Metropolitan Opera New York presents Giordano's Andrea Chenier
Giordano's passionate tragedy stars tenor Piotr Beczala as the virtuous poet who falls victim to the intrigue and violence of the French Revolution. Following their celebrated recent partnership in Giordano's Fedora, Beczala reunites with soprano Sonya Yoncheva as Chénier's aristocratic lover, Maddalena di Coigny, with baritone Igor Golovatenko as Carlo Gérard, the agent of the Reign of Terror who seals their fates. Daniele Rustioni takes the podium to conduct the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus in tonight's live broadcast.
RTÉ lyric fm, Saturday 13th December, 7pm-10pm
Photo: Karen Almond | Met Opera
VOX NOSTRA WITH VLAD SMISHKEWYCH
Quirky Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach died this day in 1788, and this morning's programme brings some of his delightfully different late Baroque music to the fore, including some of his works on unusual combinations of instruments (such as psalteries plus fortepianos!). Plus, Vlad puts some French flavour into Vox Nostra featuring composers from the French Baroque including Gabriel Bataille, Elisabeth Claude-Jacquet de la Guerre, Joseph de Boulogne, Louis-Nicolas Clerambault, and Jean-Joseph Mouret, today's programme will also include present-day French artists who bring historically informed performances to life. Enjoy 'le gout français' on Vox Nostra on this Sunday as we head towards midwinter!
RTÉ lyric fm, Sunday 14th December, 7am-10am
THE LYRIC FEATURE
In October this year the Lyric Feature was the proud recipient of two gold awards in separate categories at the IMRO Irish radio awards. This week's programme, Der Musikmann, was the winner of the best Irish Music, Arts and Culture Documentary.
Der Musikmann - an Irishman in Cologne
Irish music and musicians have captivated audiences across Europe for many years. To that illustrious list, we can now add the name of star Irish conductor David Brophy.
Brophy, who took the baton at the WDR Funkhausorchester in Cologne in late 2024, describes himself as a 'perpetual magpie' - happy to flit around and borrow music from everywhere.
This documentary, presented by RTÉ lyric fm's George Hamilton, begins with George in Belfast and follows David Brophy's progress over his first six months on his new podium in Cologne.
Going behind the scenes, it observes the musical, cultural, and personal challenges this Irish conductor faces as he takes on one of the most prestigious positions in his field in Europe.
A musical journey that began in a rock band on Dublin's northside, Brophy says he is 'open to all sorts of music, energy, and communication.'
This Lyric Feature takes the listener into the life of Der Musikmann - an Irishman in Cologne!
Auf geht's! (Let's Go!)
Produced by Michael O'Kane
Presented by George Hamilton
(First broadcast 18th May 2025)
RTÉ lyric fm, Sunday 14th December, 6pm-7pm
LORCAN MURRAY'S CLASSIC DRIVE
Classic Drive brings you the perfect musical soundtrack, including Lorcan's Pick of the Week: Christmas Classics 2025 from Warner Classics. A beautiful collection of traditional carols and Christmas classics. And with news, weather and sports, Lorcan's with you all the way!
RTÉ lyric fm, Monday 15th December, 4pm-7pm
THE FULL SCORE WITH LIZ NOLAN
Energy and passion today on the Full Score as Gustavo Dudamel and the Berliner Philharmoniker take you on a journey across North and South America. Composers from Mexico, Venezuela and Puerto Rico bring irresistible dance energy and Leonard Bernstein juxtaposes both worlds in dances from his legendary West Side Story. Liz Nolan presents a showcase of unabridged musical masterworks, featuring live recordings of Irish and international performers, plus selections from the latest CD releases.
RTÉ lyric fm, Tuesday 16th December, 1pm-4pm
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 pieces by George Gershwin.
RTÉ lyric fm, Wednesday 17th December, 10am-1pm
CULTURE FILE
Luke Clancy's culture come-all-ye, uncovering the crucial art and creativity from Ireland and the world.
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 17th December, 9pm-9.30pm
THE FULL SCORE WITH LIZ NOLAN
Los Elementos take us on a journey through the sacred and festive music that illuminated the Spanish court in the 18th century. The programme includes Francesco Corselli's Christmas cantata, José de Nebra's Symphony No. 8 and an elegant Sinfonia da camera by Nicola Porpora. Liz Nolan presents a showcase of unabridged musical masterworks, featuring live recordings of Irish and international performers, plus selections from the latest CD releases.
RTÉ lyric fm, Thursday 18th December, 1pm-4pm
AEDÍN IN THE AFTERNOON
A real treat in store today as pianist Cormac McCarthy and violinist Aoife Ní Bhriain join Aedín for live music and chat following the release of their album Cosán Casta. Festive tunes with a salsa twist from the album Cuban Christmas with Sarah Willis, horn player with the Berlin Philharmonic and her Cuban band the Sarahbanda. Great tunes too from Dave Brubeck, Voces8, Eimear Quinn, The Sixteen, Dawn Upshaw and Laila Biali.
RTÉ lyric fm, Friday 19th December, 1pm-4pm
RTÉ LYRIC LIVE WITH PAUL HERRIOTT
Hector Berlioz's L'Enfance du Christ (The Childhood of Christ) is a luminous and deeply human oratorio that recounts the biblical story of Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus fleeing to Egypt to escape King Herod's wrath. Composed between 1853 and 1854, the work marks a departure from Berlioz's more theatrical style, embracing instead a pastoral, introspective tone marked by tenderness and restraint. Paul McCreesh conducts the Wroclaw Philharmonic Orchestra and the National Forum of Music Chorus with mezzo Frances Gregory as the Virgin Mary, bass-baritone Ashley Riches as Joseph in this Polish Radio recording from the National Forum of Music Wroclow.
RTÉ lyric fm, Friday 19th December, 7pm-10pm
Photo | Ben Wright