WDR 3 Announces Festive Baroque & Classical Music Program for Boxing Day 2025
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A curated selection of Baroque and classical masterpieces will grace the airwaves of WDR 3 on Boxing Day, December 26, 2025, offering listeners a tranquil and virtuosic musical experience. The program, available on demand until December 24, 2026, promises a journey through “Baroque brilliance, pastoral calm and virtuosic masterpieces,” as described by the station.
A Holiday Musical Journey
WDR 3’s Boxing Day programming is designed to musically usher in the holiday season. The 55-minute and 59-second broadcast features a diverse range of composers and performers, showcasing both well-known and lesser-known works. This carefully constructed playlist aims to provide a sophisticated and relaxing soundtrack for the holiday period.
Featured Performances and Composers
The broadcast will open with Alessandro Scarlatti’s Sinfonia No. 2, performed by Ensemble Odyssey under the direction of Andrea Friggi. This piece, scored for trumpet, recorder, strings, and basso continuo, sets a vibrant tone for the program.
Listeners will also be treated to an Anonymous Pastorale for harpsichord, skillfully rendered by Stanislav Gres. This selection offers a moment of intimate reflection. Following this, Ludwig van Beethoven’s 12 Variations in G major on a theme from Handel’s oratorio “Judas Maccabeus,” WoO 45, will be presented. This performance features Marco Testori on cello and Costantino Mastroprimiano on piano, demonstrating Beethoven’s masterful variation technique.
The program continues with Friedrich Schwindl’s Symphony in D major (La Pastorale), performed by L’arte del mondo, conducted by Werner Ehrhardt. This work embodies the pastoral theme, evoking images of serene landscapes. Ferdinando Busoni’s Rêverie pastorale for clarinet and piano, featuring Davide Bandieri on clarinet and Alessandra Gentile on piano, further explores this evocative mood.
Finally, the broadcast concludes with Lorenzo Gaetano Zafatheri’s Concerto No. 10 in D major, op. 1.10, for two obbligato violins, strings, and basso continuo. This concerto will be performed by Andrés Gabetta and Francesco Coletti on violins, accompanied by Capella Gabetta. This piece provides a fittingly grand finale to the program.
WDR 3’s Boxing Day offering represents a commitment to providing high-quality classical music programming, enriching the cultural landscape for its listeners during the festive season.
