Christmas, for many, is a magical time, especially when it comes to the musical feast offered by the season. It is also a time when the spirit of participation becomes ever-present, a sentiment that has not been lost on Bob Chilcott.

John Storgårds and the BBC Philharmonic, who also gave its première in the BBC studios in Manchester on May 15, 2019, capture the intensity and conviction with resonant low strings and the excellence of the muted brass section. It has a mysterious feel to it before climaxing in a spirited conclusion.

A landmark piece of work, commissioned as part of Vital Spark by The Spark Arts for Children, is to be presented at the Sydney Opera House as part of an international tour. Aakash Odedra’s Company’s Little Murmur, a dance theatre performance for schools, originally premiered at Belgrave Library in the artistic director’s hometown of Leicester as part of The Spark Festival.

In this year’s round of short film festivals, a new talent is beginning to make her mark with a ten minute comedy, Chicken Girl, which is entertaining audiences in the North of England and abroad. Written, directed and starring Em Humble, the film is a tragicomedy about a young woman’s obsession with chickens and golden eggs.

This haunting disc conveys different emotions created through different evocative sounds and moods and a wonderfully atmospheric light touch from Roma Sinfonietta, which accompany with rhythmic precision, never intruding as Albonetti’s sax delivers a rich tapestry of colour. The strings are powerful in providing a cushion for the sax to rest on, some lovely pizzicato, and Michelangelo Carbonara’s contribution on piano is a beautiful addition as is Vincenzo Bolognese's expressive violin