How to Play The Snowman on BBC Radio 4
- Jan 1
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 9
There is a specific kind of shared joy that happens behind the scenes of a live performance. BBC Radio 4 joined our orchestra on the road during The Snowman Tour 2025 to capture just that.
BBC Radio 4 chose to feature our wonderful orchestra playing The Snowman for the latest episode in their How to Play series, illuminating the high-stakes process of turning notes on a page into a story that breathes and soars.
“We were honoured that BBC Radio 4 approached us to feature our orchestra in their How to Play series. It was a fantastic experience!” Rachel Whibley, Managing Director, Carrot Productions
BBC Radio 4's How to Play
The series gives a musician’s-eye view of classical music’s best-loved works, providing an insider's perspective on the preparation, rehearsal, and performance of major classical pieces in 21st-century Britain. Previous pieces featured include Elgar's Cello Concerto with Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Handel's Messiah with the CBSO, Shostakovich's 5th Symphony with Marin Alsop and the Philharmonia and Brahms's Piano Concerto No 1 with Stephen Hough – and now, The Snowman with the Carrot Productions Orchestra!
Key features of the series include:
Behind-the-scenes access: episodes involve eavesdropping on rehearsals and in-depth discussions with musicians, conductors, and orchestras about the challenges and artistic choices involved in performing complex works
Featured works & artists: episodes have covered major works and featured some of the most accomplished artists at the pinnacle of their performing careers
Diverse repertoire: the series covers a range of classical music from chamber music to symphonic masterpieces
How to Play with the Carrot Productions Orchestra
Radio 4 joined us in Stockport on the first day of our 2025 national tour, eavesdropping on rehearsals and the performances, as we began our preparations to perform the soundtrack live alongside the special screenings of the beloved Christmas animation.
They interviewed George Morton (our conductor), Sarah Brandwood-Spencer (our leader), some of musicians (Benjamin Powell – piano and celeste; Amina Hussain – flute), Rachel Whibley (our managing director) and two soloists – Agatha Milojevic, one of the young soloists to sing Walking in the Air in Stockport – and Cormac Thompson, a soloist from a few years ago.
Bringing the score to life
Every winter, our orchestra comes together to create a live, big-screen version of one of Britain’s most iconic festive treats: The Snowman. Our ambitions are high and the pressure is on with only one morning rehearsal during which to bring Howard Blake’s complex score to life.
It is a high-stakes challenge, especially as the music must synchronise perfectly to the live animated pictures. Leading the way is our conductor, George Morton, who explained to the BBC how he hones in on key moments to fix problems and finesse the drama.
The result: Listen on BBC Sounds
The resulting show is a beautifully warm and insightful look at The Snowman, told from a musician’s perspective.
The programme, produced by Chris Taylor for BBC Audio Wales, was broadcast on Tuesday 23rd December and Saturday 27th December and is now available on BBC Sounds for a short time only.
“We are delighted with the programme - it is a heartwarming, insightful listen, celebrating the enduring magic of Howard Blake's music and our wonderful musicians who bring it to life!” Rachel Whibley, Managing Director, Carrot Productions
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