Carol of the Bells
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra perform ‘Carol of the Bells’
Settle in this festive season with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s free ‘Carol of the Bells’ performance.
Captured at BBC Television Centre, Peter Breiner conducts the world-renowned Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to perform a beautiful rendition of the holiday classic. Written by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych in 1916, ‘Carol of the Bells’ is characterised by its four-note ostinato and tells the story of promise, hope and happier times ahead. Perfect for the winter months!
Ring a bell? The song famously appeared in John Williams’ Christmas blockbuster Home Alone (1990) and has also featured in films such as David Jones’ A Christmas Carol (1999) and Tim Allen’s The Santa Clause (1994).
Watch for free and on demand in 4K UHD through the On Air website, mobile, and TV apps.
Can’t get enough of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra? Delve into their performance of Igor Stravinsky's 'The Firebird', ‘Petrushka’, and 'The Rite Of Spring', with even more symphonies to be discovered in our classical archive.
A must watch for classical music fans - stream for FREE now!
About the orchestra
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Founded in 1946 by Sir Thomas Beecham, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) is one of the world’s most versatile and forward-thinking symphony orchestras, performing around 200 concerts annually. The RPO reaches a global audience of over 60 million, blending their traditional symphonic repertoire with contemporary projects. These include video games, films, and television soundtracks (such as Halo, The Matrix Reloaded and Doctor Who) and collaborations with artists Queen, Adele, and Shirley Bassey, to name a few.
About the conductor
Peter Breiner
Peter Breiner is a renowned conductor, pianist, arranger, and composer. The musician has recorded over 260 albums (ranging from classical to world music), collectively selling millions of copies worldwide. He is best known for conducting famous orchestras, including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, and Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra.
Breiner was born in 1957 and began piano studies in childhood, later attending the Conservatory in Košice and the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava under Prof. Alexander Moyzes. After living in Toronto (1992–2007) and New York, he relocated to London in 2020, where he began collaborating with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
