Musical Storyland

Can Tortoise beat Hare in a race? Hare doesn't think so. She is so confident that she can beat Tortoise, she goes out to a disco the night before the race. Tortoise, on the other hand, eats a healthy meal and goes to bed early. Who will win the race? Musicians from the BBC Philharmonic are joined by broadcaster Nihal Arthanayake to share a musical retelling of this sporty fairy tale.

When the farmer and her daughter plant their last wrinkly seed, they don't have great expectations of a successful crop. But to their amazement, the seed grows into the most enormous turnip! It's so big that they need help from some passing animals to pull it up. Musicians from the BBC Philharmonic are joined by trumpeter Sean Chandler to share a musical retelling of this classic comedy tale.

When the stone cutter is unhappy with his humble job and wants the better things in life, his wishes come true! But after experiencing what it's like to be a rich man, a king and more, he eventually realises that his life before was not so bad after all. Musicians from the BBC Philharmonic are joined by Molly Rainford and guest tabla player Kuljit Bhamra to share a musical retelling of this cyclical tale, which is told in India and many other countries.

Three little pigs must build their own houses when they grow up and leave home, but which pig's house is strong enough to withstand the puff of the big, bad wolf? Musicians from the BBC Philharmonic are joined by broadcaster Nihal Arthanayake to share a musical retelling of this classic fairy tale.

The forest animals are hungry and thirsty. Hare tells them of a magical tree that can give them food and water, but they can't remember the name of it. They decide to ask the wise owl who lives at the top of the mountain, but it's a long and treacherous journey. Will they be able to remember the magical words as they make their way back down to their friends in the forest? Musicians from the BBC Philharmonic are joined by storyteller Jan Blake and multi-instrumentalist Sidiki Dembélé to share this beautiful, traditional tale from west Africa.