Now don't get me wrong. I would be the first to put Johann Sebastian Bach in his place up there among the select pantheon of the world's very greatest composers, and I would withdraw my peace and goodwill from anyone who disagreed.

But I wonder if the BBC is really wise to be devoting Radio 3 this week to every note he wrote, whether magnificent, middling or mediocre (yes, there are some). Bingeing on Bach can only lead to indigestion, and does no-one - including the composer - any favours.

I also worry about those Radio 3 regular listeners, Bach-lovers among them, who would prefer some variety in their fare, and who perhaps hold dear the wavelength's charter commitment to talks and drama.

Not that there's much variety to live musical offerings in these last few days before Christmas, with every event determined to fill us with seasonal cheer.

This lunchtime the popular Berkley Salon Ensemble is joined by the CBS Youth Chorus at the CBSO Centre at the bottom of Berkley Street for an elegant "Palm Court Christmas Party" (1.10pm, details on 0121 767 4050), while this evening the busy CBSYC links up with the CBSO, CBS Chorus and City of Birmingham Young Voices at Symphony Hall for a programme of "Festive Favourites".

Alan Titchmarsh is the presenter, with CBSO chorus director Simon Halsey conducting (7.30pm, repeated tomorrow at 3pm and 7.30pm, 0121 780 3333).

Another ongoing presentation is the much-loved "Christmas Music by Candlelight" sequence from Jeffrey Skidmore's Ex Cathedra in the Jewellery Quarter's historic and atmospheric St Paul's Church (7.30pm tonight and tomorrow, but tickets are likely to be scarce: call 0121 236 5622).

Lichfield Cathedral is the venue tonight for a Christmas concert from the cathedral's Special Choir and the Salvation Army Cannock Citadel Band. Philip Scriven conducts, Alex Mason is the organist, and spokesperson Jan Hawkes advises the public to come early, as this is a very popular annual event. "It's a free concert, but there's a retiring collection," she adds (8pm).

Saturday afternoon brings the opportunity to enjoy "Christmas

Eve Classics" from the London Concert Orchestra conducted by Robert Dean. Tenor John Hudson, the English Concert Chorus and Shrewsbury Young Performers Choir add a vocal input, and the amazing trumpeter Alison Balsom adds her artistry and glamour. There are also "carols for all" (Symphony Hall, 3pm).

After a breather on Christmas Day, Symphony Hall and its magnificent staff swing back into action on Monday for "Boxing Day Classics" (I'd love to know what defines a Boxing Day classic as opposed to a Christmas Eve one).

The hard-working LCO is conducted by Simon Wright, with Min-Jim Kym solo-ist in Bruch's G minor Concert and organist Jonathan Scott featured in the mighty Saint-Saens' Symphony no.3. A complimentary interval glass of champagne is promised (7.30pm).

Andrew Greenwood conducts the LCO in Symphony Hall's Opera Gala Night on Tuesday. Soprano Linda Richardson, tenor Peter Auty, baritone Peter Sidhom, Birmingham Choral Union and the Fanfare Trumpeters of the Band of the Welsh

Guards all contribute to this programme of extracts from many of the world's best-loved operas (7.30pm).

Opera of a different kind comes to Symphony Hall on Wednesday, with Fraser Goulding conducting "an afternoon of memorable moments from Gilbert and Sullivan's Savoy Operas" (3pm). The Magic of Gilbert & Sullivan Orchestra makes way in the evening for the Mozart Festival Orchestra in full 18th-century costume (the band room must be mighty crowded during such handovers) for a generous programme of "Mozart by Candlelight". Gary Cooper conducts, and is also soloist in the lovely Piano Concerto no.23 in A major, K488 (7.30pm).

Next Thursday evening sees the return of the London Concert Orchestra, bringing a Tchaikovsky Gala culminating in a stunning indoor firework finale accompanied by the live muskets and cannons of the Moscow Militia, all contributing to the 1812 Overture.

Anthony Inglis conducts the LCO in "The Last Night of the Christmas Proms" (my comment above applies here as well) next Friday (7.30pm), and together they present a New Year's Gala next Saturday at 9.30pm, again with a sensational indoor firework finale. Complimentary interval refreshments are included and the concert programme is free, courtesy of printers John Good.

After a decent interval for recovery, New Year's Day itself offers the traditional Johann Strauss Gala at 3pm and 7.30pm, with the Johann Strauss Orchestra directed from the violin in the traditional Viennese manner by Christopher Warren-Green. The Johann Strauss dancers in beautiful costumes of the period are joined by soprano Charlotte Kinder.

Details of all Symphony Hall events are available on 0121 780 3333, or visit www.symphonyhall.co.uk.

For the Christmas/New Year promotions you can also visit www.raymondgubbay.co.uk

But to return to my beginning. I suspect that the listening figures of Radio 3's nearest classical rival will have been done no harm at all by this overdose of wall-to-wall Bach. So Happy Christmas Classic FM. ..SUPL: