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Maine Public Holiday Programming Schedule

MAINE PUBLIC TV

HOLIDAY PROGRAMS ON MAINE PUBLIC TV

AIR DATE TITLE DESCRIPTION
Saturday, Nov. 25 at 10:30 am Mary Berry's Ultimate Christmas Much-loved British home cook Mary Berry is joined by some famous friends for her ultimate Christmas feast, packed with tips to plan and get ahead for the big day.
Saturday, Nov. 25 at 3:30 pm Lawrence Welk Holiday Special: Great Moments and Memories Nine stars of the Lawrence Welk Musical Family are reunited to host "The Lawrence Welk Holiday Special: Great Moments and Memories" featuring great moments and memories spanning 30 years of Christmas holiday shows.
Monday, Nov. 27 at 3:00 am Rick Steves European Christmas From manger scenes and mistletoe to wintry wonderlands celebrate the Christmas season throughout the European continent. Rick visits friends and families in England, France, Norway, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy to reveal their customs and practices of the holiday season.
Saturday, Dec. 2 at 9:00 am All Creatures Great and Small: Christmas in the Dales Celebrate the heartwarming MASTERPIECE series with clips and behind-the-scenes memories of its Christmas finales. Experience the kindness, empathy and love in the magical village of Darrowby and the stunning Yorkshire Dales during the holiday season.
Saturday, Dec. 2 at 10:30 am Mary Berry's Ultimate Christmas Much-loved British home cook Mary Berry is joined by some famous friends for her ultimate Christmas feast, packed with tips to plan and get ahead for the big day.
Sunday, Dec. 3 at 11:30 am Rick Steves' Festive Europe Catch Europeans celebrating the good life. Travel with Rick through Andalucía &8212; with the horses, sherry, and flamenco of the Spring Fair; in Paris &8212; reveling in the streets on Bastille Day; running with the bulls in Pamplona; and in England's pristine Lake District for a hunting dog show. All across Europe, life is embraced with an inspirational gusto.
Sunday, Dec. 3 at 9:30 pm All Creatures Great and Small: Christmas in the Dales Celebrate the heartwarming MASTERPIECE series with clips and behind-the-scenes memories of its Christmas finales. Experience the kindness, empathy and love in the magical village of Darrowby and the stunning Yorkshire Dales during the holiday season.
Monday, Dec. 4 at 12:30 am Rick Steves European Festivals n addition to all its epic history and high culture, Europe also knows how to celebrate — and it does so with amazing gusto. Joining Rick, we drop in on the Continent's top 10 festivals, each one rich with tradition, great food, and fun with the locals. We run with the bulls at Pamplona, don a mask in Venice for Carnevale, dance with Spaniards at the April Fair, cheer on the horses at Siena's Palio, hoist a frothy stein at Munich's Oktoberfest, toss a caber at a Scottish Highland Games, and join European families for their traditional Easter and Christmas celebrations. No museums or galleries…just Europe at play.
Wednesday, Dec. 6 at 10:00 am Sesame Street: The Nutcracker: Starring Elmo & Tango The holidays are here on Sesame Street! Join Elmo and his puppy Tango on a fantastical adventure filled with new music, friends, and so much more!
Friday, Dec. 8 at 7:00 am Curious George A Very Monkey Christmas Curious George and The Man with the Yellow Hat are having a wonderful time getting ready for Christmas. There's only one dilemma &8212; neither of them can figure out what to give the other for a present! In the end, both gift-giving predicaments are simply and beautifully resolved, revealing the true spirit of the holiday season.
Saturday, Dec. 9 at 3:30 pm Lawrence Welk Holiday Special: Great Moments and Memories Nine stars of the Lawrence Welk Musical Family are reunited to host "The Lawrence Welk Holiday Special: Great Moments and Memories" featuring great moments and memories spanning 30 years of Christmas holiday shows.
Sunday, Dec. 10 at 11:00 am Classic Christmas Join hosts Gavin MacLeod (The Love Boat) and Marion Ross (Happy Days) for this festive, all-star special of favorite carols and popular standards. Performers include Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Judy Garland, Nat King Cole, The Carpenters and many more.
Sunday, Dec. 10 at 11:00 pm All Creatures Great and Small: Christmas in the Dales Celebrate the heartwarming MASTERPIECE series with clips and behind-the-scenes memories of its Christmas finales. Experience the kindness, empathy and love in the magical village of Darrowby and the stunning Yorkshire Dales during the holiday season.
Monday, Dec. 11 at 12:30 am Rick Steves European Christmas From manger scenes and mistletoe to wintry wonderlands celebrate the Christmas season throughout the European continent. Rick visits friends and families in England, France, Norway, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy to reveal their customs and practices of the holiday season.
Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 8:00 pm Season of Light: Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir Prepare to be enchanted, this holiday season when Lea Salonga and Sir David Suchet join forces with The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra to deliver timeless carols, treasured Christmas songs and a heartwarming story of heroic service.
Wednesday, Dec. 13 at 7:30 am Wild Kratts: A Creature Christmas It's Christmas time and the Wild Kratts are taking a break from creature adventuring to celebrate. But when the Wild Kratts receive an alert that their favorite creatures are suddenly disappearing around the globe, their holiday party quickly turns into a rescue mission. Our heroes must race against time to thwart their greedy archrivals' most miserly scheme yet!
Thursday, Dec. 14 at 4:30 am Season of Light: Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir Prepare to be enchanted, this holiday season when Lea Salonga and Sir David Suchet join forces with The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra to deliver timeless carols, treasured Christmas songs and a heartwarming story of heroic service.
Thursday, Dec. 14 at 8:30 am Curious George A Very Monkey Christmas Curious George and The Man with the Yellow Hat are having a wonderful time getting ready for Christmas. There's only one dilemma &8212; neither of them can figure out what to give the other for a present! In the end, both gift-giving predicaments are simply and beautifully resolved, revealing the true spirit of the holiday season.
Thursday, Dec. 14 at 10:00 am Sesame Street: The Nutcracker: Starring Elmo & Tango The holidays are here on Sesame Street! Join Elmo and his puppy Tango on a fantastical adventure filled with new music, friends, and so much more!
Saturday, Dec. 16 at 3:00 am Season of Light: Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir Prepare to be enchanted, this holiday season when Lea Salonga and Sir David Suchet join forces with The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra to deliver timeless carols, treasured Christmas songs and a heartwarming story of heroic service.
Saturday, Dec. 16 at 8:00 pm St. Thomas Christmas: Bloom Eternal Celebrate the Advent and Christmas season with familiar traditional carols and innovative contemporary selections. Plus a specifically commissioned piece for the concert.
Saturday, Dec. 16 at 9:00 pm The Savoy at Christmas The holiday season has arrived at The Savoy and staff welcome hundreds of guests and diners across Christmas Day and New Year's Eve. The six weeks from mid-November to New Year's Day are of utmost importance, as they generate £3.5 million in revenue. Go behind-the-scenes during the holiday festivities as every department prepares.
Sunday, Dec. 17 at 2:00 pm Christmas Greetings From Aroostook County With its near guarantee of snow and an abundance of Christmas traditions &8212; some ethnic, some eccentric and some just for fun, Aroostook County is a special place to visit at Christmastime. This show features the unique sights and sounds of The County at yuletide from the Heavenly Harpers of Houlton to sleigh rides in Mapleton, from a Santa Lucia procession in New Sweden to making Tourtiere in The Valley. Narrated by Layne Longfellow.
Sunday, Dec. 17 at 2:30 pm Christmas in New England From the coast of Maine to the hills of the Berkshires, New England is a uniquely magical place to celebrate the holidays. Join host Lindsay Paris as she visits eight regional destinations to take a look at the tradition and events that make Christmas in New England so special.
Sunday, Dec. 17 at 3:00 pm In Performance at the White House: Spirit of the Season This dazzling music special celebrates the holidays and highlights the seasonal décor at the White House. Featuring special remarks by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and First Lady Jill Biden, hosted by actress Jennifer Garner, and performances by Andrea Bocelli, Matteo Bocelli, Virginia Bocelli, Camila Cabello, Eric Church, Jonas Brothers, Norah Jones, Pentatonix, Billy Porter, and more!
Sunday, Dec. 17 at 8:00 pm The Savoy at Christmas The holiday season has arrived at The Savoy and staff welcome hundreds of guests and diners across Christmas Day and New Year's Eve. The six weeks from mid-November to New Year's Day are of utmost importance, as they generate £3.5 million in revenue. Go behind-the-scenes during the holiday festivities as every department prepares.
Monday, Dec. 18 at 10:00 am Sesame Street: The Nutcracker: Starring Elmo & Tango The holidays are here on Sesame Street! Join Elmo and his puppy Tango on a fantastical adventure filled with new music, friends, and so much more!
Monday, Dec. 18 at 9:00 pm Mary Berry's Ultimate Christmas Much-loved British home cook Mary Berry is joined by some famous friends for her ultimate Christmas feast, packed with tips to plan and get ahead for the big day.
Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 1:00 am Mary Berry's Highland Christmas Dame Mary Berry travels to her mother's homeland, Scotland, for a magical winter break. Inspired by her own family holidays, she cooks up an array of sumptuous dishes. She's joined by friends Andy Murray, Iain Stirling and Emeli Sandé to cook indulgent Christmas dishes that can be enjoyed anytime over the holidays.
Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 12:00 pm Nature Cat: A Nature Carol In the tradition of the Dickens holiday classic, Nature Cat is visited by the spirits of Nature Past (Daisy), Present (Squeeks) and Future (Hal) on Christmas Eve.
Wednesday, Dec. 20 at 3:00 am Mary Berry's Highland Christmas Dame Mary Berry travels to her mother's homeland, Scotland, for a magical winter break. Inspired by her own family holidays, she cooks up an array of sumptuous dishes. She's joined by friends Andy Murray, Iain Stirling and Emeli Sandé to cook indulgent Christmas dishes that can be enjoyed anytime over the holidays.
Thursday, Dec. 21 at 9:30 am Wild Kratts: A Creature Christmas It's Christmas time and the Wild Kratts are taking a break from creature adventuring to celebrate. But when the Wild Kratts receive an alert that their favorite creatures are suddenly disappearing around the globe, their holiday party quickly turns into a rescue mission. Our heroes must race against time to thwart their greedy archrivals' most miserly scheme yet!
Thursday, Dec. 21 at 8:30 pm Christmas in New England From the coast of Maine to the hills of the Berkshires, New England is a uniquely magical place to celebrate the holidays. Join host Lindsay Paris as she visits eight regional destinations to take a look at the tradition and events that make Christmas in New England so special.
Friday, Dec. 22 at 10:00 am Sesame Street: The Nutcracker: Starring Elmo & Tango The holidays are here on Sesame Street! Join Elmo and his puppy Tango on a fantastical adventure filled with new music, friends, and so much more!
Friday, Dec. 22 at 12:00 pm Curious George A Very Monkey Christmas Curious George and The Man with the Yellow Hat are having a wonderful time getting ready for Christmas. There's only one dilemma &8212; neither of them can figure out what to give the other for a present! In the end, both gift-giving predicaments are simply and beautifully resolved, revealing the true spirit of the holiday season.
Friday, Dec. 22 at 2:30 pm America's Forest with Chuck Leavell: US Capitol Christmas Tree In search of the perfect Christmas tree for the U.S. Capitol, Chuck Leavell travels to the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests to follow the journey &8212; from selection and cutting to ornament making and community celebrations &8212; of what will become the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree as it makes its way from Colorado to Washington DC.
Friday, Dec. 22 at 9:00 pm Season of Light: Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir Prepare to be enchanted, this holiday season when Lea Salonga and Sir David Suchet join forces with The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra to deliver timeless carols, treasured Christmas songs and a heartwarming story of heroic service.
Friday, Dec. 22 at 10:30 pm Debbie Gibson Holiday: A Soundcheck Special Singer-songwriter, producer and actress Debbie Gibson shares insight and inspiration about recording her first holiday album Winterlicious and performs some classic and new holiday hits. Singer Joey McIntyre of New Kids on the Block also discusses what it's like working with Gibson. Hosted by Jen Eckert at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank, NJ.
Saturday, Dec. 23 at 1:00 am Season of Light: Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir Prepare to be enchanted, this holiday season when Lea Salonga and Sir David Suchet join forces with The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra to deliver timeless carols, treasured Christmas songs and a heartwarming story of heroic service.
Saturday, Dec. 23 at 3:00 am Mary Berry's Highland Christmas Dame Mary Berry travels to her mother's homeland, Scotland, for a magical winter break. Inspired by her own family holidays, she cooks up an array of sumptuous dishes. She's joined by friends Andy Murray, Iain Stirling and Emeli Sandé to cook indulgent Christmas dishes that can be enjoyed anytime over the holidays.
Saturday, Dec. 23 at 7:00 am Let's Go Luna!: Luna's Christmas Around the World When the Circo gets stuck at the South Pole on Christmas eve, Leo, Andy, and Carmen are convinced that Santa will never find them. With the help of their friend Luna, the kids endeavor to save Christmas, learning about holiday traditions from around the world along the way.
Saturday, Dec. 23 at 8:00 pm Christmas in New England From the coast of Maine to the hills of the Berkshires, New England is a uniquely magical place to celebrate the holidays. Join host Lindsay Paris as she visits eight regional destinations to take a look at the tradition and events that make Christmas in New England so special.
Saturday, Dec. 23 at 8:30 pm Christmas Greetings From Aroostook County With its near guarantee of snow and an abundance of Christmas traditions &8212; some ethnic, some eccentric and some just for fun, Aroostook County is a special place to visit at Christmastime. This show features the unique sights and sounds of The County at yuletide from the Heavenly Harpers of Houlton to sleigh rides in Mapleton, from a Santa Lucia procession in New Sweden to making Tourtiere in The Valley. Narrated by Layne Longfellow.
Saturday, Dec. 23 at 9:00 pm Mary Berry's Ultimate Christmas Much-loved British home cook Mary Berry is joined by some famous friends for her ultimate Christmas feast, packed with tips to plan and get ahead for the big day.
Sunday, Dec. 24 at 4:00 am A Chef's Life Holiday Special Join Vivian Howard as she serves up the best of her Southern cooking heritage and the Chanukah traditions of her husband Ben. From humble Hoppin' John to elegant red velvet cake, sample a charming and delicious holiday celebration.
Sunday, Dec. 24 at 7:00 am Peg + Cat + Holidays This is a special holiday episode of Peg + Cat featuring "The Christmas Problem," "The Hanukkah Problem," and "The Penguin Problem. " This series is designed to engage preschool children and teach them how to solve math-based problems with Peg, a chatty and tenacious five year-old, her feline pal, Cat, and her smart, handsome, cool friend Ramone.
Sunday, Dec. 24 at 11:00 am Rick Steves European Christmas From manger scenes and mistletoe to wintry wonderlands celebrate the Christmas season throughout the European continent. Rick visits friends and families in England, France, Norway, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy to reveal their customs and practices of the holiday season.
Sunday, Dec. 24 at 2:00 pm O Holy Night: Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir Tony Award-nominated performer Megan Hilty and actor Neal McDonough, who each share Irish heritage and traditions, join The Tabernacle Choir to deliver a deeply personal program that weaves together well-known holiday tunes and classic Christmas carols.
Sunday, Dec. 24 at 3:00 pm Mary Berry's Highland Christmas Dame Mary Berry travels to her mother's homeland, Scotland, for a magical winter break. Inspired by her own family holidays, she cooks up an array of sumptuous dishes. She's joined by friends Andy Murray, Iain Stirling and Emeli Sandé to cook indulgent Christmas dishes that can be enjoyed anytime over the holidays.
Sunday, Dec. 24 at 4:00 pm/td> Christmas Greetings From Aroostook County With its near guarantee of snow and an abundance of Christmas traditions &8212; some ethnic, some eccentric and some just for fun, Aroostook County is a special place to visit at Christmastime. This show features the unique sights and sounds of The County at yuletide from the Heavenly Harpers of Houlton to sleigh rides in Mapleton, from a Santa Lucia procession in New Sweden to making Tourtiere in The Valley. Narrated by Layne Longfellow.
Sunday, Dec. 24 at 4:30 pm Christmas in New England From the coast of Maine to the hills of the Berkshires, New England is a uniquely magical place to celebrate the holidays. Join host Lindsay Paris as she visits eight regional destinations to take a look at the tradition and events that make Christmas in New England so special.
Sunday, Dec. 24 at 5:30 pm America's Forest with Chuck Leavell: US Capitol Christmas Tree In search of the perfect Christmas tree for the U.S. Capitol, Chuck Leavell travels to the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests to follow the journey &8212; from selection and cutting to ornament making and community celebrations &8212; of what will become the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree as it makes its way from Colorado to Washington DC.
Sunday, Dec. 24 at 7:00 pm Thrill of Hope: A Concordia Christmas The vocal and instrumental musical ensembles of Concordia University Irvine and friends invite you to join us for a festive collection of music that celebrates, rejoices, and finds hope in the gifts of Christmas.
Monday, Dec. 25 at midnight - noon Maine Yule Log Enjoy a film loop of a yule log burning in a fireplace, with a traditional soundtrack of classic Christmas music playing in the background.
Monday, Dec. 25 at 12:00 pm/td> Christmas Greetings From Aroostook County With its near guarantee of snow and an abundance of Christmas traditions &8212; some ethnic, some eccentric and some just for fun, Aroostook County is a special place to visit at Christmastime. This show features the unique sights and sounds of The County at yuletide from the Heavenly Harpers of Houlton to sleigh rides in Mapleton, from a Santa Lucia procession in New Sweden to making Tourtiere in The Valley. Narrated by Layne Longfellow.
Monday, Dec. 25 at 12:30 pm Christmas in New England From the coast of Maine to the hills of the Berkshires, New England is a uniquely magical place to celebrate the holidays. Join host Lindsay Paris as she visits eight regional destinations to take a look at the tradition and events that make Christmas in New England so special.
Monday, Dec. 25 at 1:00 pm Mary Berry's Ultimate Christmas Much-loved British home cook Mary Berry is joined by some famous friends for her ultimate Christmas feast, packed with tips to plan and get ahead for the big day.
Monday, Dec. 25 at 2:00 pm Christmas at Westminster: An Evening of Readings One of the oldest musical celebrations of Christmas in the United States this special features more than 450 students from Westminster's renowned choir and orchestra. Familiar carols and beloved choral works offer a diverse array of holiday standards and new premieres in this annual tradition.
Monday, Dec. 25 at 8:00 pm Call the Midwife Holiday Special 2023 Sister Monica Joan is convinced this could be her last Yuletide and decides she'll not live to see man walk on the moon. The Nonnatus Family decide something must be done to try and lighten her state of mind.
Monday, Dec. 25 at 9:30 pm Call the Midwife Holiday Special 2023 Sister Monica Joan is convinced this could be her last Yuletide and decides she'll not live to see man walk on the moon. The Nonnatus Family decide something must be done to try and lighten her state of mind.
Tuesday, Dec. 26 at 1:00 am Call the Midwife Holiday Special 2022 Christmas 1966 promises to be a memorable one. The Nonnatus House team are faced with their busiest Christmas Day ever as the Maternity Home is filled with expectant moms and challenging cases. Luckily Mother Mildred is on hand to support the team.
Wednesday, Dec. 27 at 1:00 am The Nutcracker and the Mouse King A re-imagination of the classic Nutcracker story, featuring the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and narrated by Alan Cumming. This new work is a re-imagination of Tchaikovsky's holiday favorite, The Nutcracker. Based on E.T.A. Hoffmann's 1816 book.
Wednesday, Dec. 27 at 2:30 am Call the Midwife Holiday Special 2020 Everyone at Nonnatus House looks forward to a traditional holiday, but nothing goes quite to plan. Meanwhile, the Circus arrives in Poplar, bringing new friendships, new experiences and an exciting adventure for Nurse Crane.
Wednesday, Dec. 27 at 4:00 am Call the Midwife Holiday Special 2021 Christmas 1966 promises to be memorable one. The Nonnatus House team are faced with their busiest Christmas Day ever as the Maternity Home is filled with expectant moms and challenging cases. Luckily Mother Mildred is on hand to support the team.
Wednesday, Dec. 27 at 10:00 am Sesame Street: The Nutcracker: Starring Elmo & Tango The holidays are here on Sesame Street! Join Elmo and his puppy Tango on a fantastical adventure filled with new music, friends, and so much more!
Thursday, Dec. 28 at 3:00 am The Nutcracker and the Mouse King A re-imagination of the classic Nutcracker story, featuring the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and narrated by Alan Cumming. This new work is a re-imagination of Tchaikovsky's holiday favorite, The Nutcracker. Based on E.T.A. Hoffmann's 1816 book.
Thursday, Dec. 28 at 5:00 am Mary Berry's Highland Christmas Dame Mary Berry travels to her mother's homeland, Scotland, for a magical winter break. Inspired by her own family holidays, she cooks up an array of sumptuous dishes. She's joined by friends Andy Murray, Iain Stirling and Emeli Sandé to cook indulgent Christmas dishes that can be enjoyed anytime over the holidays.
Thursday, Dec. 28 at 8:00 am Wild Kratts: A Creature Christmas It's Christmas time and the Wild Kratts are taking a break from creature adventuring to celebrate. But when the Wild Kratts receive an alert that their favorite creatures are suddenly disappearing around the globe, their holiday party quickly turns into a rescue mission. Our heroes must race against time to thwart their greedy archrivals' most miserly scheme yet!
Thursday, Dec. 28 at 8:00 pm Cultural Expressions: Kwanzaa Explore the seven principles that are the foundation of Kwanzaa by hearing seven real-life stories revealing how each principle plays a role in the Black community, enhanced by cultural elements of dance, storytelling, music, and spoken word.
Friday, Dec. 29 at 1:00 am Call the Midwife Holiday Special 2023 Sister Monica Joan is convinced this could be her last Yuletide and decides she'll not live to see man walk on the moon. The Nonnatus Family decide something must be done to try and lighten her state of mind.
Saturday, Dec. 30 at 7:30 am All Creatures Great and Small: Christmas in the Dales Celebrate the heartwarming MASTERPIECE series with clips and behind-the-scenes memories of its Christmas finales. Experience the kindness, empathy and love in the magical village of Darrowby and the stunning Yorkshire Dales during the holiday season.
Saturday, Dec. 30 at 9:00 am Rick Steves European Festivals n addition to all its epic history and high culture, Europe also knows how to celebrate — and it does so with amazing gusto. Joining Rick, we drop in on the Continent's top 10 festivals, each one rich with tradition, great food, and fun with the locals. We run with the bulls at Pamplona, don a mask in Venice for Carnevale, dance with Spaniards at the April Fair, cheer on the horses at Siena's Palio, hoist a frothy stein at Munich's Oktoberfest, toss a caber at a Scottish Highland Games, and join European families for their traditional Easter and Christmas celebrations. No museums or galleries…just Europe at play.
MAINE PUBLIC RADIO

HOLIDAY PROGRAMS ON MAINE PUBLIC RADIO

AIR DATE TITLE DESCRIPTION
Thursday, Nov. 23 at 10:00 am Turkey Confidential It's The Splendid Table's annual Thanksgiving show features an amazing roster of guests: chef Kristen Kish, Top Chef’s newest judge; Michigan chef and award-winning writer Abra Berens author of Pulp, A Practical Guide to Cooking with Fruit; Jocelyn Delk Adams of Grandbaby Cakes, Dan Pelosi aka "Grossy Pelosi" the exuberant author of Let's Eat, 101 Recipes to Fill Your Heart and Home; and The Splendid Table's own Francis Lam!
Thursday, Nov. 23 at 2:00 pm Peace Talk Radio: Massasoit's Peace Pact with the Pilgrims Massasoit was the leader of the Wampanoag Confederacy who negotiated a truce with British settlers of Plymouth Colony that lasted for 40 years in the 1600's, starting shortly after the first Thanksgiving. In this edition of Peace Talks Radio, we hear a conversation with American Indian scholars and a filmmaker who fill in the details of Massasoit's attempt to make peace for his people and with the new strangers.
Thursday, Nov. 23 at 7:00 pm Giving Thanks: A Celebration of Fall, Food & Gratitude Giving Thanks celebrates its 25th year on public radio! This year's show presents the best moments of a quarter century of great guests:
Foodies: Stanley Tucci, Nigella Lawson, Jacques Pepin, Calvin Trillin
Writers: Anne Lamott, Adam Gopnik, Julia Sweeney, Anna Quindlen, Deepak Chopra
Poets: Billy Collins, Rita Dove, Nikki Giovanni, Ada Limon. And classic poems read by Patrick Stewart, Bill Moyers, Studs Terkel
Musicians: Michael Tilson Thomas, John Rutter, Sir Stephen Hough
In Memoriam: John Updike, Wendy Wasserstein, Nora Ephron, Rabbi Harold Kushner
Saturday, Nov. 25 at 10:00 pm An Echoes Acoustic Thanksgiving, featurng Tim Farrell Live Tim Farrell is an acclaimed finger-style guitarist who has been releasing albums of meticulously crafted melodies for 40 years. Billboard magazine said: "Fusing Leo Kottke's thumb-picking techniques along with the more pastoral musings of Alex De Grassi, Farrell stands apart from the numerous acoustic guitar slingers out there" proclaiming that he writes, "soaring, memorable melody lines that go beyond technique.". He's won awards for Best Instrumental in the International Acoustic Music Awards, among others. Tim will perform his beautiful works in a show surrounded by acoustic music celebrating Thanksgiving Day.
Thursday, Dec. 7 at 2:00 pm Hanukkah Lights 2023 This NPR favorite returns with the best of the best Hanukkah Lights stories plus a special musical performance by The LeeVees. Hosted by Susan Stamberg and Murray Horwitz.
Thursday, Dec. 7 at 7:00 pm Candles Burning Brightly Hosted by Mindy Ratner, Candles Burning Brightly is a celebration of Chanukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights with an exploration of Chanukah foods and traditional activities...and plenty of music.
Friday, Dec. 8 at 8:00 pm Chanukkah in Story and Song Sung by the The Western Wind and narrated by Leonard Nimoy, hear 25 eclectic selections, from the Ladino songs of the Spanish Jews and Yiddish melodies of Eastern Europe to modern Israeli tunes and their original version of "I Have a Little Dreydle." The singers sing a cappella and are also joined by instruments including violin, accordion, bass and guitar. The narration written by Rabbi Gerald Skolnik sheds light on the holiday customs and rituals.
Sunday, Dec. 17 at 8:00 pm Selected Shorts: Unwrapping the Holidays Host Meg Wolitzer presents three unexpected stories that let us see the holidays’ associations—family, friends, food, gifts, and goodwill—in different ways:
Amy Krouse Rosenthal presents a playful encounter with the Almighty in "Interview with God," performed by Jayne Atkinson and James Naughton.
In Sherrie Flick’s "Heidi is Dead," read by Adina Verson, a second wife tries to tune in with her in-laws.
John Cheever’s "Christmas is a Sad Season for the Poor" is a richly comic and warmhearted look at giving and receiving. Teagle F. Bougere reads.
Thursday, Dec. 21 at 7:00 pm A Paul Winter Solstice Every year since 1980, saxophone player Paul Winter and special guests have gathered in New York's Cathedral of St. John the Divine to mark the winter solstice.
Saturday, Dec. 23 at 8:00 pm Mark O'Connor's An Appalachian Christmas Grammy-winning composer and fiddler Mark O'Connor created several arrangements of Christmas classics into a wondrous mixture of traditional American and bluegrass music.
Thursday, Dec. 11 at 8:00 pm Apollo's Fire Presents Christmas on Sugarloaf Mountain: An Irish-Appalachian Celebration Fiddlers, singers, hammered dulcimer, bagpipes, and a whistle-playing dancer join with children's voices to evoke the Celtic roots of an Appalachian Christmas.
Thursday, Dec. 11 at 9:00 pm The Big Tiny Desk Holiday Special For more 10 years, NPR Music has recorded concerts from behind Bob Boilen's desk. During the holidays, the desk gets a little more festive, thanks to a snow machine, paper snowflakes and Stephen Thompson's hand-drawn Christmas tree. (It's labeled "tree.") Whether they perform original songs or new takes on holiday staples, these artists bring big sounds to the Tiny Desk.
Thursday, Dec. 11 at 10:00 pm A Cool Christmas Mix with Paul Ingles Music History Producer Paul Ingles gently hosts an hour of pop, rock and soul holiday music. Paul Simon, Otis Redding, Charles Brown, Pretenders, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, Kinks, Shawn Colvin, Al Green, Aretha Franklin, Beatles, and more. Perfect for giving your regulars time off for the holidays and treat your listeners to some of the cooler holiday tunes.
Saturday, Dec. 18 at 8:00 pm A World Café Holiday In this special edition of World Cafe, you'll hear performances all recorded in the World Cafe studios &8212; from Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings and The Brian Setzer Orchestra to Pink Martini's version of We Three Kings, and holiday classics by Jack Johnson and The Polyphonic Spree. Other featured performances include Tracey Thorn singing a gorgeous version of Joni Mitchell's River, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band adding some New Orleans flavor into the mix with its swinging soulful rendition of Please Come Home For Christmas and Betty Wright's cover of This Christmas.
Saturday, Dec. 23 at 9:00 pm All Songs Considered for the Holiday &8212; Bob and Robin In Space Through a series of unexpected events, Bob & Robin find themselves hurtling through outer space, on an urgent musical mission. Join them as they take a rocket ride to the stars, grow homesick for the holidays, and find comfort from a few special guests and friends, including Angel Olsen, Rivers Cuomo of Weezer, Dan Deacon and more.
Saturday, Dec. 23 at 10:00 pm A Slow Flow Seasonal Echoes An all-instrumental program featuring a soundscape for the season. Hear music inspired by the season in all its quiet majesty and interior warmth. Original songs mix with carols from artists like George Winston, Ólafur Arnalds, Erik Wøllo and many more. We weave these sounds into seamless sets of music perfect for that pause just before Christmas.
Sunday, Dec. 24 at 5:00 am Welcome Christmas There's no better way to welcome Christmas than Welcome Christmas!, the VocalEssence holiday concert conducted by Philip Brunelle. It's an hour of joyful, classic holiday music from VocalEssence, one of the world's premiere choral groups, singing traditional carols and new discoveries.
Sunday, Dec. 24 at 6:00 am The One Recipe Holiday Special Join host Jesse Sparks for a holiday edition of The Splendid Table's newest "podbaby," The One Recipe. Jesse talks to culinary superstars about their "One," the recipe that signals the holiday has begun! They'll get into traditions and food with influences from all over the world and leave you with recipes that could jump-start your own festivities! Guests include chef, YouTube personality and best-selling author Carla Lalli Music; The New York Times food writer Eric Kim, author of Korean- American: Food That Tastes Like Home and more!
Sunday, Dec. 24 at 7:00 am Tinsel Tales: NPR Christmas Favorites A public radio holiday tradition &8212; stories from the NPR archives that touch on the meaning of Christmas. David Sedaris, Bailey White, John Henry Faulk &8212; these and other NPR voices, past and present, tell stories of the season.
Sunday, Dec. 24 at 10:00 am A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols Share in a live, world-wide Christmas Eve broadcast of a service of Biblical readings, carols, and related seasonal Classical music presented by one of the world's foremost choirs of men and boys and performed in an acoustically and architecturally renowned venue, the 500-year-old Chapel of King's College, Cambridge, England.
Sunday, Dec. 24 at 12:00 pm St. Olaf Christmas Festival Hear one of the nation's most treasured holiday celebrations. Programming includes sacred choral and instrumental music from many traditions: beloved hymns, classical masterworks, folk songs from around the world, and African-American spirituals.
Sunday, Dec. 24 at 2:00 pm Tinsel Tales 2: More NPR Christmas Favorites Christmas is a time of traditions, and over the years, NPR has created a few traditions of its own. In this hour-long special, wistfulness, joy, doubt, hope &8212; all the emotions we feel at this time of year &8212; are summoned up in memorable stories from the NPR broadcast archives.
Sunday, Dec. 24 at 4:00 pm Joy to the World: A Holiday In Pink The internationally acclaimed "little orchestra" Pink Martini decks the airwaves with festive holiday songs from around the globe. From timeless classics to rarely heard gems, here is a multi-denominational, multicultural jubilee that overflows with enough holiday spirit to warm your entire family.
Sunday, Dec. 24 at 6:00 pm Christmas with the Morehouse and Spelman Glee Clubs In a Christmas celebration of the schools' tradition of singing excellence, the Morehouse and Spelman Glee Clubs perform spirituals, carols and sacred texts from the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga.
Sunday, Dec. 24 at 7:00 pm Jonathan Winters' A Christmas Carol The late comedian Jonathan Winters presented a distinctive reading of this holiday classic, using a special performing edition prepared by Dickens for his own presentations. He re-creates Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, Jacob Marley's spirit and the three Christmas ghosts: Past, Present and Future. Mimi Kennedy also performs.
Sunday, Dec. 24 at 8:00 pm Jazz Tonight Celebrates the Holidays Long time Maine Public radio host Rich Tozier spins holiday jazz tunes.
Sunday, Dec. 24 at 10:00 pm A Swinging Holiday Jazz Party with Wynton Marsalis Wynton Marsalis hosts an hour of holiday jazz favorites by Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Gregory Porter, René Marie, and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.
Sunday, Dec. 24 at 11:00 pm All Is Bright Hosted by Lynne Warfel, this is one hour of gorgeous, contemplative music related to the Christmas season and its symbolism. This program uses sacred choral music grouped in a way to tell the traditional Christmas story by way of songs about angels, the star, and the manger scene. Featured artists include Cambridge Singers, Cantus, and Chanticleer.
Monday, Dec. 25 at 12:00 am A Choral Christmas with Stile Antico Celebrate Christmas with the sound of soaring voices. Stile Antico, the award winning choir from London, pays a visit to St. Paul's church on Harvard Square for a concert of radiant sacred music for the Christmas season by the most acclaimed composers of the renaissance. Hear the group's luminous blend of voices sing the intricately woven music of Thomas Tallis and William Byrd. Hosted by Cathy Fuller of WGBH. Presented by NPR Music.
Monday, Dec. 25 at 9:00 am St. Olaf Christmas Festival Hear one of the nation's most treasured holiday celebrations. Programming includes sacred choral and instrumental music from many traditions: beloved hymns, classical masterworks, folk songs from around the world, and African-American spirituals.
Monday, Dec. 25 at 11:00 am Tinsel Tales 3 In keeping with a well-loved NPR holiday tradition, Lynn Neary hosts a collection of extraordinary Christmas stories that will transport you to unexpected places. Audie Cornish, Ken Harbaugh, Nina Totenberg and other voices from NPR's past and present tell stories of the season in this hour-long special. Some tales are funny; some are touching; some are insightful or irreverent or nostalgic or surprising. You might recognize them from our broadcast archives — or you might fall in love with them for the first time.
Monday, Dec. 25 at 1:00 pm All Is Bright Hosted by Lynne Warfel, this is one hour of gorgeous, contemplative music related to the Christmas season and its symbolism. This program uses sacred choral music grouped in a way to tell the traditional Christmas story by way of songs about angels, the star, and the manger scene. Featured artists include Cambridge Singers, Cantus, and Chanticleer.
Monday, Dec. 25 at 2:00 pm A Choral Christmas with Stile Antico Celebrate Christmas with the sound of soaring voices. Stile Antico, the award winning choir from London, pays a visit to St. Paul's church on Harvard Square for a concert of radiant sacred music for the Christmas season by the most acclaimed composers of the renaissance. Hear the group's luminous blend of voices sing the intricately woven music of Thomas Tallis and William Byrd. Hosted by Cathy Fuller of WGBH. Presented by NPR Music.
Monday, Dec. 25 at 3:00 pm Carols as Home with the Imani Winds This is a modern take on classic Christmas carols, hosted by Imani Winds founding oboist, Toyin Spellman-Diaz. Toyin coaxes intimate stories of Christmas memories from the members of the ensemble, and why these classic carols are still essential today.
Monday, Dec. 25 at 7:00 pm Tinsel Tales 4: NPR Christmas Stories Told Through Song The Tinsel Tales series is a holiday tradition. NPR collects some of its favorite Christmas stories from the archives into an hour-long special hosted by Lynn Neary. This edition revisits interviews with musicians about their Christmas albums. Some, like Katie Melua and Sting, celebrate tradition and winter mystery in their Christmas songs. Others, like Kenny Rogers and Amy Grant, find spirituality and stability in holiday music. Jon Batiste and Anthony Hamilton bring new energy to old favorites on their Christmas albums.
Monday, Dec. 25 at 8:00 pm Joy to the World: A Holiday In Pink The internationally acclaimed "little orchestra" Pink Martini decks the airwaves with festive holiday songs from around the globe. From timeless classics to rarely heard gems, here is a multi-denominational, multicultural jubilee that overflows with enough holiday spirit to warm your entire family.
Monday, Dec. 25 at 9:00 pm An Afro Blue Christmas A tambourine jingled merrily and spirits were high when Afro Blue visited NPR's Studio 1 to share a brilliant assortment of holiday music. The group delighted the audience with fresh, thoughtful arrangements of Christmas favorites, from a rollicking Angels We Have Heard On High to a sublime, weighty Silent Night.
Monday, Dec. 25 at 10:00 pm Christmas with the Morehouse and Spelman Glee Clubs In a Christmas celebration of the schools' tradition of singing excellence, the Morehouse and Spelman Glee Clubs perform spirituals, carols and sacred texts from the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga.
Monday, Dec. 25 at 11:00 am Jazz Piano Christmas 39 NPR's annual concert taped live at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington. Enjoy this soundtrack for thoughtful introspection as well communal celebration &8212; which are the very reasons this annual NPR tradition exists.
Tuesday, Dec. 26 at 7:00 pm A Season's Griot Hosted by acclaimed storyteller Madafo Lloyd Wilson, this annual one-hour special captures the tales and traditions of African American and African peoples. The show's poet laureate, Beverly Fields Burnette, and other members of the Season's Griot family return with familiar and favorite elements of Griot.
Saturday, Dec. 30 at 10:00 pm An Echoes New Year Stomp on 2023 and dance in 2024 with Downtempo New Year's Soundscape. All systems are plugged in, the chill is turned up to 11 on electronic sounds old, new and beyond time and space.
Sunday, Dec. 31 at 8:00 pm Toast of the Nation Say goodbye to 2023 and hello to 2024 with live music from some of the best jazz groups performing today!
Monday, Jan. 1 at 12:00 am An Echoes Ambient New Year A downtempo ambient soundscape for New Year's, with a beat for dancing-in 2024. Enjoy this un-interrupted, non-narrated groove, for celebrating, chilling, and contemplating the new year.
Monday, Jan. 1 at 11:00 am New Year's Day From Vienna The Vienna Philharmonic and conductor Daniel Berenboim present its ever popular annual New Year's Day concert from the Golden Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna. You'll hear your favorite waltzes, polkas and more &8212; a festive way to start off the New Year. It's presented by NPR Music and hosted by WBUR's Lisa Mullins.
MAINE PUBLIC CLASSICAL

HOLIDAY PROGRAMS ON MAINE PUBLIC CLASSICAL

AIR DATE TITLE DESCRIPTION
Thursday, Nov. 23 at 7:00 pm Giving Thanks: A Celebration of Fall, Food & Gratitude Giving Thanks celebrates its 25th year on public radio! This year's show presents the best moments of a quarter century of great guests:
Foodies: Stanley Tucci, Nigella Lawson, Jacques Pepin, Calvin Trillin
Writers: Anne Lamott, Adam Gopnik, Julia Sweeney, Anna Quindlen, Deepak Chopra
Poets: Billy Collins, Rita Dove, Nikki Giovanni, Ada Limon. And classic poems read by Patrick Stewart, Bill Moyers, Studs Terkel
Musicians: Michael Tilson Thomas, John Rutter, Sir Stephen Hough
In Memoriam: John Updike, Wendy Wasserstein, Nora Ephron, Rabbi Harold Kushner
Thursday, Nov. 23 at 12:00 pm Every Good Thing On Thanksgiving, host Andrea Blain and classical music fans from all around the country take some time to give thanks and celebrate one of life's most meaningful gifts: music.
Thursday, Dec. 7 at 5:00 pm A Chanukah Celebration with Chicago a cappella Join Jonathan Miller, artistic director of Chicago a cappella and a longtime champion of Jewish choral music, for an inspiring and informative show featuring choral music set to Chanukah texts.
Friday, Dec. 8 at 1:00 pm Chanukkah in Story and Song Sung by the The Western Wind Narrated by Leonard Nimoy The acclaimed vocal sextet and the renowned actor present 25 eclectic selections, from the Ladino songs of the Spanish Jews and Yiddish melodies of Eastern Europe to modern Israeli tunes and their original version of “I Have a Little Dreydle.” The singers sing a cappella and are also joined by instruments including violin, accordion, bass and guitar. The narration written by Rabbi Gerald Skolnik sheds light on the holiday customs and rituals.
Saturday, Dec. 9 at 8:00 pm Candles Burning Brightly Hosted by Mindy Ratner, Candles Burning Brightly is a celebration of Chanukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights with an exploration of Chanukah foods and traditional activities...and plenty of music.
Sunday, Dec. 16 at 11:00 am Songbook: Hygge Holidays A special holiday episode of Songbook hosted by Maine Public Classical Music Host and Producer Sarah Tuttle
Thursday, Dec. 21 at 6:00 pm A Winter's Solstice A winter solstice program, with modern classical sounds for the longest night of the year, chosen especially to compliment the chilly, starry nights of the season.
Thursday, Dec. 21 at 7:00 pm A Paul Winter Solstice Every year since 1980, saxophone player Paul Winter and special guests have gathered in New York's Cathedral of St. John the Divine to mark the winter solstice.
Friday, Dec. 22 10:00 am Maine Public Classical Holiday Special Classical music tailored to the holidays.
Friday, Dec. 22 5:00 pm Afterglow: Christmas on the Air Instead of featuring the same studio recordings we're all used to hearing each and every holiday season, hear some vintage radio broadcasts! Holiday tunes, performed live on the radio in the 1940s and '50s, from folks like Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and more.
Friday, Dec. 22 at 5:00 pm The Jazz Flower Holiday Maine Public host & producer Sufiyah Asia Yasmine offers up a special holiday show.
Friday, Dec. 22 at 8:00 pm Jazz Tonight Celebrates the Holidays Long time Maine Public radio host Rich Tozier spins holiday jazz tunes.
Friday, Dec. 22 at 10:00 pm Jazz Night in America: A Holiday Celebration To ring in the season, Jazz Night in America brings you Big Band Holidays, a concert featuring the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. Together, they perform holiday classics from band's past five seasons, featuring fresh arrangements and entertaining storytelling, recorded live from Rose Theater in New York.
Saturday, Dec. 23 at 11:00 am Songbook: Carols From Around the World A special holiday episode of Songbook hosted by Maine Public Classical Music Host and Producer Sarah Tuttle
Saturday, Dec. 23 at 8:00 pm Carols as Home with the Imani Winds This is a modern take on classic Christmas carols, hosted by Imani Winds founding oboist, Toyin Spellman-Diaz. Toyin coaxes intimate stories of Christmas memories from the members of the ensemble, and why these classic carols are still essential today.
Sunday, Dec. 24 at 6:00 am A Choral Christmas with Stile Antico Celebrate Christmas with the sound of soaring voices. Stile Antico, the award winning choir from London, pays a visit to St. Paul's church on Harvard Square for a concert of radiant sacred music for the Christmas season by the most acclaimed composers of the renaissance. Hear the group's luminous blend of voices sing the intricately woven music of Thomas Tallis and William Byrd. Hosted by Cathy Fuller of WGBH. Presented by NPR Music.
Sunday, Dec. 24 at 7:00 am A Handel & Haydn Society Christmas Celebrate the season with this hour-long special featuring Christmas choral music from America’s oldest continuously performing ensemble, Boston’s Handel & Haydn Society.
Sunday, Dec. 24 at 8:00 am St. Olaf Christmas Festival Hear one of the nation's most treasured holiday celebrations. Programming includes sacred choral and instrumental music from many traditions: beloved hymns, classical masterworks, folk songs from around the world, and African-American spirituals.
Sunday, Dec. 24 at 10:00 am A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols Share in a live, world-wide Christmas Eve broadcast of a service of Biblical readings, carols, and related seasonal Classical music presented by one of the world's foremost choirs of men and boys and performed in an acoustically and architecturally renowned venue, the 500-year-old Chapel of King's College, Cambridge, England.
Sunday, Dec. 24 at noon Montserrat Boy Choir (Escolania de Montserrat) Perched atop the mountains near Barcelona, the choir of the Benedictine Abbey of Santa Maria de Montserrat is one of Europe's oldest and most prestigious boy choirs. For the first time in their 800-year history, the choir made its Midwest premiere. Bringing with them a message of peace, the choristers will use music to transcend borders and speak directly to your heart. In this special the ensemble sings a wide range of works. From Gregorian Chant to pieces by contemporary Spanish composer Bernat Vivancos (b.1972), the Monserrat Boy Choir sing with style and an attention to detail that is sure to enthrall listeners.
Sunday, Dec. 24 at 1:00 pm Welcome Christmas There's no better way to welcome Christmas than Welcome Christmas!, the VocalEssence holiday concert conducted by Philip Brunelle. It's an hour of joyful, classic holiday music from VocalEssence, one of the world's premiere choral groups, singing traditional carols and new discoveries.
Sunday, Dec. 24 2:00 pm Maine Public Classical Holiday Special Classical music tailored to the holidays.
Sunday, Dec. 24 5:00 pm An Afro Blue Christmas A tambourine jingled merrily and spirits were high when Afro Blue visited NPR's Studio 1 to share a brilliant assortment of holiday music. The group delighted the audience with fresh, thoughtful arrangements of Christmas favorites, from a rollicking Angels We Have Heard On High to a sublime, weighty Silent Night.
Sunday, Dec. 24 at 6:00 pm All Is Bright Hosted by Lynne Warfel, this is one hour of gorgeous, contemplative music related to the Christmas season and its symbolism. This program uses sacred choral music grouped in a way to tell the traditional Christmas story by way of songs about angels, the star, and the manger scene. Featured artists include Cambridge Singers, Cantus, and Chanticleer.
Sunday, Dec. 24 at 7:00 pm Christmas with the Morehouse and Spelman Glee Clubs In a Christmas celebration of the schools' tradition of singing excellence, the Morehouse and Spelman Glee Clubs perform spirituals, carols and sacred texts from the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga.
Sunday, Dec. 24 at 8:00 pm Mark O'Connor's An Appalachian Christmas Grammy-winning composer and fiddler Mark O'Connor created several arrangements of Christmas classics into a wondrous mixture of traditional American and bluegrass music.
Sunday, Dec. 24 at 9:00 pm The Film Score: Music for the Winter Holidays "Chicago Tribune" film critic Michael Phillips hosts this special devoted to holiday and wintertime movie music. In addition to beloved standards ("White Christmas" from "Holiday Inn" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" from "Meet Me in St. Louis"), hear an eclectic mix of wintry film scores, ranging from "It Happened in Sun Valley" to Alexandre Desplat's folk-inspired score for "The Grand Budapest Hotel" to Bernard Herrmann's bracing sleigh ride accompaniment composed for the Orson Welles drama "The Magnificent Ambersons." Bundle up and enjoy The Film Score: Music for the Winter Holidays!
Monday, Dec. 25 at 6:00 am Montserrat Boy Choir (Escolania de Montserrat) Perched atop the mountains near Barcelona, the choir of the Benedictine Abbey of Santa Maria de Montserrat is one of Europe's oldest and most prestigious boy choirs. For the first time in their 800-year history, the choir made its Midwest premiere. Bringing with them a message of peace, the choristers will use music to transcend borders and speak directly to your heart. In this special the ensemble sings a wide range of works. From Gregorian Chant to pieces by contemporary Spanish composer Bernat Vivancos (b.1972), the Monserrat Boy Choir sing with style and an attention to detail that is sure to enthrall listeners.
Monday, Dec. 25 at 7:00 am A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols Share in a live, world-wide Christmas Eve broadcast of a service of Biblical readings, carols, and related seasonal Classical music presented by one of the world's foremost choirs of men and boys and performed in an acoustically and architecturally renowned venue, the 500-year-old Chapel of King's College, Cambridge, England.
Monday, Dec. 25 at 9:00 am All Is Bright Hosted by Lynne Warfel, this is one hour of gorgeous, contemplative music related to the Christmas season and its symbolism. This program uses sacred choral music grouped in a way to tell the traditional Christmas story by way of songs about angels, the star, and the manger scene. Featured artists include Cambridge Singers, Cantus, and Chanticleer.
Monday, Dec. 25 at 10:00 am Carols as Home with the Imani Winds This is a modern take on classic Christmas carols, hosted by Imani Winds founding oboist, Toyin Spellman-Diaz. Toyin coaxes intimate stories of Christmas memories from the members of the ensemble, and why these classic carols are still essential today.
Monday, Dec. 25 at 11:00 am A Handel & Haydn Society Christmas Celebrate the season with this hour-long special featuring Christmas choral music from America’s oldest continuously performing ensemble, Boston’s Handel & Haydn Society.
Monday, Dec. 25 12:00 pm Maine Public Classical Holiday Special Classical music tailored to the holidays.
Monday, Dec. 25 at 3:00 pm A Choral Christmas with Stile Antico Celebrate Christmas with the sound of soaring voices. Stile Antico, the award winning choir from London, pays a visit to St. Paul's church on Harvard Square for a concert of radiant sacred music for the Christmas season by the most acclaimed composers of the renaissance. Hear the group's luminous blend of voices sing the intricately woven music of Thomas Tallis and William Byrd. Hosted by Cathy Fuller of WGBH. Presented by NPR Music.
Monday, Dec. 25 at 4:00 pm The Ballad of the Brown King Dr. Louise Toppin, a preeminent performer and scholar specializing in the concert repertoire of African American composers, presents the world premiere recording of Margaret Bonds's The Ballad of the Brown King (Avie Records, 2018). This Christmas cantata focuses on Balthazar, the dark-skinned king who journeyed to Bethlehem to witness the birth of Jesus Christ. This gorgeous work is beautifully interpreted by New York City-based The Dessoff Choirs and Orchestra, soloists soprano Laquita Mitchell, mezzo-soprano Lucia Bradford, and tenor Noah Stewart with Malcolm J. Merriweather at the podium.
Monday, Dec. 25 at 5:00 pm Welcome Christmas There's no better way to welcome Christmas than Welcome Christmas!, the VocalEssence holiday concert conducted by Philip Brunelle. It's an hour of joyful, classic holiday music from VocalEssence, one of the world's premiere choral groups, singing traditional carols and new discoveries.
Monday, Dec. 25 at 6:00 pm Christmas with the Morehouse and Spelman Glee Clubs In a Christmas celebration of the schools' tradition of singing excellence, the Morehouse and Spelman Glee Clubs perform spirituals, carols and sacred texts from the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga.
Monday, Dec. 25 7:00 pm An Afro Blue Christmas A tambourine jingled merrily and spirits were high when Afro Blue visited NPR's Studio 1 to share a brilliant assortment of holiday music. The group delighted the audience with fresh, thoughtful arrangements of Christmas favorites, from a rollicking Angels We Have Heard On High to a sublime, weighty Silent Night.
Monday, Dec. 25 at 8:00 pm St. Olaf Christmas Festival Hear one of the nation's most treasured holiday celebrations. Programming includes sacred choral and instrumental music from many traditions: beloved hymns, classical masterworks, folk songs from around the world, and African-American spirituals.
Tuesday, Dec. 26 at 6:00 pm A Season's Griot Hosted by acclaimed storyteller Madafo Lloyd Wilson, this annual one-hour special captures the tales and traditions of African American and African peoples. The show's poet laureate, Beverly Fields Burnette, and other members of the Season's Griot family return with familiar and favorite elements of Griot.
Tuesday, Dec. 26 at 7:00 pm The Sounds of Kwanzaa During the aftermath of the Watts Uprisings in the 1960s, Dr. Maulana Karenga decided to create a special December holiday designed for Black people to celebrate themselves, their culture, and their future liberation. Today, Kwanzaa is still celebrated by not only Afro-Americans, but Black people around the globe! In this broadcast, Garrett McQueen offers a background on the history of Kwanzaa and its guiding principles, alongside musical selections that highlight the spirit of the celebration. The show features the compositions of Florence Price, Duke Ellington, Sean O’Loughlin, and special performances by Imani Winds.
Saturday, Dec. 30 at 6:00 pm Minnesota Orchestra’s New Year’s Celebration Ring in the new year with the Minnesota Orchestra! The program opens with Bernstein's animated Overture to Candide. Awadagin Pratt performs the Minnesota premiere of Jessie Montgomery's Rounds for Piano and Orchestra, a work written for him. A New Year's celebration wouldn't be complete without adventure and passion, and the Orchestra brings that in multitudes in Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's beloved Scheherazade.
Sunday, Dec. 31 at 8:00 pm Toast of the Nation Say goodbye to 2023 and hello to 2024 with live music from some of the best jazz groups performing today!
Monday, Jan. 1 at 11:00 am New Year's Day From Vienna The Vienna Philharmonic and conductor Daniel Berenboim present its ever popular annual New Year's Day concert from the Golden Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna. You'll hear your favorite waltzes, polkas and more &8212; a festive way to start off the New Year. It's presented by NPR Music and hosted by WBUR's Lisa Mullins.