This holiday season, tune into a festive lineup of programming on BPR News and BPR Classic to celebrate the holidays and ring in the new year. Read on for the full schedule of special programs below.
BPR Classic
Saturday, December 21
The Nutcracker with Mindy Ratner
Time: 5-7 p.m.
Join classical host Mindy Ratner for the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Waltz of the Flowers and more iconic music composed by Peter Tchaikovsky from The Nutcracker ballet.
Tuesday, December 24
A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
Time: 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Each year, the King’s College Choir gathers in the King’s College chapel in Cambridge England to perform A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, a legendary annual service of spoken-word, organ and choral music focused on Biblical readings and music.
The Night Before Christmas with Lynne Warfel
Time: 7:01 p.m. and 10:01 p.m.
Enjoy the beloved Night Before Christmas poem narrated by classical host Lynne Warfel.
Wednesday, January 1
New Year’s Day from Vienna
Time: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Ring in the new year with the Vienna Philharmonic’s famous New Year’s Day concert recorded in the renowned Musikverein concert hall. This year’s performance will be conducted by Riccardo Muti, Music Director Emeritus of the Chicago Symphony.
BPR News
Wednesday, December 25
A Christmas Carol with Jonathan Winters
Time: 9 a.m.
Master comedian Jonathan Winters will present a distinctive reading of Dickens' holiday classic with a special performance style prepared by Dickens for his own presentations.
Christmas with the Morehouse & Spelman Glee Clubs
Time: 10 a.m.
One of the great holiday traditions in America, the choirs of Morehouse and Spelman Colleges -- two of the most prestigious historically black institutions in the nation -- gather for a spine-tingling concert program.
This year's program combines the best works of the last several years for a joyous celebration of singing excellence, spirituals and carols.
A Paul Winter Solstice
Time: 11 a.m.
This year, Solstice Live! warms up the longest night of the year with a taste of the tropics. Enjoy an hour-long special featuring Brazilian performers Ivan Lins, Renato Braz and Luciana Souza from Brazil hosted by John Schaefer.
St. Olaf Christmas Festival
Time: 12 p.m.
A service in song and word that has become one of the nation’s most cherished holiday celebrations. The festival includes hymns, carols, choral works, as well as orchestral selections celebrating the Nativity and featuring more than 500 student musicians in five choirs and the St. Olaf Orchestra.
Jazz Piano Christmas
Time: 2 p.m.
This year’s Jazz Piano Christmas spotlights the ferociously talented Japanese musical phenom Hiromi, Mountain Stage’s Bob Thompson, and Bolivian prodigy José André Montaño, chosen as one of the Kennedy Center’s “Next 50” leaders.
Thursday, December 26
Candles Burning Brightly
Time: 8 p.m.
A new, delightful hour for everyone to celebrate the Jewish Festival of Lights. Hosted by Mindy Ratner, Candles Burning Brightly features music from Jewish communities worldwide, a hilarious lesson on preparing a classic Hanukkah dish and a touching holiday story to bring light into every home.
Saturday, December 29
Yiddish Holiday Radio
Time: 12 p.m.
A pastiche of archival radio shows, interviews and narration from the golden age of Yiddish radio (1930-1960).
