From ushering in Hanukkah to ringing in the New Year, BPR offers seasonal specials in December to make merriment on BPR News and BPR Classic. Listen on air, stream online, or BPR’s free mobile app.
Friday, December 8
The Yiddish Radio Project; 9 AM on BPR News
In the late 1920s radio was beginning its meteoric ascendancy in American culture. Jewish immigrants embraced this new technology and by the early 1930s Yiddish radio flourished across the country. Most of its disc recordings were melted down for World War II scrap metal drives or simply disappeared. But the 500 hours that survive— what a story they tell! Tune in for this special hour hosted by NPR’s Scott Simon.
Candles Burning Brightly; 9 AM on BPR Classic
Celebrate the Jewish Festival of Lights with music from Jewish communities around the world, plus a hilarious lesson on how to prepare a classic Chanukah dish, and a timeless and touching holiday story that brings light into every home.
Hanukkah Lights 2023; 7 PM on BPR News
This NPR favorite returns with the best of the best Hanukkah Lights stories, plus a special musical performance by The LeeVees. Enjoy this one-hour special hosted by Susan Stamberg and Murray Horwitz.
Hanukkah In Story and Song; 7 PM on BPR Classic
Acclaimed vocal sextet The Western Wind and the late renowned actor Leonard Nimoy present 25 eclectic selections, from the Ladino songs of the Spanish Jews to modern Israeli tunes. The singers sing a cappella and are also joined by instruments including violin, accordion, bass and guitar. Narration written by Rabbi Gerald Skolnik sheds light on the holiday customs and rituals.
Thursday, December 21
Bunnies, Bears and Snails: Stories for the Solstice; 7 PM on BPR News
Winter is a time for gathering together and celebrating the rich human tradition of storytelling. Enjoy Native stories handed down for thousands of years, as well as much younger stories that appeal to young and old alike, bringing us together at the Northern Hemisphere’s darkest time of the year. And this tradition can bring us closer to the creatures we share our Earth with, too. From Living on Earth.
Paul Winter Solstice; 7 PM on BPR Classic
Warm up the longest night of the year with a taste of the tropics. This one-hour Winter Solstice special brings a starry array of Brazilian guests, including Ivan Lins, Renato Braz, and Luciana Souza, with the Paul Winter Consort at the annual solstice concerts in New York’s Cathedral of St John the Divine. John Schaefer hosts.
Sunday, December 24
A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols; 10 AM to 12 Noon on BPR Classic
Share in a live, world-wide Christmas Eve broadcast of a service of Biblical readings, carols, and related seasonal Classical music. This special will be 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.
Tinsel Tales: NPR Christmas Favorites; 7 PM on BPR News
Celebrate with stories from the NPR archives that touch on the meaning of Christmas. David Sedaris, Bailey White, John Henry Faulk -- these and other NPR voices, past and present, tell stories of the season. Hosted by Lynn Neary.
Winter Holidays around the World with Bill McGlaughlin; 7 PM on BPR Classic
Hear a selection of winter holidays celebrated around the world, starting in the 12th century with Nova Stella, medieval Italian Christmas music from Saint Francis of Assisi’s staging of the nativity; jazz pianist Dave Brubeck’s classical composition La Fiesta de la Posada, evoking a Mexican Christmas celebration; and Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on Christmas Carols. Enjoy this time of year in Paris with music from Debussy, and then travel to Polynesia for a traditional hymn, "Anau Oia Ea." End with an excerpt from Gian Carlo Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors from the original television production.
A Jazz Piano Christmas 39; 8 PM on BPR Classic
The Kennedy Center and NPR present this annual sell-out event, featuring jazz-infused renditions of the season's most-loved music. This year, hear remarkable pianist, vocalist, and actress Melvis Santa—whose eclectic Afro-Cuban style has made her one of the most electrifying artists on the scene—in addition to internationally acclaimed Cuban composer and jazz pianist Alfredo Rodriguez. Hosted by NPR's Felix Contreras.
Live Wire Holiday Special with Paul F. Tompkins, José Olivarez, and Esme Patterson; 8 PM on BPR News
Comedian and podcaster Paul F. Tompkins talks about passive-aggressive Christmas carolers and the most tense rendition of “O Holy Night" he's ever heard; poet José Olivarez discusses his latest collection Promises of Gold, which explores the various types of love in our lives, from self-love to platonic love and over to romance; and singer-songwriter Esme Patterson performs her original Christmas song “If I.” Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share listeners favorite holiday traditions.
Monday, December 25
Christmas and Commerce on This American Life; 9 AM on BPR News
Enjoy stories about the intersection of Christmas and retail, originally broadcast in 1996 when This American Life was only one year old. Including David Sedaris's story "Santaland Diaries," which first aired on NPR's Morning Edition as a shorter version.
The Ballad of the Brown King; 9 AM on BPR Classic
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’ The Ballad of the Brown King. With a libretto by Langston Hughes, 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
A Special Holiday Hour from The Moth; 7 PM on BPR News
Hear stories of the unexpected gifts of December: holiday customs, brand new traditions, flying cows, fruit, luminaries and a magical forest. Hosted by The Moth’s Executive Producer Sarah Austin Jenness.
A Mexican Baroque Christmas with the Rose Ensemble; 7 PM on BPR Classic
This holiday program features over two centuries of festive Christmas dances and songs from the great cathedrals of Puebla and Mexico City.
Sunday, December 31
Toast of the Nation; 9 PM to 1 AM on BPR Classic
An NPR tradition every New Year's Eve since the 1970s, Toast of the Nation is the perfect audio complement for the occasion. It's festive jazz you can party to, all night long.
Monday, January 1
New Years Day from Vienna 2024; 11 AM to 1 PM
Ring in the new year with this ever-popular annual concert performed by the Vienna Philharmonic under the baton of Christian Thielemann. Hear musically definitive interpretations of the masterworks of this genre and a New Year's greeting in the spirit of hope, friendship and peace. Hosted by WBUR's Lisa Mullins.
