Holiday Specials on WVIA Radio
Monday, December 23rd
Noon, A Classical Christmas: Britten, Saint-Seine, Bach, Handel, Tchaikovsky, Whitacre & Rutter. And some other greats!
Have you watched 'The Holiday' yet? 'Love Hard' (on Netflix)? At least you caught 'The Shop Around the Corner'… 'Christmas in Connecticut?' WHAT? !!!!! My, my you ARE behind. Let’s get you in the holiday spirit right here and right now… after all Christmas is Coming. A Sacred Christmas.
We have a special collection of music in the classical style… we’ll call it classical with a small “c.” Some from the Baroque, Classical and Romantic Eras. And a few pieces (see Rutter and Whitacre!) are very recent. A Sacred Christmas this week on Lester the Nightfly.
1pm, AN OPERAVORE CHRISTMAS
WQXR's Naomi Lewin presents an hour of Christmas and holiday music from the world of opera and oratorio sung by some of the greatest singers past and present including Marilyn Horne, Leontyne Price, Bryn Terfel, Thomas Hampson, Joan Sutherland and more.
Tuesday, December 24th (Christmas Eve)
10:00 am, A Festival Of Nine Lessons & Carols from the Chapel Of King's College, Cambridge
The holiday tradition continues as Pipedreams host Michael Barone presents this live service of spoken-word and music (choral and organ) broadcast from the chapel of King's College in Cambridge, England. The 30-voice King's College Choir performs the legendary Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols service of Biblical readings and music.
Noon, The 40th Annual Messiah Sing-Along Featuring the Arcadia Chorale
The regional holiday tradition for families and music lovers continues into its 40th year, giving the audience the opportunity to hear one of the area’s premiere choral ensembles performing Handel’s Messiah at the storied Covenant Presbyterian Church in Scranton
8pm, Christmas Dreaming (The Night Cafe)
Jazz vocals for Christmas by singers new and familiar.
9pm, A Hip Holiday Mix w/Paul Ingles Vol. 1
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.
Wednesday, December 25 (Christmas Day)
10am, The St. Olaf Christmas Festival
The St. Olaf Christmas Festival is a chance for listeners across the country and around the world to participate in one of the nation’s most treasured holiday celebrations.
Noon, Welcome Christmas
The perennial Christmas favorite from VocalEssence, one of the world’s premiere choral groups. An hour of traditional carols and new discoveries.
1pm, The Vaughn Williams Christmas Connection
The son of a clergyman, he became an atheist in college, then settled for a life as a “cheerful agnostic.” And yet, he probably wrote more Christmas music than any other modern composer, with a deep love for both the pageantry and the simple joys of the season. Join host Stephen Peithman for a celebration of holiday music by Ralph Vaughan Williams—on the next Connections.
8pm, Hot Jazz for a Cool Yule
This week on Riverwalk Jazz, it's Hot Jazz for a Cool Yule as Jim Cullum and the Band welcome an all-star cast of legendary jazz players, outstanding vocal artists and one outrageous tap dancer to the stage of The Landing to interpret carols and holiday classics in a jazz band mood. Our Hot Jazz for a Cool Yule Holiday Special captures a bevy of jazz legends in a holiday mood.
9pm, The Big Tiny Desk Concert Holiday Special
Celebrate the season with amazing holiday performances from The Tiny Desk Concert series including Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Steve Martin, Hanson, The Polyphonic Spree and more! Hosted by NPR Music frenemies Bob Boilen and Stephen Thompson.
Thursday, December 26th
10am, Eternal Echoes for Hanukkah
Itzhak Perlman, universally recognized as one of the world's greatest classical violinists, has in the last few years devoted himself to serious study of traditional Jewish music. Hankus Netsky teaches at the New England Conservatory and is a pioneer in the revival of Klezmer music. Netsky served as music director for the Sony album "Eternal Echoes: Songs and Dances for the Soul," a collaboration between Perlman and Cantor Yitzhak Meir Helfgot. Both Perlman and Netsky join host James David Jacobs for an hour of songs and stories for Hanukkah, which includes four selections from their album as well as clips of the historical recordings that influenced them. We'll also hear about the history of the Jewish hymn "Maoz Tsur," which later became the Christian hymn "Rock of Ages"; selections from George Frideric Handel's dramatization of the Hanukkah story, his oratorio Judas Maccabaeus; recordings of both classical and cantorial selections by the legendary tenor Jan Peerce; two musical depictions of a spinning dreidel; Hankus Netsky telling the story of how, thanks to the idiosyncracies of Klezmer music, he became a professional accordion player within a day of his playing the instrument for the first time; Itzhak Perlman talking about the cantorial music he listened to as a child in Israel; and an attempt to convey the experience of making and eating potato latkes through the medium of radio.
11am, Chanukah Memories & Melodies
In this special from WQXR, six prominent artists share memories of Chanukah, and the music the holiday brings to mind. From soothing to surprising, from reverent to rowdy, their musical choices will inspire and delight you. With Broadway actress Tovah Feldshuh, social entrepreneur Aaron Dworkin, cellist Alisa Weilerstein, Sephardic music virtuoso Daphna Mor, conductor Eric Jacobsen, and Yiddish music maven Henry Sapoznik. Hosted by WQXR's Elliott Forrest.
Noon, Hannukah Lights
This NPR favorite returns with some of our favorite stories from the archives. We’ll hear “Gifts of the Last Night” by Rebecca Goldstein, “Hanukkah Gelt, Hanukkah Money” by Sholem Aleichem, “Gifts of the Jewish Magi” by Allegra Goodman, How to Spell the Name of God” by Ellen Orleans and “Geek Week by Rebecca O’Connell.
1pm, Chanukkah in Story & Song
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.
Friday, December 27
10am, A Chanukah Celebration Across the Globe
Illuminate the Festival of Lights with this fascinating world music program. A Chanukah Celebration Across the Globe is a journey into the rich and varied melodic traditions of countries where Jews have lived and worshiped for centuries, including music from Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean, the Balkans, Central Asia ...and Africa! You'll hear performances from top New York ensembles East of the River, Shashmaqam, and the Marty Levitt Klezmer Orchestra – plus a recording of the astounding Jewish community of Putti Village, in Uganda. A lively program, full of intriguing treasures. Hosted by WQXR’s Naomi Lewin
11am, A Chanukah Celebration w/ Chicago a Capella
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. Familiar tunes include "I Have a Little Dreidel" (both in its original Yiddish form and in a neo-funk Hebrew/English setting), a swing version of "S'vivon" by Steve Barnett, and a lively setting of the traditional melody for "Al-Hanissim" ("For the Miracles") by Elliot Levine. Heartfelt original compositions by American and British composers provide added depth of expression to celebrating the holiday. Such works include "Lo Yisa Goy," a plea for peace by Stacy Garrop; Bob Applebaum's stirring new version of "Haneirot Halalu"; and movements from the majestic "Hallel Suite" by London-based Daniel Tunkel. All selections are performed by Chicago a cappella, the virtuoso vocal ensemble now in its 23rd season. Jonathan Miller provides liturgical and cultural background as part of this unique look inside old and newer choral Chanukah traditions.
Tuesday, December 31 (New Year's Eve)
10am, Happy New Year 1925! Analog Masters
1925 was a watershed year for the recording industry. Western Electric had patented the electronic recording process, using microphones and amplifiers, the preceding year. Record companies worldwide were eager to employ the new technology, and new recordings were quickly rushed into print. In this hour, we hear acoustic recordings made in the first part of 1925, followed by surprisingly vivid electronic recordings of Beethoven and Mendelssohn.
11am, Wind & Rhythm - Drink Pairings for the New Year
This week we’re going to bring in the New Year with some great music… accompanied with some suggested drink pairings, of both the spirited and non-alcoholic varieties. Grab your favorite glass, and let’s celebrate with David Maslanka, John Philip Sousa, John Mackey, Frank Ticheli, Julie Giroux, David Holsinger, and Charles Mingus, all right here, at the gathering place for people who love band music, Wind & Rhythm. Happy New Year!
Noon, Festivities - A New Year Celebration / American Landscapes
Joyful American Music to help celebrate the New Year with rousing overtures, jubilees, marches and festival music. Morton Gould, Stephen Foster and Victor Herbert are just a few of the composers represented on the program.
1pm, The Jewish New Year: Music and Inspirational Teachings from the Kabbalah / Days of Wonder
Each year, on the evening of the new moon, the beginning of the month of Tishrei in the Jewish lunar calendar, Jewish people around the world begin a period of prayer and self-examination that ends, ten days later, with a twenty-four hour fast. These are the High Holy Days, beginning with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and ending with Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. These days are a time to reflect on the past year and to realign life with truth and wisdom, to prepare for a new year's challenges. In this program, Kabbalistic teacher, therapist, and author of "Sacred Therapy," Estelle Frankel and Cantor Richard Kaplan share the depths of insight accumulated by the Jewish mystical tradition of the Kabbalah. They discuss the insights in stories, teachings and music, gathered from that rich tradition.
8pm, New Year's Night in Harlem / The Club McKenzie: Your 1920's Jazz Speakeasy
By the mid 1920s, Harlem had completed its renaissance in art and literature. Now it was time for the music to complete the circle. At its height, the city was a Mecca for musical talent, and they had more jazz club than most major cities.
9pm, The Retro Cocktail Hour - New Year's Eve Special
We'll welcome the New Year in style on this week's Retro Cocktail Hour, with songs by Sinatra, Dean Martin, Julie London and Nancy Wilson, plus tunes from the Barry Gemso Experience, The Coolbreezers and the Billy May Orchestra.
The music is always served "shaken, not stirred" every week on The Retro Cocktail Hour. Here you'll find vintage recordings from the dawn of the Hi-Fi Era - imaginative, light-hearted (and sometimes light headed) pop stylings designed to underscore everything from the backyard barbecue to the high-tech bachelor pad.
Among the artists featured on The Retro Cocktail Hour are lounge legends like Frank Sinatra and Juan Esquivel; tiki gods Martin Denny and Les Baxter; swinging cocktail combos featuring The Three Suns and Jack "Mr. Bongo" Costanzo; and mambo king Perez Prado. The series also spotlights up and coming lounge/exotica artists, including the Waitiki 7, Ixtahuele, the Tikiyaki Orchestra, Big Kahuna and the Copa Cat Pack, the Voodoo Organist and many more.
10am, Toast of the Nation
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.
Wednesday, January 1 (New Year's Day)
10am, Feminine Fusion - A New Year Dawns
11am, New Year's Day from Vienna
The ever popular annual New Year’s Day Concert will be performed by the Vienna Philharmonic under the baton of Riccardo Muti in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna. Hosted by WBUR's Lisa Mullins.
1pm, Wind & Rhythm - New Beginnings
Happy New Year! What are your dreams for this upcoming year and what do you hope it brings? This week on Wind & Rhythm, we take a look at new beginnings and fresh starts.
8pm, Jazz & The American Spirit
This week on Jazz and the American Spirit, host Jeff Rupert takes a look at welcoming in the New Year and getting rid of the old, with jazz.
9pm, Let's Begin: A New Year Special / Afterglow
Ring in the New Year with Afterglow, as we explore songs and standards about new beginnings, including “Let’s Begin,” “Begin The Beguine,” and “I’m Beginning To See The Light.