From the spoken word to classical music and jazz, help celebrate the holiday season with an eclectic blend of holiday specials from Valley Public Radio. This year, our lineup features familiar favorites like A Christmas Carol and Hanukkah Lights, as well as new programs like A Chanticleer Christmas and Hygge Holiday. Plus join us for broadcasts of everything from Handel’s Messiah, to contemporary favorites like David Sedaris reading from his Santaland Diaries on Tinsel Tales, and Pink Martini’s A Holiday In Pink radio special, and New Year’s Day live from Vienna. Mark your calendars for these special broadcasts as we celebrate the holidays. You can find more info on these holiday specials online at KVPR.org.
Thursday November 26th noon – 2:00 p.m. – Turkey Confidential
Turkey Confidential” is The Splendid Table’s annual Thanksgiving call-in show. Francis Lam takes calls and comes to the rescue of Thanksgiving cooks, kitchen helpers, and dinner guests during the biggest cooking day of the year.
Wednesday December 9th – 8:00 p.m. – Hygge Holiday: Cozy Classics - due to a scheduling error this program did not air as originally planned. It has been rescheduled for Thursday December 17th at 8:00 p.m.
Join host Elena See as she plays a mix of wintry and nostalgic classical pieces designed to accompany listeners as they enjoy cozy wintertime activities. Have you heard of hygge? This Danish concept, pronounced "HYEW-guh," has taken the world by storm. But what is it? Hygge has no literal English translation, but in spirit it's close to coziness, comfort and togetherness. It's also the Danish secret to surviving and even enjoying the long, cold, dark winters in Denmark. Danes are no stranger to the bleak midwinter; in December, the sun sets at 3 in the afternoon! But instead of dreading being cooped up during the winter months, Danes look forward to making their living spaces as cozy as possible and enjoying their time indoors. Hygge is about savoring and celebrating the moments and elements in our control; a reframed perspective on being housebound during the coldest months of the year.
Thursday December 10th – 2:00 p.m. - Hanukkah Lights 2020
The NPR favorite returns with all new Hanukkah stories. Hosted by Susan Stamberg and Murray Horwitz.
Sunday December 13th – 12:00 p.m. - Candles Burning Brightly
A one-hour celebration of Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights with an exploration of Hanukkah foods and traditional activities … and plenty of music. Produced by American Public Media, and hosted by Classical 24’s Mindy Ratner.
Wednesday December 16th – 8:00 p.m. - 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. 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.
Wednesday December 16th – 9:00 p.m - A Soulful Christmas
Julie Amacher and Tesfa Wondemagegnehu host this uplifting Christmas special that features Black music and composers. A Soulful Christmas celebrates classical music by Black artists, while exploring Spirituals, Gospel Music, Jazz and other Black musical traditions.
Thursday December 17th 8:00 p.m. – Hygge Holiday: Cozy Classics -
Join host Elena See as she plays a mix of wintry and nostalgic classical pieces designed to accompany listeners as they enjoy cozy wintertime activities. Have you heard of hygge? This Danish concept, pronounced "HYEW-guh," has taken the world by storm. But what is it? Hygge has no literal English translation, but in spirit it's close to coziness, comfort and togetherness. It's also the Danish secret to surviving and even enjoying the long, cold, dark winters in Denmark. Danes are no stranger to the bleak midwinter; in December, the sun sets at 3 in the afternoon! But instead of dreading being cooped up during the winter months, Danes look forward to making their living spaces as cozy as possible and enjoying their time indoors. Hygge is about savoring and celebrating the moments and elements in our control; a reframed perspective on being housebound during the coldest months of the year.
Saturday December 19th – 1:00 p.m. - Apollo’s Fire presents Christmas on Sugarloaf Mountain: An Irish-Appalachian Celebration
The latest holiday program from GRAMMY®-award winners Jeannette Sorrell and Apollo’s Fire is a communal celebration of the American immigrant experience, sharing the spirit and history of Appalachia’s Irish and Scottish roots through music. The 35-member ensemble includes 10 children and brings a joyous concert experience with the warmth of period instruments. Fiddlers, medieval harp, hammered dulcimer, bagpipes, singers, and children’s voices join together to evoke the Celtic roots of an Appalachian holiday. In this one-hour special, the listener is transported from Christmas Eve in medieval Scotland to the folk carols and shape‐note hymns at a toe‐tapping Christmas gathering in Virginia.
Saturday December 19th – 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM– The Nutcracker w/ Kevin Kline & other holiday favorites
Told by Kevin Kline, the famous ballet by Tchaikovsky, performed by the New York City Ballet Orchestra, David Zinman conducting. The text is by Joel Meyerowitz. Followed by other holiday favorites from the FM89 music library. Hosted by Jason Scott.
Saturday December 19th – Jazz Night In America: A Holiday Celebration – 8:00 pm
Jazz Night in America brings you holiday classics featuring the Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra and special guests. Christian McBride hosts.
Sunday December 20th - 12:00 p.m. - 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 December 20 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Christmas Classical Showcase: Handel’s Messiah
Featuring a broadcast of Handel’s Messiah, followed by other Christmas favorites from the FM89 music library.
Sunday December 20 7:00 PM - A Chanticleer Christmas
Celebrate the season with song! Steve Staruch hosts this one-hour program of holiday favorites, new and old, presented live in concert by Chanticleer, the superb 12-man ensemble known as "an orchestra of voices."
Monday December 21st – 2:00 p.m. – Tinsel Tales: NPR Christmas Favorites
This program features 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 of the season. Hosted by Lynn Neary.
Monday December 21st – 8:00 p.m. – A Paul Winter Solstice
Celebrate the return of the sun - and the warming of the heart with Paul Winter's Winter Solstice Celebration. On the darkest night of the year, we head back to New York's Cathedral of St. John the Divine to hear a new performance of The Paul Winter Consort and the glorious Cathedral Pipe Organ. John Schaefer hosts. More details to come.
Monday December 21st – 9:00 p.m. - Winter Holidays Around the World with Bill McGlaughlin
Winter holidays are celebrated around the world, and their music is wonderful to hear, regardless of which tradition you observe. Bill’s spirited selection starts 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. We will enjoy this time of year in Paris with music from Debussy, and then travel to Polynesia for a traditional hymn, Anau Oia Ea.
Tuesday December 22nd – 2:00 p.m. – Tinsel Tales 2
NPR fills millions of homes each holiday with humor, warmth, and a host of festive voices. Continuing with the tradition of the first Tinsel Tales program, this is another collection of the best and most requested holiday stories. Joy, hope, and childhood memories overflow as NPR voices, past and present, tell stories of the season. Hosted by Lynn Neary.
Tuesday December 22nd – 8:00 p.m. - Joy To The World – A Holiday in Pink
The internationally acclaimed “little orchestra" Pink Martini bedecks the airwaves with festive holiday songs from across the globe. From timeless classics to rarely heard gems, hear a multi-denominational, multi-cultural jubilee, overflowing with enough holiday spirit to warm your entire family. Hosted by All Things Considered’s Ari Shapiro.
Tuesday December 22nd – 9:00 p.m. - The Film Score: Music for the Winter Holidays
An hour-long 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”), Michael shares an eclectic mix of wintry film scores, ranging from “It Happened in Sun Valley” (from “Sun Valley Serenade”) 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!
Wednesday December 23rd – 2:00 p.m. - Tinsel Tales 3
In keeping with a well-loved NPR holiday tradition, hear the third 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. Hosted by Lynn Neary.
Wednesday December 23rd – 8:00 p.m. - Jazz Piano Christmas 36
Join the Kennedy Center and NPR Music for this annual holiday tradition highlighting jazz pianists and their favorite seasonal music. The line-up will be announced soon. Felix Contreras hosts.
Wednesday December 23rd – 9:00 p.m. - An Afro Blue Christmas
Join us for a very special holiday concert with Howard University's premiere vocal ensemble Afro Blue and special guest pianist Cyrus Chestnut. Hear the a-cappela group perform a variety of holiday songs including African-American spirituals, jazz and pop tunes, and classical repertoire. The joyous celebration includes one of a kind arrangements on traditional holiday songs plus new compositions…music perfect for the holidays and the spirit of Christmas. Hosted by Michele Norris.
Thursday December 24th – 2:00 p.m.- Tinsel Tales 4
In keeping with a well-loved NPR holiday tradition, hear the fourth collection of extraordinary Christmas stories that will transport you to unexpected places. 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. Hosted by Lynn Neary.
Thursday December 24th – 7:00 p.m. - A Christmas Carol
An updated version of a public radio tradition hosted by NPR's Susan Stamberg. Master comedian Jonathan Winters presents a distinctive reading of Dickens' holiday classic, with a special performing edition prepared by Dickens for his own presentations. Also featuring Mimi Kennedy. From NPR and KCRW.
The London-based a cappella choir Stile Antico brings a program of Christmas music to Cambridge, Mass.
Credit Marco Borggreve
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Thursday December 24th – 8:00 p.m. - 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.
Thursday December 24th – 9:00 p.m. - Christmas with Morehouse and Spelman Glee Clubs
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 -- get together to present a spine-tingling concert program. This encore presentation features the best works of the last several years. It's a joyous celebration of the schools' tradition of singing excellence, with their trademark mixture of spirituals and carols. Korva Coleman hosts.
Friday December 25th – 1:00 p.m. Tinsel Tales 2 (rebroadcast)
NPR fills millions of homes each holiday with humor, warmth, and a host of festive voices. Continuing with the tradition of the first Tinsel Tales program, this is another collection of the best and most requested holiday stories. Joy, hope, and childhood memories overflow as NPR voices, past and present, tell stories of the season. Hosted by Lynn Neary.
Friday December 25th – 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. – The Nutcracker & Other holiday favorites (rebroadcast)
Told by Kevin Kline, the famous ballet by Tchaikovsky, performed by the New York City Ballet Orchestra, David Zinman conducting. The text is by Joel Meyerowitz. Followed by other holiday favorites from the FM89 music library. Hosted by Jason Scott.
Thursday December 31, 2020 – Toast of the Nation 8:00 p.m. – Midnight
A 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, even on lockdown.
Friday January 1, 2021 - New Year's Day From Vienna LIVE 8:00 a.m – 10:00 a.m.
The ever popular annual New Year’s Day Concert will be performed by the Wiener Philharmoniker under the baton of Maestro Riccardo Muti. You'll hear your favorite waltzes, polkas and more -- a great way to start off 2021. Hosted by WBUR's Lisa Mullins.