All season long, WQXR presents special programming to make the holidays merry and bright.
🎄 WQXR Holiday Channel | Dec. 1 - Jan. 6
Say goodbye to bad mall music and get into the holiday spirit with an all-classical holiday stream of continuous seasonal favorites.
🎄 New Standards Holiday Channel | Dec. 1 - Jan. 6
New Standards brings holiday cheer with an all-Christmas channel that streams continuous swinging holiday classics, performed by Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Wynton Marsalis and many more!
🎄 WQXR Classical Countdown | Dec. 27-31
Every year WQXR asks listeners, "What is your favorite piece of classical music?" Based on your responses, we'll close out 2021 by counting down the most-requested pieces.
WQXR's 2021 Holiday Programming Guide
Mark your calendars for what's playing on air.
Dec. 20 at 8 pm: Handel's MessiahPerformed Live by The Oratorio Society of New York
WQXR takes you to Carnegie Hall for Handel’s Messiah. The Oratorio Society of New York has been performing Handel’s masterpiece since 1874 and this live broadcast will feature the Christmas portion, plus favorite selections from Part II and III, conducted by Kent Tritle. Jeff Spurgeon and Paul Cavalconte host.
Dec. 21 at 9 pm: The New Yorker’s Christmas with Nimet Habachy
One of the great WQXR traditions: Nimet Habachy’s reflections on Christmas in New York.
Dec. 22 at 8 pm: A Spiritual Celebration with Terrance McKnight
Terrance McKnight explores the beauty and variety of traditional spirituals that celebrate the Christmas story.
Dec. 23 at 9 pm: An Old School Christmas (Encore)
Hear an hour of beautiful music for the Christmas season from the Baroque, Renaissance and Medieval eras, with host Jeff Spurgeon.
Dec. 24 at 10 am: A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols (Live)
Hosted by Michael Barone, this is a live broadcast from the chapel of King’s College in Cambridge, England where the 30-voice King’s College Choir performs the legendary Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols service of Biblical readings and music.
Dec. 24 at 12 pm: Nutcracker at Noon
You often hear music from the Nutcracker, but when was the last time you heard the entire thing? Gustavo Dudamel conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a sparkling performance of Tchaikovsky’s complete Nutcracker ballet.
Dec. 24 at 2:30 pm: Bach’s Christmas Oratorio
Hear the cantatas Bach wrote for the first three days of Christmas in Leipzig, 1734. Ton Koopman conducts the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and Choir.
Dec. 24 at 4:00 pm: A Very Classical Christmas Eve
A joyful afternoon and evening of classical Christmas music!
Dec. 25 from 8:00 am – 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm: A Very Classical Christmas
If you’ve enjoyed our Holiday Channel this month, you’ll love spending Christmas with us!! Listen to the perfect Classical Christmas music mix throughout the day.
Dec. 25 at 8:00 pm The New York Philharmonic This Week: Winter Jukebox
The New York Philharmonic performs classical Christmas music and wintertime favorites including Mozart’s “Sleigh Ride,” selections from Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker,” the “Children’s Prayer” from Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, and more.
WQXR Classical Countdown | Dec. 27-31
Every year WQXR asks listeners, "What is your favorite piece of classical music?" Based on your responses, we'll close out 2021 by counting down the most-requested pieces.
Jan. 1 at 11 am: New Year's Day Live from Vienna
Waltz (and polka) into the New Year with the Vienna Philharmonic and a live broadcast from the Golden Hall of the Musikverein.