WQXR is pleased to present special programming throughout the 2012 holiday season. Here is a calendar of the Chanukah and Christmas specials that you will hear in December.
UPDATED: December 21
Dec. 1 - January 6, WQXR Holiday Channel Online at WQXR.ORG
WQXR is getting into the holiday spirit with an all-classical Christmas channel (listen). Now through Jan. 6, the WQXR Holiday Channel will stream continuous seasonal favorites. From beloved carols to festive winter favorites, our stream includes classic recordings from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Philadelphia Brass and Robert Shaw, as well as new releases from John Rutter, Jeffrey Biegel and more.
Dec. 17-21 - 8 pm: Christmastime in New York
Every night this week, WQXR presents a holiday music concert recorded live in New York City. Dec. 17: Kent Tritle leads the choir from St. John the Divine at the Met Museum. Dec. 18: Alla Francesca performs French Music of the 13th century. Dec. 19: The Jack Quartet and pianist Christopher Taylor offer new music for the holidays. Dec. 20: The New York Philharmonic performs Handel’s masterpiece. Dec. 21: The Vienna Boys Choir present an evening of carols and hymns.
Dec. 22 - Noon: Operavore Christmas
Enjoy an hour of Christmas and holiday pieces sung by opera stars like Marilyn Horne, Bryn Terfel, Joan Sutherland and more.
Dec. 22 - 8 pm: A Christmas Carol
Produced and directed by WQXR’s Elliott Forrest, the Charles Dickens masterpiece is brought to life by Brian Cox as Scrooge and an all-star cast of NYPR hosts.
Dec. 22 - 9 pm: Movies on the Radio
David Garland celebrates the holiday with soundtracks from Christmas favorites like "It’s a Wonderful Life," "The Bishop’s Wife" and "Miracle on 34th Street."
Dec. 22 - 10 pm: Christmas with Morehouse and Spelman Glee Clubs
One of the great holiday traditions in America, the choirs of Morehouse and Spelman Colleges get together to present a spine-tingling concert program. It’s a joyous celebration of the school’s tradition of singing excellence, with their trademark mixture of spirituals and carols.
Dec. 23 - 10 am: Bach’s Christmas Oratorio
Enjoy a sublime start to your Sunday: the complete Christmas Oratorio by J.S. Bach.
Dec. 23 - 4 pm: An Early Music & Baroque Christmas
Holiday oldies! Host David Garland presents an hour of Christmas and wintertime music from medieval, Renaissance and Baroque eras.
Dec. 23 - 5 pm: Tallis Scholars: Love is Better Than Wine
For their 25th anniversary tour of the US, the globally-revered vocal ensemble, directed by Peter Phillips, presents a truly sublime holiday program in concert at St. Paul’s Church in Harvard Square. Presented by the Boston Early Music Festival and hosted by Cathy Fuller.
Dec. 24 - 10 am: A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
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 - 3 pm: St. Olaf Christmas Festival
A service in song and word that has become one of the nation’s most cherished holiday traditions. The festival includes hymns, carols, choral works and orchestral selections celebrating the Nativity and featuring more than 500 student singers and the St. Olaf Orchestra.
Dec. 24 - 5 pm: Trinity Church Choir, The Messiah
Music director Julian Wachner conducts Handel’s classic oratorio, which received its New World premiere at Trinity Church in 1770. Our annual broadcast is hosted by David Garland with guest commentator Kent Tritle.
Dec. 24 - 8 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. 24 - 9 pm: A Christmas Carol
Produced and directed by WQXR’s Elliott Forrest, the Charles Dickens masterpiece is brought to life by Brian Cox as Scrooge and an all-star cast of NYPR hosts.
Dec. 25 - 5:30 am: Calmus Christmas
Jeff Spurgeon hosts the Calmus Ensemble of Leipzig for Christmas carols and seasonal favorites.
Dec. 25 - 6 am (encore at 5 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. 25 - 7 am: A Chanticleer Christmas
A Chanticleer Christmas is American Public Media's one-hour celebration of the season as told through the glorious voices of Chanticleer, the 12-voice San Francisco-based men's choir. The program spans the globe and the centuries — from England in the 1300s to new arrangements of classic contemporary carols. And no Chanticleer program would be complete without Joseph Jenning's patented Christmas spirituals arrangements.
Dec. 25 - 8 am: Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker
Pirouette into Christmas morning with the Tchaikovsky classic.
Dec. 25 - 10 am: Christmastime in New York
Alla Francesca performs music from the French Baroque. Recorded live in New York City.
Dec. 25 - 11 am: Christmastime in New York
Kent Tritle leads the choir from St. John the Divine at the Met Museum. Recorded live in New York City.
Dec. 25 - noon: Christmastime in New York
the Vienna Boys Choir present an evening of carols and hymns. Recorded live in New York City.
Dec. 25 - 1 pm: Trinity Church Choir, The Messiah
Music director Julian Wachner conducts Handel’s classic oratorio, which received its New World premiere at Trinity Church in 1770. Our annual broadcast is hosted by David Garland with guest commentator Kent Tritle.
Dec. 25 - 4: Operavore Christmas
Enjoy an hour of Christmas and holiday pieces sung by opera stars like Marilyn Horne, Bryn Terfel, Joan Sutherland and more.
Dec. 25 - 6 pm: A Christmas Carol
Produced and directed by WQXR’s Elliott Forrest, the Charles Dickens masterpiece is brought to life by Brian Cox as Scrooge and an all-star cast of NYPR hosts.
Dec. 25 - 4 pm: An Early Music & Baroque Christmas
Holiday oldies! Host David Garland presents an hour of Christmas and wintertime music from medieval, Renaissance and Baroque eras.
Dec. 25 - 9 pm: Movies on the Radio
David Garland celebrates the holiday with soundtracks from Christmas favorites like "It’s a Wonderful Life," "The Bishop’s Wife" and "Miracle on 34th Street."
Dec. 25 - 9 pm: The Choral Mix with Kent Tritle: Xmas Mix!
Hosted by the conductor the New York Times called “the brightest star in New York’s choral music world,” The Choral Mix with Kent Tritle explores the vibrant and transformative world of choral music. This week: music for Christmas!
Dec. 28-31: Classical Countdown
Every year WQXR asks its listeners, “What is your favorite piece of classical music?” Based on your responses at WQXR.org, we close out 2012 by counting down the 105 most-requested pieces. Four days of competitive classical countdown action!
Jan. 1 - 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.