Holiday Specials

Listen to Valley Public Radio this holiday season for a special collection of holiday programs that are sure to bring the spirit of the season into your home. 

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12/9

2 pm – HANUKKAH LIGHTS

Hanukkah Lights features Hanukkah stories and memoirs written by acclaimed authors expressly for the show, as read my NPR’s Susan Stamberg and Murray Horwitz.

12/17

10 am -LEROY ANDERSON CHRISTMAS

2 pm – AN ELIZABETHAN CHRISTMAS WITH THE ROSE ENSEMBLE

The Rose Ensemble sings touching carols, soaring anthems, including a performance of Parson’s Ave Maria in collaboration with London’s a cappella group Voces 8.

12/18

10 am – TINSEL TALES

This program features stories from the NPR archives that touch on the meaning of Christmas.  David Sedaris, Bailey White, John Henry Faulk and other NPR voices, past and present, tell stories of the season, hosted by Lynn Neary.

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2 pm – CHRISTMAS WITH MOREHOUSE AND SPELMAN GLEE CLUBS

One of the great holiday traditions in America, these choirs get together to present a spine-tingling concert program, a mixture of spirituals and carols. Korva Coleman hosts.

12/19

10 am – A CHORAL CHRISTMAS WITH STILE ANTICO

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. Hear the groups luminous blend of voices sing the intricately woven music of Thomas Tallis and William Byrd.

2 pm - MUSIC OF THE BAROQUE BRASS AND CHORAL HOLIDAY CONCERT  

12/20

10 am – AN ELIZABETHAN CHRISTMAS WITH THE ROSE ENSEMBLE

The Rose Ensemble sings touching carols, soaring anthems, including a performance Parson’s Ave Maria in collaboration with London’s a cappella group Voces 8.   

2 pm – JONATHAN WINTERS’, A CHRISTMAS CAROL

12/21

10 am – CHRISTMAS WITH MOREHOUSE AND SPELMAN GLEE CLUBS

One of the great holiday traditions in America, these choirs get together to present a spine-tingling concert program, a mixture of spirituals and carols. Korva Coleman hosts.

2 pm – CHRISTMAS WITH SOLI DEO GLORIA

Travel around the world with Fresno’s award winning women’s ensemble “Soli Deo Gloria” singing music for the season in seven languages---English too!

8 pm – A JAZZ PIANO CHRISTMAS

NPR Music is onstage again at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for another live incarnation of this popular program. 

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9 pm - A PAUL WINTER SOLSTICE CONCERT (2 hours)

From the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, Paul Winter is back again with a unique exploration of the solstice traditions of the longest night of the year.

12/22

1 pm - LEROY ANDERSON CHRISTMAS

2 pm - THE NUTCRACKER

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.

12/23

12 noon - A CHORAL CHRISTMAS WITH STILE ANTICO

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. Hear the groups’ luminous blend of voices sing the intricately woven music of Thomas Tallis and William Byrd.

1 pm - MUSIC OF THE BAROQUE BRASS AND CHORAL HOLIDAY CONCERT

12/24

10 am - CHRISTMAS WITH SOLI DEO GLORIA

Travel around the world with Fresno’s award winning women’s ensemble “Soli Deo Gloria” singing music for the season in seven languages---English too!

2 pm - CHANTICLEER, “SING WE CHRISTMAS”

The San Francisco based all-male chorus, “Chanticleer” sings some of the most beautiful music for Christmas.

12/25

10 am – IN THE MODE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

A High Mass for Christmas Day as it may have been celebrated in the Sherborne Abbey circa 1520. Music by Robert Fairfax, reconstructed by David Skinner and performed by the Magdala Choir.

1 pm - 

HANDEL’S MESSIAH

The Cambridge Singers and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; John Rutter, conductor; Joanne Lunn, soprano; Melanie Marshall, mezzo-soprano; James Gilchrist, tenor; Christopher Purves, baritone. 

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12/31

7 pm – TOAST OF THE NATION

Count down to 2013 this New Year’s Eve with celebrations of midnight in different time zones. Party with live music from coast to coast and celebrate with Valley Public Radio.  Happy New Year! Wynton Marsalis headlines this year's event.

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1/1/13

8 am – NEW YEAR’S DAY FROM VIENNA 2013

The Vienna Philharmonic presents its ever popular annual New Year's Day concert from the Golden Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna. You'll hear your favorite waltzes, polkas and more -- a festive way to start off the New Year.