Shorter days and colder nights offer a good reason to cozy up with WNED Classical, Buffalo Toronto Public Media's Classical music station. With new specials and returning favorites WNED Classical has a great selection of holiday-themed programming that is sure to bring cheer this season.
Making a List Week | December 16 - 20
Tired yet of all the seasonal music… well … just spend some time with the staff of WNED Classical, as they pick (among other pursuits) the best CDs of the past year. It’s time again for Making A List. New this year—Making a List will be spread out over an entire week. Tune into Classical WNED December 16-20 when the selections from the program hosts will be revealed.
Wed., December 4 at 6pm
Canadian Brass: Christmas Time is Here
Hosted by WQXR’s Jeff Spurgeon, this program features arrangements of music by Vince Guaraldi and Luther Henderson as well as traditional favorites from "A Charlie Brown Christmas," "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Frosty the Snowman" and more – timeless classics infused with jazz and lush harmonies.
The selections on this program are featured on the quintet's latest album, "Christmas Time is Here."
Friday, December 6 at 6pm
Handel & Haydn Society Christmas
Celebrate the season with this hour-long special featuring Christmas choral music from America’s oldest continuously performing ensemble, Boston’s Handel & Haydn Society. Founded in 1815, the Society is celebrating their bicentennial season, including their 400th performance of Handel’s “Messiah.” Join Host Cale Wiggins for this program featuring music from the 15th century to the late 20th ; a Christmas for all times.
Saturday, December 7 at 6pm
Music of the Baroque: Brass & Choral Holiday Concert
The WFMT Radio Network and Music of the Baroque wants to wish you and yours a joyous holiday season as we offer the Brass and Choral Holiday Concert for your listening pleasure. Hosted by celebrated WFMT host Candice Agree, tune in to the great works of composers like Samuel Scheidt, Giovanni Gabrieli, William Billings, Claudio Monteverdi, and many more.
Sunday, December 8 at 1pm
A Polish Christmas Eve
Father Czeslaw Krysa, Rector of the St. Casimir Roman Catholic Church and Sophie Hodorowicz Knab, author of the book, Polish Customs, Traditions & Folklore, are back to tell us about the music, events and celebrations in the Polish Community that surround the Holiday Season with a special emphasis on the most important of all Polish family traditions, Wigilia or Christmas Eve.
Tuesday, December 10 at 6pm
Welcome Christmas
Welcome Christmas! is a perennial Christmas favorite from VocalEssence, one of the world’s premiere choral groups. John Birge hosts an hour of traditional carols and new discoveries, including the world premiere of two carols from the annual Christmas Carol Contest. For 2019, hear the world premiere of Nico Muhly's "The Faire Starre," a nativity cantata that draws on 17th century metaphysical poets and is set in the unique, eclectic style that has earned Nico Muhly raves from the Metropolitan Opera.
Wednesday, December 11 at 6pm
Winter Holidays Around the World with Bill McGlaughlin,host of Exploring Music
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. And then ending with an excerpt from Gian Carlo Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors from the original television production. Turn on your radio, pour a cup of tea, cozy up to a warm fire, and enjoy the music!
Thursday, December 12 at 6pm
Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir & Orchestra
The world-renowned Tabernacle Choir continues its tradition of great artistry this holiday season, with touching arrangements of familiar carols, and lesser-known melodies that are fast becoming the new classics. Julie Amacher hosts this annual favorite. Audiences will enjoy a warm, nostalgic holiday celebration featuring a choir of 360 voices, a 150-piece orchestra at Temple Square, the 32-member Bells on Temple Square, along with other artists and special guests. A 600-person cast will share a stunningly beautiful mix of carols in various unique arrangements.
Fri., December 13 at 6pm
Handel’s Messiah
We’ll present Handel’s Messiah featuring the Boston Baroque Orchestra and Choir. Unlike most contemporary performances of this work with large orchestras and chorus, this performance is a chamber performance, with a small orchestra and chorus, reflecting Handel’s performance vision for this work.
Sat., December 14 at 6pm
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!
Sunday, December 15 at 1pm
An Elizabethan Christmas with the Rose Ensemble
The Rose Ensemble brings the time of the Tudors to life. Splendor, tension and intrigue, all reflected in the dark and light of tender carols, and soaring anthems. A fresh holiday program that captures the essence of the reign Elizabeth I.
Monday, December 16 at 6pm
St. Olaf Christmas Festival
This service in song and word has become one of the nation's most cherished holiday celebrations. The festival includes hymns, carols, choral works, as well as orchestral selections celebrating the Nativity and featuring more than 500 student musicians in five choirs, and the St. Olaf Orchestra.
Wed., December 18 at 6pm
A Chanticleer Christmas
Celebrate the season with song! Brian Newhouse hosts this one-hour program of a cappella holiday favorites, new and old, presented live in concert by Chanticleer, the superb 12-man choral ensemble known as "an orchestra of voices."
Thurs., December 19 at 6pm
All Is Bright: Contemplative Music For Christmas
Lynne Warfel hosts an hour of gorgeous, contemplative choral music that tells the traditional Christmas story with songs about angels, the star and the manger scene.
Fri., December 20 at 6pm
A Polish Christmas Eve
Father Czeslaw Krysa, Rector of the St. Casimir Roman Catholic Church and Sophie Hodorowicz Knab, author of the book, Polish Customs, Traditions & Folklore, are back to tell us about the music, events and celebrations in the Polish Community that surround the Holiday Season with a special emphasis on the most important of all Polish family traditions, Wigilia or Christmas Eve.
Sat., December 21 at 5pm
Handel's Messiah | The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus
This performance was recorded at Our Lady of Victory Basilica in Lackawanna on December 1st of this year. Join us as we present Handel’s Messiah in all its glory with our Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus under the direction of Adam Luebke. This year’s performance features soloists Sarah Luebke, soprano; Lynne Mc Murtry, alto; James Judd, tenor; and Jaman E. Dunn, bass.
Sunday, December 22 at 7pm
Concierto Christmas Special
Frank Dominguez hosts a special holiday edition of the national bi-lingual program that features music by Spanish and Latin American composers and performers presented in English and in Spanish. The program features a broad range of sacred and seasonal selections, spanning from Renaissance Spain to the 20th century in South America and the U.S. Southwest.
Monday, December 23 at 6pm
Bob Berkman’s Chanukah Special
WNED Alumnus Bob Berkman offers reflections, stories, and the music of Chanukah.
Tuesday, December 24 at 10am
The Festival of 9 Lessons and Carols
An annual and beloved Christmas tradition, “A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols” is an extraordinary and memorable live service of word and music from the Chapel of King’s College, Cambridge, England.
Tuesday, December 24 at 6pm
St. Olaf Christmas Festival
This service in song and word has become one of the nation's most cherished holiday celebrations. The festival includes hymns, carols, choral works, as well as orchestral selections celebrating the Nativity and featuring more than 500 student musicians in five choirs, and the St. Olaf Orchestra.
Wednesday, December 25 at 12am
Handel’s Messiah
We’ll present Handel’s Messiah featuring the Boston Baroque Orchestra and Choir. Unlike most contemporary performances of this work with large orchestras and chorus, this performance is a chamber performance, with a small orchestra and chorus, reflecting Handel’s performance vision for this work.
Wednesday, December 25 at 10am
The Festival of 9 Lessons and Carols
An annual and beloved Christmas tradition, “A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols” is an extraordinary and memorable live service of word and music from the Chapel of King’s College, Cambridge, England.
Thursday, December 26 at 6pm
Candles Burning Brightly
Mindy Ratner hosts this 2017 encore celebration of Chanukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights. “Candles Burning Brightly” explores the meaning and traditions of Chanukah, including holiday foods and Sephardic and Ashkenazi music.
Saturday, December 28 at 6pm
A Chanukah special with Chicago A Capella
A Cjan Join Jonathan Miller, artistic director of Chicago a capella and a longtime champion of Jewish Choral music, for an inspiring and informative show featuring choral music set to Chanukah texts.
Sunday, December 29 at 1pm
Bob Berkman’s Chanukah Special
WNED Alumnus Bob Berkman offers reflections, stories, and the music of Chanukah.