Shorter days and colder nights offer a good reason to cozy up with Classical 94.5 WNED. With new specials and returning favorites Classical 94.5 WNED has a great selection of holiday-themed programming that is sure to bring cheer this season.
Sunday, December 3, 4pm - 5pmADVENT VOICES
The Holidays can be hectic. Here’s an opportunity to pause and reflect, as host Lynne Warfel presents an hour of gorgeous, contemplative music related to the Advent season, the Christmas story, and its symbolism.
Tuesday, December 5, 1pm - 2pmWELCOME CHRISTMAS
A perennial Christmas favorite from VocalEssence, one of the world's premier choral groups. Join host John Birge for an hour of traditional carols and new discoveries.
Thursday, December 7, 9pm – 10pm
AN EARLY AMERICAN CHRISTMAS
The Rose Ensemble’s celestial voices team up with a Baroque band to present this unique seasonal program of glorious 17th-century music from colonial North America, homely celebrations beside a wilderness.
Friday, December 8, 1pm – 2pm
A BAROQUE CHRISTMAS IN THE NEW WORLD
In celebration of the Holiday season, A Baroque Christmas brings us music from 17th- and 18th-century Mexico, Peru and Bolivia, including a cantata and three free-standing works by Sumaya — most of which comes from the only surviving manuscript in full-score in Sumaya's own hand.
Saturday, December 9, 10am
BROTHER HEINRICH’S CHRISTMAS
John Rutter’s delightful musical fable about the trials of writing a special Christmas Carol.
Sunday, December 10, 1pm – 3pm
MAKING A LIST 2017
Tired yet of all the seasonal music… well … just spent a few hours with Peter, the Bobs, Anna, -- and the rest of staff of Classical 94.5--, as they pick (among other pursuits) the best CDs of the past year. It’s time again for Making A List. This year again sponsored by Phillips Lytle LLP honoring Bob Greene for over 40 years of service to WNED and a lifetime of loving classical music.
WATCHING FOR THE STAR: 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.
Monday, December 11, 1pm – 2pmIN ITALIA: A RENAISSANCE CHRISTMAS FROM VENICE, NAPLES, MILAN AND BEYOND
In the sixteenth-century, the splendor of the Renaissance blossomed across Italy as a new Holy Roman Empire stretched its wings from the Urals to the Atlantic. This special holiday edition of Harmonia brings you wonderful sixteenth-century Christmas music from the Venetian world of Giovanni Bassano and Gioseffo Zarlino, moving westward to the Milan of Franchinus Gaffurius, and southerly to the Naples of Diego Ortiz.
Tuesday, December 12, 10am – 11amCANDLES BURNING BRIGHTLY
More than two thousand years ago, in the days of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, the religious life of the Jews was brought almost to a halt by the ancient Greeks. But rather than give in to the pressure to assimilate, a band of Jews who practiced their faith in secret returned to their holy city and rededicated the Temple. Their courageous act and its aftermath form the focus of Chanukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights. Mindy Ratner and Bill Morelock offer a program which explores the customs and music of the holiday.
Wednesday, December 13, 1pm
BROTHER HEINRICH’S CHRISTMAS
John Rutter’s delightful musical fable about the trials of writing a special Christmas Carol.
Wednesday, December 13, 8pm – 9:30pmTHE NUTCRACKER
The Holiday season doesn’t really start until the miniature overture Tchaikovsky wrote to begin his most beloved ballet announces that it’s Christmas Eve. And while the Suite is beguiling, the full ballet never fails to move the most jaded listener. So once again enjoy that miraculous, snowbound Christmas journey conjured by Tchaikovsky’s music. Leonard Slatkin leads the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.
Thursday, December 14, 10am – noon
MAKING A LIST 2017
Repeated from December 10.
Thursday, December 14, 9pm – 10pm
LIGHT & GOLD
An hour exploring the choral music of Eric Whitacre.
Friday, December 15, 1pm – 2pm
A CHANTICLEER CHRISTMAS
Recorded live earlier this month at Chanticleer’s annual, sold out Holiday concert, you can hear why this superb 12-man ensemble is known as "an orchestra of voices," as they perform holiday classics and new favorites, with choral commentary by host Brian Newhouse.
Friday, December 15, 7pm – 10pm
MESSIAH
Handel’s supreme oratorio in a historically informed performance by Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir led by Ivars Taurins. Don’t miss the chance to hear Messiah live performed by Tafelmusik this week, Wed- Sat evenings climaxed by the 30th annual “Messiah Sing Along” on Sunday Dec 17th.
Sunday, December 17, 3pm – 5pmSt. 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. SymphonyCast host Alison Young shares the sights and sounds of this choral favorite.
Monday, December 18, 8pm – 10pm
WATCHING FOR THE STAR: A POLISH CHRISTMAS EVE
Repeated from December 10.
Monday, December 18, 10pm – midnight
CONCIERTO: A SPANISH SPEAKING HOLIDAY
Tuesday, December 19, 1pm – 2pm
AN EARLY AMERICAN CHRISTMAS
Repeated from December 2.
Tuesday, December 19, 9pm – 10pm
IN ITALIA: A RENAISSANCE CHRISTMAS FROM VENICE, NAPLES, MILAN AND BEYOND
Repeated from December 11.
Wednesday, December 20, 1pm – 2pmA 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. Familiar tunes include “I Have a Little Dreidel” (both in its original Yiddish form and in a neo-funk Hebrew/English setting), a swing version of “S’vivon” by Steve Barnett, and a lively setting of the traditional melody for “Al-Hanissim” (“For the Miracles”) by Elliot Levine. Heartfelt original compositions by American and British composers provide added depth of expression to celebrating the holiday. Such works include “Lo Yisa Goy,” a plea for peace by Stacy Garrop; Bob Applebaum’s stirring new version of “Haneirot Halalu”; and movements from the majestic “Hallel Suite” by London-based Daniel Tunkel. All selections are performed by Chicago a cappella, the virtuoso vocal ensemble now in its 23rd season.
Wednesday, December 20, 9pm – 10pm
A CHANTICLEER CHRISTMAS
Repeated from December 15.
Thursday, December 21, 3pm
BROTHER HEINRICH’S CHRISTMAS a Christmas fable by John Rutter.
Repeated from December 13.
Thursday, December 21, 10pm – midnightNEW YORK PHILHARMONIC HOLIDAY CONCERT.
Friday, December 22, 10am – 12 pmTHE NUTCRACKER
In case you missed it the first time around here is the whole ballet again. Let it work its magic transformations not just to the Christmas tree in the parlor, but in your heart as well.
WATCHING FOR THE STAR: A POLISH CHRISTMAS EVE
Repeated from December 10.
Friday, December 22, 2pm – 4pmSt. OLAF CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL
Repeated from December 17.
Friday, December 22, 4pm – 6pm
MAKING A LIST 2017
Repeated from December 10.
Friday, December 22, 6pm – 8pm
A KRUMMY CHRISTMAS
Bob Krum brings you a musical greeting card for the Holidays! There will be Christmas carols from different countries, along with wonderful performances of many of the old favorites! There’s sure to be surprises, fun and good cheer as Bob celebrates Christmas in his favorite way—with music!
Friday, December 22, 8pm – 10pm
THE CHRISTMAS REVELS: IN CELEBRATION OF THE WINTER SOLSTICE 2016
This year’s The Christmas Revels is an all-new compilation of musical excerpts, a few short poems and some prose readings, selected from the live Christmas/Winter Solstice Revels stage productions that took place in December, 2015, in nine cities across the United States.
Friday, December 22, 10pm – 11pm
A BUFFALO PHILHARMONIC HOLIDAY
Host Peter Hall’s special Holiday edition of Buffalo Philharmonic Live.
Saturday, December 23, 8am - 1pm
A HOLIDAY SATURDAY ROUNDS
Festive Holiday Music for the last shopping Day before Christmas and trimming the tree…
Saturday, December 23, 1pm – 4:30pm
SOME HOLIDAY MOZART LIVE From the Metropolitan Opera House Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro
Saturday, December 23, 5pm - 6pm
NICK’S FLIXS HOLIDAY EDITION
Silver Bells from the silver screen and tinsel from Tinsel Town.
Saturday, December 23, 6pm - 7pmFOOT LIGHT PARADE HANGS THE HOLLY
“White Christmas”, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and other standard Holiday fare drawn from the musicals of stage and screen.
Saturday, December 23, 8pm - 9pm
A BAROQUE CHRISTMAS IN THE NEW WORLD
Repeated from December 8.
Saturday, December 23, 9pm - 10pm
A CHANTICLEER CHRISTMAS
Repeated from December 15.
Saturday, December 23, 10pm - 11pm
IN ITALIA: A RENAISSANCE CHRISTMAS FROM VENICE, NAPLES, MILAN AND BEYOND
Repeated from December 11.
Sunday, December 24, 10am – NoonA FESTIVAL OF NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS
LIVE Hosted by Michael Barone, this is a live music and spoken-word broadcast from the chapel of King's College in Cambridge, England. The 30-voice King's College Choir performs the legendary Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols service of Biblical readings and music.
Sunday, December 24, Noon – 2pm
A SUNDAY BAROQUE CHRISTMAS
A special edition of Sunday Baroque with Susanne Bona.
Sunday, December 24, 2pm – 3pm
A CHANTICLEER CHRISTMAS
Repeated from December 15.
WATCHING FOR THE STAR: A POLISH CHRISTMAS EVE
Repeated from December 10.
Sunday, December 24, 5pm – 6pm
A BUFFALO PHILHARMONIC HOLIDAY
Host Peter Hall’s special Holiday edition of Buffalo Philharmonic Live.
Sunday, December 24, 7pm – 9pmPITTSBURGH SYMPHONY MESSIAH
A Holiday tradition from Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh with host Jim Cunningham. Performed by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra; Manfred Honeck conducts with Christina Landshamer, sop; Robin Blaze, ctr-ten; Paul Appleby, ten; Paul Armin Edelmann, bar, and the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh.
Sunday, December 24, 9pm – 11pm
PIPEDREAMS: CHRISTMAS WITH THE KING of INSTRUMENTS with host Michael Barone.
Monday, December 25, 9am – 11am
A KRUMMY CHRISTMAS
Repeated from December 23.
Monday, December 25, 11am – 1pm
A FESTIVAL OF NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS
Repeated from December 24.
Monday, December 25, 1pm – Midnight
C[HRISTMAS] 24
The one night of the year when the C in C 24 doesn’t stand for “Classical” but “Christmas”.
Wednesday, December 27, 8pm - 10pm
MAKING A LIST 2017
Repeated from December 10.
Saturday, December 30, 5pm – 6pmHOLLYWOOD HOLIDAY
Hooray for "Hollywood Holiday"! Join Saturday Cinema host Lynne Warfel for this one-hour musical retrospective of some of Hollywood's most cherished Christmas-themed movies. Whether you’re running holiday errands or trimming the tree, you’re very likely to sing and dance with these stars of the silver screen.
THE CLASSICALLY FABULOUS 40th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT with violinists, Augustin Hadelich and Tim Fain.
Monday, January 1, 2018, 11am – 1pm
NEW YEAR'S DAY FROM VIENNA 2018
Get ready to pop the New Year's Day champagne! The Vienna Philharmonic presents its annual salute to the waltz on New Year's Day 2018. The orchestra has invited conductor Riccardo Muti to welcome 2018 by conducting the annual New Year's concert. Hear the hit tunes of the Strauss family and others -- polkas, gallops and waltzes, live from the Musikverein, on New Year's Day from Vienna.
Saturday, January 6, 1pm – 3:30pm
HANSEL AND GRETEL
A Holiday treat from the Metropolitan Opera, Humperdinck’s opera has long been a favorite with Holiday audiences. This special Christmas Eve broadcast stars Christine Schaefer and Alice Coote; Vladimir Jurowski conducts.