Christmas
The City Come Again 2024
December 21 at 8pm, December 22 at 1pm, December 24 at 4pm and December 25 at 4pm
Since 1982 William Jewell College has partnered with Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral to present "The City Come Again" as a gift in music and word to Kansas City. Dr. Ian Coleman, Chair of the Department of Performing Arts at William Jewell College, hosts this program of students and faculty presenting seasonal music, poetry, and more. This broadcast is from a live recording on December 9, 2024 and is made possible with support from Sarah Rowland and the Ever Glades Fund, Christy and Bill Gautreaux, and Susan, Andy, and David Pettyjohn in memory of their son and brother, John Mark.
From the Archives: Carols for Christmas 2024
December 21 at 11am and December 22 at 6pm
Host Frank Byrne presents a program of carols composed over two centuries. Music by Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Morton Gould, and Benjamin Britten will remind us of the long history and musical traditions of the holiday.
A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
December 24 at 9 am
An annual and beloved Christmas tradition, "A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols" is an extraordinary and memorable service of word and music from the Chapel of King’s College, Cambridge, England.
St. Olaf Christmas Festival
December 25 at 1 pm
The St. Olaf Christmas Festival is a chance for listeners across the country and around the world to participate in one of the nation’s most treasured holiday celebrations. Programming includes sacred choral and instrumental music from many traditions: beloved hymns, classical masterworks, folk songs from around the world, and African-American spirituals.
Hanukkah
Candles Burning Brightly
December 26 at 8pm
A delightful hour for everyone to celebrate the Jewish Festival of Lights! Lots of music from Jewish communities around the world, plus a hilarious lesson on how to prepare a classic Chanukah dish, and a timeless and touching holiday story that brings light into every home
Kwanzaa
December 28 at 8 pm: The Sounds of Kwanzaa
During the aftermath of the Watts Uprisings in the 1960s, Dr. Maulana Karenga decided to create a special December holiday designed for Black people to celebrate themselves, their culture, and their future liberation. Today, Kwanzaa is still celebrated by not only Afro-Americans, but Black people around the globe! In this broadcast, Garrett McQueen offers a background on the history of Kwanzaa and its guiding principles, alongside musical selections that highlight the spirit of the celebration. The show features the compositions of Florence Price, Duke Ellington, Sean O’Loughlin, and special performances by Imani Winds.
New Year's
From the Archives - New Year's Eve with Beethoven's 9th
December 28 at 11am and December 29 at 6pm
Did you know that in Japan it’s been tradition for decades to perform Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 to celebrate the New Year? Frank Byrne and Classical KC join that tradition as a hopeful prelude to a new and better year ahead.
January 1, 2024 at 10 am: New Year's Day from Vienna LIVE
The Vienna Philharmonic will perform their famous New Year's Day concert from the renowned Musikverein in Vienna on January 1, 2025. The concert will be conducted by Riccardo Muti, Music Director Emeritus of the Chicago Symphony, who has directed the Vienna Philharmonic more than 500 times since his debut in 1971. The 2025 New Year's Day program includes many favorites by Johann Strauss Junior, since 2025 marks the 200th anniversary of his birth, as well as two items appearing on the New Year's Day concert for the first time, including the Ferdinandus Waltz by Johann Strauss’ contemporary Constanze Geiger. As it has for decades now, the encores feature the most famous waltz ever, From the Blue Danube, as well as the Radetzky March by Johann Strauss Senior. Hosted by WBUR's Lisa Mullins.
