Poster The Christmas tree (1911) painting by Albert Chevallier Tayler
The Christmas tree (1911) painting by Albert Chevallier Tayler
Public Domain, painting by Albert Chevallier Tayler
Performance Today®

Happy Holidays!

For Christmas Day, we're playing some of the best holiday music... you might even find yourself joining the chorus. Tune in for Christmas and holiday music from concerts around the world. Happy Holidays from all of us at Performance Today!

Episode Playlist

Hour 1

John Rutter: Nativity Carol
Choir of Clare College, Cambridge and Dmitri Ensemble | Graham Ross, conductor
Album: Lux De Caelo: Music For Christmas
Harmonia Mundi 907615

Randol Bass: Joy to the World Fanfare
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus | JoAnn Falletta, conductor
Kleinhans Music Hall, Buffalo, NY

Ralph Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on Greensleeves
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra | JoAnn Falletta, conductor
Kleinhans Music Hall, Buffalo, NY

Emil Waldteufel: The Skaters Waltz
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra | JoAnn Falletta, conductor
Album: Favorite Holiday Classics
SELF PROD 266

Traditional, arr. Randall Reese: I Saw Three Ships
Judy Mason, piano | Spivey Hall Tour Choir | Martha Shaw, conductor
Spivey Hall, Clayton State University, Morrow, GA

Traditional Finnish, arr. Michael Neaum: Gaudete
Judy Mason, piano | Spivey Hall Tour Choir | Martha Shaw, conductor
Spivey Hall, Clayton State University, Morrow, GA

John Rutter: Angel's Carol
Judy Mason, piano | Spivey Hall Children's Choir | Martha Shaw, conductor
Spivey Hall, Clayton State University, Morrow, GA

Benjamin Britten: A Ceremony of Carols, Op. 28: Movements 1-3
Judy Mason, piano | Spivey Hall Children's Choir | Martha Shaw, conductor
Spivey Hall, Clayton State University, Morrow, GA

Arcangelo Corelli: Concerto Grosso, Op. 6 No. 8, "Christmas Concerto"
Geoff Nuttall and Karen Gomyo, violins | Nina Lee, cello | Owen Dalby, violin | Daniel Phillips and Meena Bhasin, violas | Christopher Costanza, cello | Doug Balliett, double bass | Paul Holmes Morton, theorbo | Pedja Muzijevic, organ
Spoleto Festival USA Chamber Music Series, Dock Street Theater, Charleston SC

Hour 2

Ben Rowarth: There is no rose
ORA Singers | Suzi Digby, conductor
Album: The Mystery of Christmas
Harmonia Mundi 905305

Jessica French: Earth Strike Up Your Music
St. Olaf Orchestra | St. Olaf Massed Choir | James E. Bobb, conductor
St. Olaf Christmas Festival, Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis, MN

Traditional, arr. Catherine McMichael: A Renaissance Noel (selections)
The National Flute Choir | Amy Rice Blumenthal, conductor
Album: Here We Come a'FLUTING
ALRY 27

Armas Maasalo, arr. Antoine Bareil: Joulun Kellot (The Bells of Christmas)
La Pieta | Angele Dubeau, conductor
Album: Noel
Analekta 8730

Ledward Kaapana: C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S
Ledward Kaapana, guitar
Album: Ki ho'alu Christmas: Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar
Dancing Cat 08022

Traditional French: Angels from the Realms of Glory
Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra | Craig Jessop, conductor
Album: Rejoice and Be Merry!
Mormon Tabernacle 5007325

Traditional German: Leise rieselt der Schnee
Calmus Ensemble Leipzig
Album: White Christmas
Carus 83511

Franz Schubert: Mille Cherubini In Coro
Johann Strauss Orchestra | Andre Rieu, conductor
Album: Silver Bells
Universal Music GmbH

Jill Jackson Miller and Sy Miller: Let There Be Peace On Earth
The Boys Choir of Harlem
Album: We Shall Overcome
The Boys Choir of Harlem 822139000221

Hugh Martin, arr. Harriet Adie: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
4 Girls 4 Harps
Album: 4 Girls 4 Harps At Christmas
Discovery 107

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Performance Today® features live concert recordings that can’t be heard anywhere else, highlights from new album releases, and in-studio performances and interviews. Performance Today® is based at the APM studios in St. Paul, Minnesota, but is frequently on the road, with special programs broadcast from festivals and public radio stations around the country. Also, each Wednesday, composer Bruce Adolphe joins host Fred Child for a classical musical game and listener favorite: the Piano Puzzler.

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