Enjoy seasonal favorites and a variety of Christmas and Hanukkah programs. Here is a day-by-day guide to all of our special holiday programming for the 2021 season, from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve.
Seasonal specials are presented on YourClassical MPR's stations and stream.
Broadcasts
Listen to these programs on Classical MPR stations and online at the following times. Linked titles go to more information and on-demand audio (when available) to listen to the program at any time.
This listing will be updated regularly throughout the season with links and audio as they become available, so check back often.
All times are central.
Nov. 24, 7 p.m. & Nov. 25, 10 a.m. — Giving Thanks: A contemporary celebration of spirit of Gratitude.
Nov. 25, noon — Every Good Thing: Giving thanks and celebrating the gift of music.
Nov. 28, 7 p.m. — Candles Burning Brightly: A one-hour celebration of Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, which runs Nov. 28-Dec. 6.
Nov. 29, 7 p.m. — All Is Bright: An hourlong program of contemplative choral and solo vocal music of the season.
Dec. 5, 3 p.m. — St. Olaf Christmas Festival: One of the nation's most treasured holiday celebrations, from the college in Northfield, Minn.
Dec. 6, 7 p.m. — Welcome Christmas: A new joyful, classic holiday special featuring VocalEssence.
Dec. 8, 7 p.m. — A Soulful Christmas: An uplifting holiday special that features Black music and composers.
Dec. 10, 6 p.m. — Echoes of Christmas – A Dale Warland Special: A holiday program featuring the legendary choir leader, with host Steve Staruch.
Dec. 13, 7 p.m. — Christmas at Luther: Sounds of the season, “Awake! And Greet the New Morn,” from the college in Decorah, Iowa.
Dec. 14, 7 p.m. — Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square: A celebration featuring a 360-voice choir, a 150-piece orchestra and a 32-member bell choir.
Dec. 17, noon — Hollywood Holiday: A musical retrospective of our most-cherished Christmas-themed movies.
Dec. 19, noon — A Soulful Christmas: An uplifting holiday special that features Black music and composers. Encore
Dec. 20, 7 p.m. — A Chanticleer Christmas: Holiday favorites presented live by the superb 12-man ensemble known as "an orchestra of voices."
Dec. 22, 7 p.m. — Christmas With Cantus: A holiday program from the Minnesota-based men's vocal ensemble.
Dec. 23, 7 p.m. — St. Olaf Christmas Festival: One of the nation's most treasured holiday celebrations, from the college in Northfield, Minn. Encore
Dec. 24, 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. (encore) — A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols: A service of biblical readings, carols and seasonal classical music, from King's College, Cambridge, England (live).
Dec. 25, 3 p.m. - The Nutcracker: Listen to conductor Simon Rattle's acclaimed recording of Peter Tchaikovsky's beloved ballet with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, presented by host Mindy Ratner.
Dec. 26, 3 p.m., and Dec. 30, 7 p.m. — We Stand on Top of the Mountain: A Kwanzaa Celebration: This Kwanzaa, which runs Dec. 26-Jan. 1, we celebrate African-American culture with composers that have imbued the essence of the Seven Principles in their timeless and joyous music. Jeffrey Yelverton hosts.
Dec. 31, 10:30 a.m. — New Year's Eve with the Berlin Philharmonic: Conductor Kirill Petrenko and the world-class orchestra say goodbye to 2021 with music by Erich Korngold, Richard Strauss, Maurice Ravel and Max Bruch, featuring violinist Janine Jansen.
Jan. 1, 3 p.m. — Vienna New Year’s Day Special: Usher in the New Year with Conductor Daniel Barenboim and his famous Vienna Philharmonic.
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