Special Holiday Programming on Classical 90.5. and NPR 89.1

Join Classical 90.5 and NPR 89.1 for a variety of festive holiday specials.

Holiday programming on Classical 90.5

Holiday programming on NPR 89.1

Classical 90.5

December 24
3pm
Arizona Repertory Singers Holiday Concert
(local production)
A presentation of holiday favorites including Ave Maria, Virgo Serena by Josquin des Prez, Festival of Lights by New York composer Karen Siegel, and Stars by Eriks Esenvalds. (Repeats December 25 at 10am)

4pm
A Concierto Christmas Special 2017
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. This new edition of 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. (Repeats December 25 at 11am)

6pm
Christmas with the Morman Tabernacle Choir
The world-renowned Mormon 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.

7pm
Hollywood Holiday
Saturday Cinema host Lynne Warfel presents an hour-long musical retrospective of some of Hollywood's most cherished Christmas-themed movies. (Repeats December 25 at 4pm)

8pm
A Holiday Card To Tucson
This local production features performances by The Arizona Choir, University Community Chorus, UA Symphonic Choir, Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus and Tucson Girls Chorus. (Repeats December 25 at 2pm)

10pm
Baroque Christmas in the New World
In celebration of the holiday season, this program brings listeners 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. (Repeats December 25 at 1pm)

11pm
Welcome Christmas Join host John Birge for an hour of traditional carols and new discoveries, including the world premiere of two carols from the annual Christmas Carol Contest. (Repeats December 25 at 5pm)

December 25
6am
A Chanticleer Christmas
This unique, one-hour program of holiday music is presented live in concert by Chanticleer. 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.

7am
A Christmas Celtic Sojourn
Brian O'Donovan's "A Celtic Sojourn" has thrilled radio audiences for almost thirty years. For the last fifteen, the Christmas-themed live version of the show has drawn on Celtic, Pagan, and Christian traditions to celebrate the music of this season.

8am
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.

6pm
In Italia: A Renaissance Christmas From Venice, Naples, Milan And Beyond
This special holiday edition of Harmonia brings listeners 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.

Monday, January 1
9am
New Year’s Day From Vienna 2018
The Vienna Philharmonic presents its ever popular annual New Year's Day concert from the Golden Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna. You'll hear your favorite waltzes, polkas and more -- a festive way to start off the New Year. Presented by NPR Music.

NPR 89.1
December 24
5pm
Tinsel Tales (IV), New
In keeping with a well-loved NPR holiday tradition, hear the fourth collection of extraordinary Christmas stories that will transport you to unexpected places. NPR's past and present tell stories of the season in this hour-long special. Some tales are funny; some are touching; some are insightful or irreverent or nostalgic or surprising. Hosted by Lynn Neary. (Repeats December 25 at 9am)

6pm
Tinsel Tales (III)
Hear the third collection of extraordinary Christmas stories that will transport you to unexpected places. Audie Cornish, Ken Harbaugh, Nina Totenberg and present tell stories of the season. Hosted by Lynn Neary (Repeats December 25 at 10am)

7 pm
Tinsel Tales (II)
Continuing with the tradition of the first Tinsel Tales program, this is another collection of the best and most requested holiday stories. Joy, hope, and childhood memories overflow as NPR voices, past and present, tell stories of the season. Hosted by Lynn Neary. (Repeats December 25 at 11am)

8pm
Old Pueblo Radio Show, Arroyo Café Holiday Show (Local Production) The Old Pueblo’s number one holiday tradition is back! Fitz presents “The Arroyo Café Holiday Radio Show" featuring the amazing Crystal Stark, Tucson’s own Bobby Rich, funny man Elliot Glicksman, humorist Jay Taylor, comedienne Nancy Stanley, Reveille’s “Grandsons of the Pioneers”, Wilbur Wildcat, mystery celebrity guests and all the Arroyo Café Players.

9pm
Joy To The World, A Holiday In Pink
The internationally acclaimed “little orchestra" Pink Martini bedecks the airwaves with festive holiday songs from across the globe. Hosted by All Things Considered’s Ari Shapiro. (Repeats December 25 at 2pm)

10pm
A Jazz Piano Christmas 33
Join the Kennedy Center and NPR Music for a special Mardi Gras themed holiday concert hosted by Felix Contreras, highlighting the favorite seasonal music of four acclaimed performers.

11pm
An Afro Blue Christmas
Join us for a very special holiday concert with Howard University's premiere vocal ensemble Afro Blue and special guest pianist Cyrus Chestnut.  Hear the a-cappela group perform a variety of holiday songs including African-American spirituals, jazz and pop tunes, and classical repertoire.  Hosted by Michele Norris.

December 25
Noon
Jonathan Winters’ A Christmas Carol
A public radio tradition hosted by NPR's Susan Stamberg. Master comedian Jonathan Winters presents a distinctive reading of Dickens' holiday classic, with a special performing edition prepared by Dickens for his own presentations. Also featuring Mimi Kennedy. From NPR and KCRW.

1pm
Hollywood Holiday
Saturday Cinema host Lynne Warfel presents an hour-long musical retrospective of some of Hollywood's most cherished Christmas-themed movies.

December 31
7pm to 1am
Toast Of The Nation
An NPR tradition every New Year's Eve since the 1970s, Toast of the Nation is the perfect audio complement for the occasion. It's festive jazz you can party to, all night long. Spirited, improvised, and swinging, each segment stops in a special venue, throughout the country.