Turn the volume up on The Sound of the Season when CPR Classical transforms into a magical source of beauty, joy and sing-alongs.
We're thrilled to have Ray White take over as the host of our ever-popular Christmas Carol Countdown this year (voting runs through Dec. 11).
David Ginder takes you live to Boettcher Concert Hall on Dec. 16 to hear the Colorado Symphony. This special evening is not just Beethoven's birthday, but the beginning of massive, global celebrations in anticipation of his 250th birth anniversary in 2020.
Hear two hours of endearing stories and captivating music in a special broadcast of Holiday Memories with Brett Mitchell, Music Director of the Colorado Symphony.
This year, the St. Olaf Christmas Festival returns, Karla Walker illuminates the magical story of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker and Jean Inaba hosts a special Holiday Baroque Show celebrating Christmas and Hanukkah. The Colorado Children's Chorale once again brings unbridled elation, warmth and innocence to the season, Marilyn Cooley provides midwinter reflections with December Solstice and CPR's Rebekah Romberg walks us through the Festival of Lights. Matt Weesner and CPR Classical Music Director Jeff Zumfelde help us ring in the New Year with all nine symphonies by Beethoven before we launch 2020 in the annual tradition of New Year's Day from Vienna.
"Like" the CPR Classical Facebook page so you don't miss your chance to win a few Stocking Stuffers ~ tickets to some of the many holiday concerts in Colorado throughout December.
Here’s an updated broadcast schedule of special shows and highlights during CPR Classical's Sound of the Season:
| Mon, Dec. 23 | 5 p.m. | St. Olaf Christmas Festival A century-old tradition of the college, this year featuring the St. Olaf Choir, the St. Olaf Orchestra, the St. Olaf Cantorei, the St. Olaf Chapel Choir, the Manitou Singers, and the Viking Chorus, performing both as individual groups and as a massed ensemble. |
| Mon, Dec. 23 | 7 p.m. | Itzhak Perlman's Hanukkah Radio Party Hear favorite Hanukkah recordings and the story of the Jewish festival of lights, hosted by the famous violinist. |
| Tue, Dec. 24 | 7:55 a.m. & 3 p.m. | Stories of Hanukkah The sounds and stories of Hanukkah, presented in short vignettes by Colorado Public Radios' Rebekah Romberg. |
| Tue, Dec. 24 | 8 a.m. | A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols Join us live for a two-hour century-old Christmas tradition from King's College in Cambridge, England, paying tribute this year to the late Stephen Cleobury. |
| Tue, Dec. 24 | 10 a.m. | Tchaikovsky's 'The Nutcracker' CPR Classical brings you a variety of the best recordings throughout the season of the complete beloved ballet. |
| Tue, Dec. 24 | 3 p.m. | Carol Countdown Three hours of Colorado's favorite Christmas carols as selected by CPR Classical listeners, hosted by Ray White. |
| Tue, Dec. 24 | 6 p.m. | A Candlelight Christmas Eve Join CPR Classical just after sundown for 30 continuous hours of holiday music beginning on Christmas Eve, taking you throughout Christmas Day. |
| Wed, Dec. 25 | 8 a.m. & 3 p.m. | Stories of Hanukkah The sounds and stories of Hanukkah, presented in short vignettes by Colorado Public Radio's Rebekah Romberg. |
| Wed, Dec. 25 | 9 a.m. | Christmas with the Colorado Children’s Chorale The premiere broadcast of the group's December 7, 2019 holiday concert at Boettcher Concert Hall in Denver, hosted by David Ginder. |
| Wed, Dec. 25 | 11 a.m. | Comfort & Joy CPR Classical's exclusive holiday collection recorded in Colorado Public Radio's Performance Studio featuring many of Colorado's top classical talent. |
| Wed, Dec. 25 | 12 p.m. | Carol Countdown Three hours of Colorado's favorite Christmas carols as selected by CPR Classical listeners, hosted by Ray White. |
| Wed, Dec. 25 | 3 p.m. | Holiday Memories with Brett Mitchell Colorado Symphony Music Director, Brett Mitchell shares his favorite music and memories of the season with host Monika Vischer. |
| Thu, Dec. 26 | 8 a.m. & 4 p.m. | Stories of Hanukkah The sounds and stories of Hanukkah, presented in short vignettes by Colorado Public Radio's Rebekah Romberg. |
| Thu, Dec. 26 | 1 p.m. | Beethoven's 9th Symphony - A special broadcast of Beethoven's final complete symphony in its entirety. |
| Fri., Dec 27 | 8 a.m. & 4 p.m. | Stories of Hanukkah The sounds and stories of Hanukkah, presented in short vignettes by Colorado Public Radio's Rebekah Romberg. |
| Fri, Dec. 27 | 6 p.m. | Handel's "Judas Maccabaeus" The classic oratorio which illuminates the origins of the Festival of Lights, the heart of the Hanukkah story. |
| Sat, Dec. 28 | 8 a.m. & 4 p.m. | Stories of Hanukkah The sounds and stories of Hanukkah, presented in short vignettes by Colorado Public Radio's Rebekah Romberg. |
| Sat, Dec. 28 | 11 a.m. | Met Opera, a live broadcast of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's legendary "The Magic Flute". |
| Sat, Dec. 28 | 7 p.m. | Itzhak Perlman's Hanukkah Radio Party Hear favorite Hanukkah recordings and the story of the Jewish festival of lights, hosted by the famous violinist. |
| Sun, Dec. 29 | 10 a.m. | Stories of Hanukkah The sounds and stories of Hanukkah, presented in short vignettes by Colorado Public Radio's Rebekah Romberg. |
| Tue, Dec. 31 | 6 p.m. | Beethoven Bash A CPR Classical tradition. Ring in the new year with all nine Beethoven symphonies, including the "Ode to Joy" from Symphony No. 9 at midnight, hosted by Matt Weesner, this year with insights from CPR Classical Music Director, Jeff Zumfelde. Learn more about The Beethoven 9 Symphonies, a CPR Classical podcast. |
| Wed, Jan. 1 | 9 a.m. | New Year's Day from Vienna Ring in the new year with the Vienna Philharmonic. An annual tradition reaching millions around the world, this year conducted by Andris Nelsons. |
Here's what has previously aired:
| Thu, Nov. 28 | 6 a.m. | A CPR Classical Thanksgiving Listen to American music throughout the day. |
| Thu, Nov. 28 | 5 p.m. | Giving Thanks with John Birge For Thanksgiving, a celebration of fall, food and gratitude. This year highlights poetry of the late Mary Oliver, the 200th birth anniversary of Walt Whitman, and a visit from The New Yorker's Adam Gopnik. |
| Fri, Nov. 29 | 6 a.m. | The Sound of the Season begins! Hear your favorite holiday music on CPR Classical throughout each day this holiday season. |
| Fri, Nov. 29 | 6 a.m. | Christmas Carol Countdown voting begins Cast your vote by Dec. 11 at midnight to help us determine Colorado's favorite holiday music. |
| Fri, Nov. 29 | 10 a.m. | Giving Thanks with John Birge For Thanksgiving weekend, a celebration of fall, food and gratitude. This year highlights poetry of the late Mary Oliver, the 200th birth anniversary of Walt Whitman, and a visit from The New Yorker's Adam Gopnik. |
| Fri, Nov. 29 | 2 p.m. | Scott O'Neil on 'In The Bleak Midwinter' A holiday edition of the insightful series of vignettes from the conductor and lecturer. |
| Sat, Nov. 30 | 8 a.m. | Giving Thanks with John Birge For Thanksgiving weekend, a celebration of fall, food and gratitude. This year highlights poetry of the late Mary Oliver, the 200th birth anniversary of Walt Whitman, and a visit from The New Yorker's Adam Gopnik. |
| Sun, Dec. 1 | 3 p.m. | Giving Thanks with John Birge For Thanksgiving weekend, a celebration of fall, food and gratitude. This year highlights poetry of the late Mary Oliver, the 200th birth anniversary of Walt Whitman, and a visit from The New Yorker's Adam Gopnik. |
| Sun, Dec. 1 | 5 p.m. | Tchaikovsky's 'The Nutcracker' CPR Classical brings you a variety of the best recordings throughout the season of the complete beloved ballet. |
| Mon, Dec. 2 | 2 p.m. | Holiday Memories with Brett Mitchell Colorado Symphony Music Director, Brett Mitchell shares his favorite music and memories of the season with host Monika Vischer. |
| Wed, Dec. 4 | 10 a.m. | Christmas with the Colorado Children’s Chorale An encore broadcast of the group's 2018 holiday concert, hosted by David Ginder. |
| Thu, Dec. 5 | 9 a.m. & 7 p.m. | A Classical Christmas with the Colorado Symphony An encore broadcast of the symphony's 2018 holiday concert, hosted by David Ginder. |
| Fri, Dec. 6 | 2 p.m. | Scott O'Neil Shares a Holiday Memory about an unusual instrument that adds to the magic of the season: the celesta. |
| Fri, Dec. 6 | 7 p.m. | Amahl and the Night Visitors Gian Carlo Menotti's 1951 one-act opera inspired by The Adoration of the Magi by 15th century Dutch painter, Hieronymus Bosch. |
| Sat, Dec. 7 | 9 a.m. | Comfort & Joy CPR Classical's exclusive holiday collection recorded in Colorado Public Radio's Performance Studio. |
| Sat, Dec. 7 | 11 a.m. | The Met Opera Radio Broadcasts Return A new season of live broadcasts of the legendary radio series begins with Philip Glass' Akhnaten. |
| Sun, Dec. 8 | 12 p.m. | Holiday Memories with Brett Mitchell Colorado Symphony Music Director, Brett Mitchell shares his favorite music and memories of the season with host Monika Vischer. |
| Mon, Dec. 9 | 2 p.m. | Tchaikovsky's 'The Nutcracker' CPR Classical brings you a variety of the best recordings throughout the season of the complete beloved ballet. |
| Tue, Dec. 10 | 2 p.m. | Comfort & Joy CPR Classical's exclusive holiday collection recorded in Colorado Public Radio's Performance Studio. |
| Fri, Dec. 13 | 10 a.m. | Tchaikovsky's 'The Nutcracker' CPR Classical brings you a variety of the best recordings throughout the season of the complete beloved ballet. |
| Fri, Dec. 13 | 2 p.m. | Scott O'Neil Shares a Holiday Memory A holiday edition of the insightful series of vignettes from the conductor and lecturer. |
| Fri, Dec. 13 | 7 p.m. | Christmas with the Colorado Children’s Chorale An encore broadcast of the group's 2018 holiday concert, hosted by David Ginder. |
| Sat, Dec. 14 | 11 a.m. | Met Opera, a live broadcast of Peter Tchaikovsky's The Queen of Spades. |
| Sat, Dec. 14 | 3 p.m. | Carol Countdown Three hours of Colorado's favorite Christmas carols as selected by CPR Classical listeners, hosted by Ray White. |
| Sun, Dec. 15 | 2 p.m. | Ceremony of Carols A short masterpiece of simple beauty and innocence composed by outspoken pacifist, Benjamin Britten during the horrors of World War II. |
| Sun, Dec. 15 | 5 p.m. | St. Olaf Christmas Festival A century-old tradition of the college, this year featuring the St. Olaf Choir, the St. Olaf Orchestra, the St. Olaf Cantorei, the St. Olaf Chapel Choir, the Manitou Singers, and the Viking Chorus, performing both as individual groups and as a massed ensemble. |
| Mon, Dec. 16 | 1 p.m. | Comfort & Joy CPR Classical's exclusive holiday collection recorded in Colorado Public Radio's Performance Studio. |
| Mon, Dec. 16 | 7:30 p.m. | CPR Classical in Concert LIVE The Colorado Symphony launches a yearlong celebration of Beethoven's 250th birthday in 2020 including a performance of his Fifth Symphony at Boettcher Concert Hall, hosted by David Ginder. |
| Tue, Dec. 17 | 11 a.m. | Carol Countdown Three hours of Colorado's favorite Christmas carols as selected by CPR Classical listeners, hosted by Ray White. |
| Tue, Dec. 17 | 7 p.m. | Colorado Spotlight: Richard Toensing A look at a sacred Christmas work by the late Colorado composer. |
| Wed, Dec. 18 | 10 a.m. | Holiday Memories with Brett Mitchell Colorado Symphony Music Director, Brett Mitchell shares his favorite music and memories of the season with host Monika Vischer. |
| Wed, Dec. 18 | 1 p.m. | Christmas with the Colorado Children’s Chorale An encore broadcast of the group's 2018 holiday concert, hosted by David Ginder. |
| Wed, Dec. 18 | 7 p.m. | December Solstice An hour of midwinter reflection and music to celebrate the Winter Solstice, with host Marilyn Cooley. |
| Thu, Dec. 19 | 7 p.m. | L'enfance du Christ A 90-minute grand masterpiece in three parts by Hector Berlioz focusing on the dramatic events after Christ's birth as Joseph, Mary and Jesus flee to safety. |
| Fri, Dec. 20 | 11 a.m. | Tchaikovsky's 'The Nutcracker' CPR Classical brings you a variety of the best recordings throughout the season of the complete beloved ballet. |
| Fri, Dec. 20 | 2 p.m. | Carol Countdown Three hours of Colorado's favorite Christmas carols as selected by CPR Classical listeners, hosted by Ray White. |
| Fri, Dec. 20 | 2 p.m. | Scott O'Neil on 'O Come, O Come, Emmanuel' A holiday edition of the insightful series of vignettes from the conductor and lecturer. |
| Fri, Dec. 20 | 6 p.m. | December Solstice An hour of midwinter reflection and music to celebrate the Winter Solstice, with host Marilyn Cooley. |
| Fri, Dec. 20 | 7 p.m. | 'Hodie' An exploration of Ralph Vaughan Williams' retelling of the Nativity, fusing the Christmas spirit with overtones of the English countryside. |
| Sat, Dec. 21 | 6 a.m. | Holiday Baroque A celebration of Christmas and Hanukkah through the beauty of Baroque music, hosted by Jean Inaba. |
| Sat, Dec. 21 | 9 a.m. | Holiday Memories with Brett Mitchell Colorado Symphony Music Director, Brett Mitchell shares his favorite music and memories of the season with host Monika Vischer. |
| Sat, Dec. 21 | 11 a.m. | Met Opera, a live broadcast of Giuseppe Verdi's Macbeth. |
| Sat, Dec. 21 | 3 p.m. | Comfort & Joy CPR Classical's exclusive holiday collection recorded in Colorado Public Radio's Performance Studio. |
| Sat, Dec. 21 | 4 p.m. | Tchaikovsky's 'The Nutcracker' CPR Classical brings you a variety of the best recordings throughout the season of the complete beloved ballet. |
| Sat, Dec. 21 | 6 p.m. | Handel's 'Messiah' A classic recording of Handel's enduring masterwork. |
| Sat, Dec. 21 | 9 p.m. | December Solstice An hour of midwinter reflection and music to celebrate the Winter Solstice, with host Marilyn Cooley. |
| Sun, Dec. 22 | 7 a.m. | Carol Countdown Three hours of Colorado's favorite Christmas carols as selected by CPR Classical listeners, hosted by Ray White. |
| Sun, Dec. 22 | 10 a.m. & 4 p.m | Stories of Hanukkah begins The sounds and stories of Hanukkah, presented in short vignettes by Colorado Public Radio's Rebekah Romberg. |
| Sun, Dec. 22 | 10 a.m. | Holiday Baroque A celebration of Christmas and Hanukkah through the beauty of Baroque music hosted by Jean Inaba. |
| Sun, Dec. 22 | 12 p.m. | A Classical Christmas with the Colorado Symphony An encore broadcast of the symphony's 2018 holiday concert, hosted by David Ginder. |
| Sun, Dec. 22 | 2 p.m. | Tchaikovsky's 'The Nutcracker' CPR Classical brings you a variety of the best recordings throughout the season of the complete beloved ballet. |
| Sun, Dec. 22 | 5 p.m. | December Solstice An hour of midwinter reflection and music to celebrate the Winter Solstice, with host Marilyn Cooley. |
| Mon, Dec. 23 | 8 a.m. & 4 p.m. | Stories of Hanukkah The sounds and stories of Hanukkah, presented in short vignettes by Colorado Public Radio's Rebekah Romberg. |
