There will be no shortage of inspirational music of the season on CPR Classical this year. We’ve planned music that you’ll find yourself singing along to. Music that brings joy and -- if needed -- a bit of healing.
A CPR Classical Christmas illuminates the traditions of the season and hopefully brings greater understanding among us all. This holiday season brings an extra dose of cheer from some of Colorado's own fine classical musicians. We’ll feature performances by the Colorado Symphony, Colorado Children’s Chorale and many other talented musicians from our state.
May the music in the coming weeks on CPR Classical lift you up and engender a spirit of peace, goodwill, beauty, empathy and perhaps forgiveness -- of self and others in some way.
Peruse our holiday offerings below and mark your calendars so you don’t miss your favorites!
Previously aired holiday programs:
| Date | Time | Program |
| Wed, Nov. 29 | 10 a.m. | Christmas with the Colorado Children’s Chorale An encore of the group's 2016 holiday concert. |
| Wed, Nov. 29 | 6 p.m. | Christmas with the Colorado Children’s Chorale An encore of the group's 2016 holiday concert. |
| Sat, Dec. 2 | 11 a.m. | Met Opera broadcasts return The new season kicks off with a performance of Verdi's Requiem. |
| Sat, Dec. 2 | 3 p.m. | Tchaikovsky's 'The Nutcracker' A complete performance of the beloved ballet. |
| Thu, Nov. 23 | 6 a.m. | An All-American Thanksgiving Music by American composers featured throughout the day. |
| Thu, Nov. 23 | 5 p.m. | Giving Thanks with John Birge For Thanksgiving, a classical celebration of the spirit of gratitude. |
| Thu, Nov. 23 | 7 p.m. | Thanksgiving with Cantus The unique choral group celebrates the holiday with a moving musical program. |
| Fri, Nov. 24 | 6 a.m. | A Classical Colorado Christmas begins Hear your favorite holiday music on CPR Classical throughout the day this holiday season. |
| Fri, Nov. 24 | 6 a.m. | Carol Countdown voting begins Cast your vote by Dec. 6 to help us determine Colorado's favorite holiday music. |
| Fri, Nov. 24 | 11 a.m. | Giving Thanks with John Birge For Thanksgiving, a classical celebration of the spirit of gratitude. |
| Fri, Nov. 24 | 2 p.m. | Scott O'Neil on "White Christmas" A holiday edition of the insightful Classical Chats series from the conductor and lecturer. |
| Sat, Nov. 25 | 8 a.m. | Giving Thanks with John Birge For Thanksgiving, a classical celebration of the spirit of gratitude. |
| Sat, Nov. 25 | 11 a.m. | CPR Classical in Concert A full performance of Opera Colorado's production of "La Boheme." |
| Sun, Nov. 26 | 3 p.m. | Giving Thanks with John Birge For Thanksgiving, a classical celebration of the spirit of gratitude. |
| Sun, Nov. 26 | 5 p.m. | Tchaikovsky's 'The Nutcracker' A complete performance of the beloved ballet. |
| Wed, Dec. 6 | 1 p.m. | CPR Christmas Carolers Join us on Facebook Live for a caroling session in the CPR Performance Studio. |
| Wed, Dec. 6 | 7 p.m. | A John Rutter Christmas The beloved choral composer sits down with CPR's David Rutherford to share insights into the making of some of his favorite Christmas pieces. An hour of music and conversation. |
| Thu, Dec. 7 | 7 p.m. | Welcome Christmas! A one-hour holiday special hosted by John Birge, featuring the singers in VocalEssence. |
| Fri, Dec. 8 | 6 a.m. | Top New Releases of 2017 Starting today, we feature music from some of our favorite classical albums of the year. |
| Fri, Dec. 8 | 2 p.m. | Scott O'Neil Shares a Holiday Memory A holiday edition of the insightful Classical Chats series from the conductor and lecturer. |
| Sat, Dec. 9 | 10:30 a.m. | Mozart's "The Magic Flute" A holiday tradition from the Met Opera, featuring Nathan Gunn as Papageno. |
| Sun, Dec. 10 | 6 a.m. | A John Rutter Christmas The beloved choral composer sits down with CPR's David Rutherford to share insights into the making of some of his favorite Christmas pieces. An hour of music and conversation. |
| Mon, Dec. 11 | 10 a.m. | Christmas with the Colorado Symphony Brass A special program of holiday favorites, recorded live at Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church. |
| Mon, Dec. 11 | 6 p.m. | Christmas with the Colorado Symphony Brass A special program of holiday favorites, recorded live at Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church. |
| Mon, Dec. 11 | 7 p.m. | Benjamin Britten: 'Ceremony of Carols' A holiday edition of "The Big Idea," exploring an ambitious masterwork. |
| Tue, Dec. 12 | 8 a.m. | Eight Nights of Chanukah The sounds and stories of Chanukah, presented in five-minute vignettes. Repeats at 4 p.m. |
| Tue, Dec. 12 | 1 p.m. | Tchaikovsky's 'The Nutcracker' A complete performance of the beloved ballet. |
| Tue, Dec. 12 | 7 p.m. | Ralph Vaughan Williams' 'Hodie' A holiday edition of "The Big Idea," exploring an ambitious masterwork. |
| Wed, Dec. 13 | 8 a.m. | Eight Nights of Chanukah The sounds and stories of Chanukah, presented in five-minute vignettes. Repeats at 4 p.m. |
| Wed, Dec. 13 | 10 a.m. | Colorado Spotlight: Richard Toensing A look at a sacred Christmas work by a beloved Colorado composer. |
| Wed, Dec. 13 | 1 p.m. | Carol Countdown Three hours of Colorado's favorite holiday music, as selected by CPR Classical listeners. |
| Wed, Dec. 13 | 6 p.m. | Colorado Spotlight: Richard Toensing A look at a sacred Christmas work by a beloved Colorado composer. |
| Thu, Dec. 14 | 8 a.m. | Eight Nights of Chanukah The sounds and stories of Chanukah, presented in five-minute vignettes. Repeats at 4 p.m. |
| Thu, Dec. 14 | 11 a.m. | A John Rutter Christmas The beloved choral composer sits down with CPR's David Rutherford to share insights into the making of some of his favorite Christmas pieces. An hour of music and conversation. |
| Thu, Dec. 14 | 1 p.m. | Christmas with the Colorado Children’s Chorale An encore of the group's 2016 holiday concert. |
| Thu, Dec. 14 | 7 p.m. | Menotti's 'Amahl and the Night Visitors' A holiday edition of "The Big Idea," exploring an ambitious masterwork. |
| Fri, Dec. 15 | 8 a.m. | Eight Nights of Chanukah The sounds and stories of Chanukah, presented in five-minute vignettes. Repeats at 4 p.m. |
| Fri, Dec. 15 | 10 a.m. | Colorado Symphony Celebrates Beethoven The orchestra plays favorites by one of history's most brilliant composers. Recorded live at Boettcher Concert Hall. |
| Fri, Dec. 15 | 2 p.m. | CPR Classical's Beethoven Birthday Party begins Celebrate the birthday of one of history's greatest composers all weekend long. You'll hear lots of Beethoven pieces as well as stories behind some of his greatest masterworks. |
| Fri, Dec. 15 | 6 p.m. | Colorado Symphony Celebrates Beethoven The orchestra plays favorites by one of history's most brilliant composers. Recorded live at Boettcher Concert Hall. |
| Fri, Dec. 15 | 8 p.m. | Itzhak Perlman's Chanukah Radio Party Hear favorite Chanukah recordings and the story of the Jewish festival of lights, hosted by the famous violinist. |
| Sat, Dec. 16 | 7:55 a.m. | Eight Nights of Chanukah The sounds and stories of Chanukah, presented in five-minute vignettes. Repeats at 4 p.m. |
| Sat, Dec. 16 | 8 a.m. | Carol Countdown Three hours of Colorado's favorite holiday music, as selected by CPR Classical listeners. |
| Sun, Dec. 17 | 7:55 a.m. | Eight Nights of Chanukah The sounds and stories of Chanukah, presented in five-minute vignettes. Repeats at 9:55 a.m. and 4 p.m. |
| Mon, Dec. 18 | 8 a.m. | Eight Nights of Chanukah The sounds and stories of Chanukah, presented in five-minute vignettes. Repeats at 4 p.m. |
| Mon, Dec. 18 | 1 p.m. | Tchaikovsky's 'The Nutcracker' A complete performance of the beloved ballet. |
| Mon, Dec. 18 | 7 p.m. | Itzhak Perlman's Chanukah Radio Party Hear favorite Chanukah recordings and the story of the Jewish festival of lights, hosted by the famous violinist. |
| Tue, Dec. 19 | 8 a.m. | Eight Nights of Chanukah The sounds and stories of Chanukah, presented in five-minute vignettes. Repeats at 4 p.m. |
| Tue, Dec. 19 | 9 a.m. | Carol Countdown Three hours of Colorado's favorite holiday music, as selected by CPR Classical listeners. |
| Tue, Dec. 19 | 6 p.m. | A Chanticleer Christmas A choral celebration of the season featuring the talented choir from San Francisco. |
| Tue, Dec. 19 | 7 p.m. | Advent Voices An hour of music inspired by Advent. |
| Wed, Dec. 20 | 4 p.m. | Christmas with the Colorado Children’s Chorale An encore of the group's 2016 holiday concert. |
| Wed, Dec. 20 | 7 p.m. | Christmas With the Mormon Tabernacle Choir A one-hour special. |
| Thu, Dec. 21 | 2 p.m. | A John Rutter Christmas The beloved choral composer sits down with CPR's David Rutherford to share insights into the making of some of his favorite Christmas pieces. An hour of music and conversation. |
| Thu, Dec. 21 | 7 p.m. | Welcome Christmas! A one-hour holiday special hosted by John Birge, featuring the singers in VocalEssence. |
| Fri, Dec. 22 | 2 p.m. | Scott O'Neil on 'In The Bleak Midwinter' A holiday edition of the insightful Classical Chats series from the conductor and lecturer. |
| Fri, Dec. 22 | 3 p.m. | Carol Countdown Three hours of Colorado's favorite holiday music, as selected by CPR Classical listeners. |
| Fri, Dec. 22 | 7 p.m. | Handel's 'Messiah' A classic recording of Handel's enduring masterwork. |
| Sat, Dec. 23 | 3 p.m. | Christmas with the Colorado Symphony Brass A special program of holiday favorites, recorded live at Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church. |
| Sat, Dec. 23 | 5 p.m. | St. Olaf Christmas Festival A two-hour holiday choral concert that's part of a 100-year tradition. |
| Sat, Dec. 23 | 7 p.m. | A 'Music Forward' Christmas A holiday-themed episode of our weekly exploration of music from the 20th and 21st centuries. |
| Sun, Dec. 24 | 8 a.m. | A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols A live, two-hour Christmas program from King's College in Cambridge, England. |
| Sun, Dec. 24 | 10 a.m. | A Chanticleer Christmas A choral celebration of the season featuring the talented choir from San Francisco. |
| Sun, Dec. 24 | 3 p.m. | A John Rutter Christmas The beloved choral composer sits down with CPR's David Rutherford to share insights into the making of some of his favorite Christmas pieces. An hour of music and conversation. |
| Sun, Dec. 24 | 4 p.m. | Tchaikovsky's 'The Nutcracker' A complete performance of the beloved ballet. |
| Sun, Dec. 24 | 6 p.m. | A Candlelight Christmas Enjoy 30 continuous hours of holiday music on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. |
| Sun, Dec. 24 | 7 p.m. | Carol Countdown on CPR News Three hours of Colorado's favorite holiday music, as selected by CPR Classical listeners. |
| Mon, Dec. 25 | 9 a.m. | Colorado Children's Chorale Celebrates Christmas 2017 A brand-new recording of the young singers' holiday concert. |
| Mon, Dec. 25 | 11 a.m. | Christmas With the Mormon Tabernacle Choir A one-hour special. |
| Mon, Dec. 25 | Noon | Carol Countdown Three hours of Colorado's favorite holiday music, as selected by CPR Classical listeners. |
| Sun, Dec. 31 | 5 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. |
| Mon, Jan. 1 | 9 a.m. | New Year's Day Live from Vienna Ring in the new year with the Vienna Philharmonic. A beloved annual tradition. |
