It is a little more than a week until Christmas. Leading up to Christmas and New Year's Day, Classical 101 has a full lineup of local and global specials on the schedule.
Saturday, December 19
4pm - Hollywood Holiday
An hour of Christmas at the movies that ranges from "White Christmas" and cozy homes for the holidays, to Grinches and Scrooges.
Sunday, December, 20
10am - UPDATE: PROGRAM CHANGE
The Festival of Lessons and Carols
Music Director Ronald J. Jenkins leads the First Community Church Chancel Choir, soloists, and members of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra in the traditional service based on that from King’s College, Cambridge, England. d Carols.
3pm - Carols for Christmas with First Community Church
Conrad Susa’s Carols and Lullabies: Christmas in the Southwest is the centerpiece of the 41st annual Christmas candlelight concert from First Community Church in Dublin, Ohio. Members of the Columbus Symphony join the First Community Chancel Choir and soloists, led by Ronald J. Jenkins.
4pm - Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Join the world-renowned choir, accompanied by the Orchestra at Temple Square, for their annual Christmas concert.
Monday, December 21
8pm - A Chanticleer Christmas
Spanning the globe and the centuries, this one-hour celebration of the season is told through the voices of Chanticleer, the 12-member San Francisco-based men’s choir.
Tuesday, December 22
8pm - Light and Gold: The Music of Eric Whitacre
A meditative special co-hosted by superstar composer Eric Whitacre, featuring his own choral masterpieces. An encore presentation of the 2014 program.
Wednesday, December 23
8pm - Welcome Christmas!
A perennial favorite of traditional carols and new discoveries featuring the Minneapolis-based ensemble VocalEssence, led by Philip Brunelle.
Thursday, December 24
10am - A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
Hosted by Michael Barone, this is the annual live two-hour broadcast from the chapel of King’s College in Cambridge, England. The 30-voice King’s College Choir performs the legendary service of Biblical readings and music.
7pm - Columbus Symphony Orchestra Holiday Pops Concert
A great Columbus holiday tradition continues as Ronald J. Jenkins leads the Columbus Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in your favorite songs and carols in this two hour special.
9pm - Messiah with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Handel’s much adored oratorio features a cast of guest vocalists and the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, led by Music Director Manfred Honeck.
11pm - Christmastime in New York: At the Metropolitan Museum
The Cathedral Choir of St. John the Divine performs a program spanning hundreds of years describing the story of the Nativity.
Friday, December 25
9pm - St. Olaf Christmas Festival
An always sold out service in song and word which takes place at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, featuring over 500 student musicians.
Saturday, December 26
4pm - An Operavore Christmas
An hour of Christmas and holiday music from the world of opera and oratorio sung by some of the greatest singers past and present.
10pm - Christmas with the Morehouse and Spelman Glee Clubs
It’s a joyous celebration by two of the most prestigious, historically black institutions in the nation coming together to sing spirituals and carols. This encore presentation features the best works of the last several years.
Friday, January 1
11am - New Year’s Day from Vienna
The Vienna Philharmonic celebrates its 75th anniversary of this annual salute to the waltz on New Year’s Day live from the Golden Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna. Hear the hits tunes of the Strauss family and others with MarissJansons on the podium for the third time.