The holidays can be a hectic time of year, but Colorado Public Radio is here to help you pause, listen and enjoy. With moving stories and an eclectic holiday soundtrack, CPR's schedule has something for everyone. Tune in and the experience stories and sounds of the season.
Help us curate special holiday programming for CPR Classical and CPR's OpenAir. Vote for your favorite Christmas carols in “Carol Countdown” and this year's best albums with the “Listener Poll 2016”.
Holiday Program Guide
December 1 | 9 a.m. | A Colorado Choral Christmas David Rutherford hosts a feature of Colorado choral ensembles' holiday performances. Repeats at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. |
CPR CLASSICAL December 2 | 9 a.m. | Christmas With The Colorado Children's Chorale An encore of the Colorado Children's Chorale's 2015 holiday concert. Repeats at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. |
CPR CLASSICAL December 3 | 3 p.m. | The Nutcracker A full performance and the story behind Tchaikovsky's complete Nutcracker ballet. |
CPR CLASSICAL December 4 | 6 a.m. | Bach's Christmas Oratorio David Rutherford hosts a special "Sacred Classics" broadcast featuring insights from Colorado Bach scholar James Kim. Repeats at 8 a.m. |
CPR CLASSICAL December 5 | 7 p.m. | Christmas With The Mormon Tabernacle Choir A one-hour special featuring the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and guest performer Rolando Villazón. |
CPR CLASSICAL December 6 | 7 p.m. | Welcome Christmas! A one-hour special with joyful holiday music hosted by Minnesota Public Radio’s John Birge. |
CPR CLASSICAL December 7 | 1 p.m. | The Nutcracker A full performance and the story behind Tchaikovsky's complete Nutcracker ballet. 7 p.m. | Advent Voices An hour of music inspired by the season of Advent. |
CPR CLASSICAL December 8 | 8 p.m. | Amahl And The Night Visitors A full performance of Menotti's moving one-act opera. |
CPR CLASSICAL December 10 | 3 p.m. | Carol Countdown Three hours of Colorado's favorite holiday music, as selected by CPR Classical listeners. |
CPR CLASSICAL December 11 | 2 p.m. | Christmas With The Mormon Tabernacle Choir A one-hour special featuring the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and guest performer Rolando Villazón. 7 p.m. | L’Enfance Du Christ (The Childhood Of Christ) The 90-minute oratorio of the Holy Family's flight into Egypt after Christ's birth. Orchestra, choir and soloists retell Hector Berlioz's grand account of the biblical story. |
CPR CLASSICAL December 13 | 9 a.m. | Carol Countdown Three hours of Colorado's favorite holiday music, as selected by CPR Classical listeners. |
CPR CLASSICAL December 14 | 7 p.m. | Colorado Spotlight: Richard Toensing A special edition of “Colorado Spotlight” featuring the sacred Christmas work by Colorado composer Richard Toensing. |
CPR CLASSICAL December 15 | 10 a.m. | The Nutcracker A full performance and the story behind Tchaikovsky's complete Nutcracker ballet. |
CPR CLASSICAL December 16 | 6 a.m. | Beethoven Birthday Bash A day-long celebration of the great composer, featuring Beethoven's music every hour. |
December 17 | 12 p.m. | Mile High Noon: Holiday Special A year-end edition of "Mile High Noon" highlighting the top releases of the year from Colorado's thriving music scene. 5 p.m. | Retrofit: Holiday Rarities |
CPR CLASSICAL December 18 | 12 p.m. | Carol Countdown Three hours of Colorado's favorite holiday music, as selected by CPR Classical listeners. 5 p.m. | St. Olaf Christmas Festival A two-hour holiday choral concert featuring student musicians from St. Olaf College as part of a 100-year tradition musical celebration. 7 p.m. | Colorado Spotlight: Richard Toensing A special edition of “Colorado Spotlight” featuring the sacred Christmas work by Colorado composer Richard Toensing. |
CPR CLASSICAL December 19 | 9 a.m. | A Colorado Choral Christmas David Rutherford hosts a feature of Colorado choral ensembles' holiday performances. Repeats at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. |
CPR CLASSICAL December 20 | 9 a.m. | A Colorado Choral Christmas David Rutherford hosts a feature of Colorado choral ensembles' holiday performances. Repeats at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. |
CPR CLASSICAL December 21 | 9 a.m. | A Colorado Choral Christmas David Rutherford hosts a feature of Colorado choral ensembles' holiday performances. Repeats at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. 6 p.m. | Welcome Christmas! A one-hour special with joyful holiday music hosted by Minnesota Public Radio’s John Birge. 8 p.m. | A Chanticleer Christmas A one-hour choral celebration of the season featuring the voices of this renowned choir from San Francisco. |
CPR NEWS December 21 | 10 a.m. | Live Taping: "Colorado Matters" Holiday Special 2016 A special live episode of "Colorado Matters" featuring music and storytelling from Dianne Reeves, John Denver and Hal Aqua of klezmer band The Lost Tribe. Repeats at 7 p.m. |
CPR CLASSICAL December 22 | 9 a.m. | A Colorado Choral Christmas David Rutherford hosts a feature of Colorado choral ensembles' holiday performances. Repeats at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. |
CPR CLASSICAL December 23 | 9 a.m. | Christmas With The Colorado Children's Chorale An encore of the Colorado Children's Chorale's 2015 holiday concert. Repeats at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. |
CPR NEWS December 23 | 10 a.m. | Hanukkah Lights 2016 This hour-long special features a collection of Hanukkah tales hosted by NPR's Susan Stamberg and Murray Horwitz. Repeats at 7 p.m. |
CPR CLASSICAL December 24 | 8 a.m. | A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols Annual celebration from King's College in Cambridge, England featuring carols and readings from the Bible. 10 a.m. | A Chanticleer Christmas A one-hour choral celebration of the season featuring the voices of this renowned choir from San Francisco. 4 p.m. | Eight Nights Of Chanukah: Part 1 The sounds and stories of Chanukah presented in five-minute vignettes. 1:30 p.m. | The Nutcracker A full performance and the story behind Tchaikovsky's complete Nutcracker ballet. 6 p.m. | A Candlelight Christmas Enjoy 30 continuous hours of holiday music on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. |
CPR NEWS December 24 | 7 p.m. | Colorado Matters: Holiday Special 2016 A special live episode of "Colorado Matters" featuring music and storytelling from Dianne Reeves, John Denver and Hal Aqua of klezmer band The Lost Tribe. 8 p.m. | Carol Countdown Three hours of Colorado's favorite holiday music, as selected by CPR Classical listeners. |
CPR'S OPEN AIR December 24 | 12 p.m. | Mile High Noon: Holiday Special Alisha Sweeney hosts this Christmas edition of “Mile High Noon” with music from Colorado bands and details on seasonal concerts happening in and around Denver. 4 p.m. | A Very Hipster Christmas One hour of modern holiday tunes from non-mainstream bands. 5 p.m. | Alt 50's Christmas An edgy take on holiday music from the 1950's that includes rock n roll, my baby left me blues, and lyrics about space travel and Cold War paranoia. 6 p.m. | Collector's Crossroads: Christmas Special A one-hour special of seasonal B-sides and out-of-print rarities. |
CPR CLASSICAL December 25 | 8 a.m. | Eight Nights Of Chanukah: Part 2 The sounds and stories of Chanukah presented in five-minute vignettes. Repeats at 4 p.m. 9 a.m. | Christmas with the Colorado Children’s Chorale A two-hour broadcast of the group's 2016 holiday concert. 12 p.m. | Carol Countdown David Rutherford hosts three hours of Colorado's favorite holiday music, as selected by CPR listeners. |
December 25 | 1 p.m. | Colorado Matters: Holiday Special 2016 A special live episode of "Colorado Matters" featuring music and storytelling from Dianne Reeves, John Denver and Hal Aqua of klezmer band The Lost Tribe. |
CPR'S OPEN AIR December 25 | All Day | Merry Marathon Enjoy a mix of holiday music beginning at midnight on Christmas Eve through Dec. 25 at 12 a.m. |
CPR CLASSICAL December 26 | 8 a.m. | Eight Nights Of Chanukah: Part 3 The sounds and stories of Chanukah presented in five-minute vignettes. Repeats at 4 p.m. |
December 26 | 10 a.m. | Colorado Matters: Best Of 2016 A year-end edition of "Colorado Matters" highlighting this year's best interviews and stories. |
CPR CLASSICAL December 27 | 8 a.m. | Eight Nights Of Chanukah: Part 4 The sounds and stories of Chanukah presented in five-minute vignettes. Repeats at 4 p.m. 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 Itzhak Perlman. |
CPR CLASSICAL December 28 | 8 a.m. | Eight Nights Of Chanukah: Part 5 The sounds and stories of Chanukah presented in five-minute vignettes. Repeats at 4 p.m. |
CPR CLASSICAL December 29 | 8 a.m. | Eight Nights Of Chanukah: Part 6 The sounds and stories of Chanukah presented in five-minute vignettes. Repeats at 4 p.m. |
CPR'S OPEN AIR December 30 | 12 p.m. | Mile High Noon: Best Of 2016 Alisha Sweeney hosts this year-end edition of “Mile High Noon,” highlighting the top releases of 2016 from the Colorado music scene. |
CPR CLASSICAL December 30 | 8 a.m. | Eight Nights Of Chanukah: Part 7 The sounds and stories of Chanukah presented in five-minute vignettes. Repeats at 4 p.m. 6 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 Itzhak Perlman. |
CPR CLASSICAL December 31 | 8 a.m. | Eight Nights Of Chanukah: Part 8 The sounds and stories of Chanukah presented in five-minute vignettes. Repeats at 4 p.m. 6 p.m. | Beethoven Bash Ring in the New Year with all nine Beethoven symphonies, including the "Ode to Joy" from Symphony No. 9 at midnight. |
CPR'S OPEN AIR December 31 | 12 p.m. | Mile High Noon: Best Of 2016 Alisha Sweeney hosts this year-end edition of “Mile High Noon,” highlighting the top releases of 2016 from the Colorado music scene. 4 p.m. | Off the Charts 2016 (Notable #1's) Host Alisha Sweeney looks back at memorable albums that reached the #1 spot on CPR's OpenAir weekly Top 30 playlist in 2016. 5 p.m. | Retrofit: Bye Bye 2016 Mike Flanagan hosts a special episode remembering musical artists who left us in the past year. 7 p.m. | New Year's Eve: Dance Yourself Clean Say goodbye to another year with a soundtrack of favorite dance songs from CPR's OpenAir. 11 p.m. | New Year's Revolution An hour of New Year's music from all genres and for all tastes, including a mix of rarities, favorites and a bit of nostalgia. |
CPR CLASSICAL January 1 | 7 a.m. | Bach's Mass In B Minor Start 2017 off right with a special full performance on Sacred Classics. 9 a.m. | New Year's Day Live From Vienna Ring in the new year with the Vienna Philharmonic. |
CPR'S OPEN AIR January 1 | 12 p.m. | Retrofit: Bye Bye 2016 Mike Flanagan hosts a special episode remembering musical artists who left us in the past year. |
CPR'S OPEN AIR January 2 | 6 a.m. | Listener Poll: Top 100 Albums of 2016 CPR's OpenAir unveils results of this year’s Listener Poll, counting down the top albums of 2016 as selected by you. Until 6 p.m. |
