2017 CPR Holiday Program Guide

<p>Celebrate the Holidays with Colorado Public Radio.</p>
Photo: CPR holidays

Include Colorado Public Radio in your holiday traditions with music and stories that fit to the season. CPR offers a little something for everyone this December.

Explore what's on tap for the holidays below and help us curate special holiday programming for CPR Classical and CPR's OpenAir. Vote for your favorite Christmas carols in the “Carol Countdown” and this year's best albums with the “Listener Poll 2017.”

CPR Holiday Program Guide

CPR CLASSICAL

December 1 

2 p.m. | Classical Chat: “O Come O Come Emmanuel”

Conductor Scott O’Neil shares the story behind the classic Christmas song and why it matters today.

CPR CLASSICAL

December 2

3 p.m. | The Nutcracker

A full performance and the story behind Tchaikovsky's complete Nutcracker ballet.

CPR CLASSICAL

December 5

7 p.m. | Christmas With The Colorado Symphony

A special program of orchestral holiday favorites, recorded live at Boettcher Concert Hall.

CPR CLASSICAL

December 6

Noon | CPR Christmas Carolers

Join CPR Classical on Facebook Live for a caroling session in the CPR Performance studio.

7 p.m. | A John Rutter Christmas 

An hour of music and conversation with the beloved choral composer, who will share insights into the making of his favorite Christmas pieces.

CPR CLASSICAL

December 7

7 p.m. | Welcome Christmas!

A one-hour special with joyful holiday music hosted by Minnesota Public Radio’s John Birge.

CPR CLASSICAL

December 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.

CPR CLASSICAL

December 9

10:30 a.m. | Mozart’s “The Magic Flute”

The Metropolitan Opera presents a full performance of the holiday favorite, featuring Nathan Gunn as Papageno.

CPR CLASSICAL

December 10

6 a.m. | A John Rutter Christmas 

An hour of music and conversation with the beloved choral composer, who will share insights into the making of his favorite Christmas pieces.

CPR CLASSICAL 

December 11

10 a.m. | Christmas with the Colorado Symphony Brass

A special program of holiday favorites, recorded live at Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church. Repeated at 6 p.m

7 p.m. | Benjamin Britten: ‘Ceremony of Carols’

A holiday edition of “The Big Idea,” exploring an ambitious masterwork.

CPR CLASSICAL

December 12

8 a.m. | Eight Nights of Chanukah

The sounds and stories of Chanukah, presented in five-minute vignettes. Repeats at 4 p.m.

7 p.m. | Ralph Vaughan Williams’ ‘Hodie’

A holiday edition of “The Big Idea,” exploring an ambitious masterwork.

CPR'S OPEN AIR

December 12

Continuous OpenAir Holiday Music

Enjoy 13 days of holiday music celebrating the season.

CPR CLASSICAL

December 13

1 p.m. | Carol Countdown 

Three hours of Colorado's favorite holiday music, as selected by CPR Classical listeners.

6 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 14

8 a.m. | Eight Nights of Chanukah

The sounds and stories of Chanukah, presented in five-minute vignettes. Repeats at 4 p.m.

11 a.m. | A John Rutter Christmas 

An hour of music and conversation with the beloved choral composer, who will share insights into the making of his favorite Christmas pieces.

7 p.m. | Menotti’s ‘Amahl and the Night Visitors’ 

A holiday edition of “The Big Idea,” exploring an ambitious masterwork.

CPR'S OPEN AIR

December 14

3 p.m. | Collector's Crossroads: Christmas Special

A one-hour special of seasonal B-sides and out-of-print rarities.

CPR NEWS

December 14

10 a.m. | Hanukkah Lights 2017

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 15

2 p.m. | CPR Classical's Beethoven Birthday Party

Celebrate the birthday of one of history's most brilliant composers. Recorded live at Boettcher Concert Hall.

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.

CPR CLASSICAL

December 16

7:55 a.m. | Eight Nights of Chanukah

The sounds and stories of Chanukah, presented in five-minute vignettes.

8 a.m. | Carol Countdown

Three hours of Colorado's favorite holiday music, as selected by CPR Classical listeners.

CPR'S OPEN AIR

December 16

5 p.m. | Retrofit Holiday Rarities

Enjoy an edgy take on holiday music from the 1950's.

CPR CLASSICAL

December 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.

CPR CLASSICAL

December 18

1 p.m. | The Nutcracker

A full performance and the story behind Tchaikovsky's complete Nutcracker ballet

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.

CPR CLASSICAL

December 19

9 a.m. | Carol Countdown

Three hours of Colorado's favorite holiday music, as selected by CPR Classical listeners.

7 p.m. | Advent Voices

An hour of music inspired by Advent.

CPR CLASSICAL

December 20

4 p.m. | Christmas with the Colorado Children’s Chorale

An encore of the group’s 2016 concert.

7 p.m. | Christmas With the Mormon Tabernacle Choir

A one-hour special of holiday music.

CPR NEWS

December 20

10 a.m. | The Colorado Matters Holiday Extravaganza 2017

Celebrate the holidays with a Colorado Matters special, featuring performances by local artists Isaac Slade, Jayme Stone, Danette Hollowell and more. Repeats at 7 p.m.

CPR CLASSICAL

December 21

2 p.m. | A John Rutter Christmas

An hour of music and conversation with the beloved choral composer, who will share  insights into the making of his favorite Christmas pieces.

7 p.m. | Welcome Christmas!

A one-hour special with joyful holiday music hosted by Minnesota Public Radio’s John Birge.

CPR CLASSICAL

December 22

3 p.m. | Carol Countdown

Three hours of Colorado's favorite holiday music, as selected by CPR Classical listeners.

7 p.m. | Handel’s ‘Messiah’ with the Colorado Symphony

Music director Brett Mitchell leads the orchestra in a performance of Handel's enduring masterwork.

CPR CLASSICAL

December 23

3 p.m. | Christmas With The Colorado Symphony

A special program of orchestral holiday favorites, recorded live at Boettcher Concert Hall.

7 p.m. | A 'Music Forward' Christmas

A holiday-themed episode of our weekly exploration of music from the 20th and 21st centuries.

CPR NEWS

December 23

4 p.m. | The Colorado Matters Holiday Extravaganza 2017

Celebrate the holidays with a Colorado Matters special, featuring performances by local artists Isaac Slade, Jayme Stone, Danette Hollowell and more.

5 p.m. | The Colorado Matters Holiday Extravaganza 2016

Revisit last year's holiday special, featuring Grammy Award-winning jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves and rising country star Clare Dunn.

CPR'S OPEN AIR

December 23

6 p.m. | Collector's Crossroads: Christmas Special

A one-hour special of seasonal B-sides and out-of-print rarities.

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.

3 p.m. | A John Rutter Christmas

An hour of music and conversation with the beloved choral composer, who will share  insights into the making of his favorite Christmas pieces.

4 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

10 a.m. | The Colorado Matters Holiday Extravaganza 2017

Celebrate the holidays with a Colorado Matters special, featuring performances by local artists Isaac Slade, Jayme Stone, Danette Hollowell and more.

11 a.m. | The Colorado Matters Holiday Extravaganza 2016

Revisit last year's holiday special, featuring Grammy Award-winning jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves and rising country star Clare Dunn.

7 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. | Retrofit Holiday Rarities

Enjoy this unique collection of holiday tunes.

4 p.m. | A Very Hipster Christmas

One hour of modern holiday tunes from non-mainstream bands.

5 p.m. | Alt 50s 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.

CPR CLASSICAL

December 25

9 a.m. | Christmas with the Colorado Children’s Chorale

A brand-new recording of the young singers’ holiday concert.

11 a.m. | Christmas With the Mormon Tabernacle Choir

A one-hour special of holiday music.

Noon | Carol Countdown

David Rutherford hosts three hours of Colorado's favorite holiday music, as selected by CPR listeners.

CPR NEWS

December 25

10 a.m. | Tinsel Tales 4, 2017

NPR collects some of its favorite Christmas stories from the archives into an hour-long special.                  Repeats at 7 p.m.

CPR'S OPEN AIR

December 25

All Day | Merry Marathon

Enjoy a mix of holiday music beginning at midnight on Christmas Eve through midnight on Christmas Day.

CPR'S OPEN AIR

December 29

12 p.m. | Mile High Noon: Best Of 2017

Alisha Sweeney hosts this year-end edition of “Mile High Noon,” highlighting the top releases of 2017 from the Colorado music scene.

5 p.m. | Dearly Departed

A series of Colorado artists performing the music of artists who passed away this year.

CPR'S OPEN AIR

December 30

12 p.m. | Mile High Noon: Best Of 2017

Alisha Sweeney hosts this year-end edition of “Mile High Noon,” highlighting the top releases of 2017 from the Colorado music scene.

5 p.m. | Retrofit: Bye Bye 2017

Mike Flanagan hosts a special episode remembering musical artists who left us in the past year.

CPR CLASSICAL

December 31

5 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. | Retrofit: Bye Bye 2017

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

9 a.m. | New Year's Day Live From Vienna

Ring in the New Year with the Vienna Philharmonic, a beloved annual tradition.

CPR'S OPEN AIR

January 1

12 a.m. | Retrofit: Bye Bye 2017 

Mike Flanagan hosts a special episode remembering musical artists who left us in the past year.

6 a.m. | Listeners Poll 2017

An all-day playlist of top albums of the year, voted on by CPR’s OpenAir listeners.

6 p.m. | Dearly Departed

A series of Colorado artists performing the music of artists who passed away this year.