KNAU Special Holiday Programming is Upon Us!
It’s here! That time of year when KNAU goes cuckoo for Christmas music and holiday specials. As we write this, the usually-cheerful studio production elves are hard at work, organizing more than two weeks of holiday radio festivities.
These specials cover a world of styles: lots of choral music – both classical and pop; jazz and acoustic variations on holiday standards; performers from Judy Collins to Yo-Yo Ma – David Sedaris and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
We’ve also scheduled some favorite spoken word programs. Among them are two programs from the NPR Tinsel Tales series and two holiday specials from Ira Glass and This American Life.
Also this year, a special focus on performances from area musicians. We’ll have a live-to-air performance of Handel’s Messiah with the Phoenix Symphony Sunday afternoon 12/18 at one. Plus the Phoenix Chorale Tuesday the 20th and the Tucson-based ensemble True Concord Friday the 23rd.
Back by popular demand, New Year’s Day Live from Vienna, beginning first thing in the morning at nine. Dance your way into the new year with polkas, quick-steps and more. (Pro tip: move the living room furniture the night before.)
Complete listing below or by Clicking Here:
Monday December 12
7pm
Tinsel Tales
The radio tradition continues - stories from the NPR archives that touch on the meaning of Christmas. David Sedaris, Bailey White, John Henry Faulk--these and other NPR voices, past and present, tell stories of the season.
8pm
Songs of Joy and Peace: The Yo-Yo Ma Holiday Party
Featuring James Taylor, Allison Krauss, Diana Krall, Dave Brubeck, Renee Fleming and others.
Tuesday December 13
7pm
Selected Shorts: Holiday with Mom
Two stories about being home for the holidays, how you can count on your Mom to be there for you…and possibly to complicate things.
8pm
A Holiday Music Tour with Judy Collins
Judy’s guests include Steve Earle, Jesse Colin Young, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Tish Hinojosa, others.
Wednesday December 14
7pm
This American Life: Lights, Camera, Christmas!
A show filled with stories of people going to great lengths to throw a special Christmas their families.
8pm
Ozark Highlands Radio Presents: Christmas!
Christmas folk songs both traditional and rare. Grandpa Jones reads “The Christmas Guest,” and Jean Richie tells the story of an early Richie Family Christmas.
Thursday December 15
7pm
The ONE Recipe Holiday Special
From The Splendid Table, culinary superstars discuss their “one” recipe that undoubtedly signals that the holiday has begun!
8pm
A Mountain Stage Holiday
Seasonal Songs old and new recorded live over the years on Mountain Stage. Joan Baez, Bruce Cockburn, Odetta, Loudon Wainwright III, The Roches, others.
Friday December 16
7pm
Putumayo World Music: A Family Christmas
Celebrating Christmas with holiday songs from various artists around the world.
8pm
An NPR Jazz Piano Christmas
Recorded earlier this month at the Kennedy Center, new jazz piano performances of favorite holiday tunes. Artists include Mountain Stage’s Bob Thompson, Bolivian prodigy Jose Andre Montano and Japanese musical phenom Hiromi.
Sunday December 18
1pm
Arizona Encore: Holiday with True Concord
3pm
The Phoenix Symphony
Live-to-air broadcast of Handel’s Messiah
Monday December 19
7pm
More Tinsel Tales
Interviews from the NPR Archives about the music we enjoy at Christmas: Kenny Rogers, Sting, Amy Grant, Jon Batiste, others.
8pm
Holidays with the Boston Brass
Brass arrangements of popular Christmas carols and pop tunes.
Tuesday December 20
7pm
Judy Collins: Peace on Earth – A Holiday Folk Tour
Hitting the road for holiday standards and originals from musicians across the country; Albuquerque to Austin, New York to Berkley.
8pm
Phoenix Chorale, recorded in concert December 15, 2022.
Wednesday December 21
7pm
Say Yes to Christmas from This American Life
No Christmas can ever be as good as the ones you had as a kid. Here’s a show to bring back the joy and spontaneity of the season – the sense that anything can happen at Christmas.
8pm
All is Bright
An exploration of this time of darkness and light with All Is Bright, an hour of beautiful music that will inspire and uplift as it tells the Christmas story.
Thursday December 22
7pm
Christmas with Chanticleer
This superb 12-man ensemble is known as "an orchestra of voices," as they perform holiday classics and new favorites.
8pm
St. Olaf Christmas Festival
A service in song and word that has become one of the nation’s most cherished holiday celebrations. Tickets to the event - which takes place at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN - are always gone months in advance. The festival includes hymns, carols, choral works, as well as orchestral selections celebrating the Nativity and featuring more than 500 student musicians in five choirs and the St. Olaf Orchestra.
Friday December 23
7pm
Sing We Now Of Christmas with True Concord
Traditional favorites from this Tucson-based Grammy-nominated choral group. The program includes a greeting from founding music director Eric Holtan, as well as introductions introductions to some of the pieces by Dale Warland.
8pm
A Rochester Festival of Lessons and Carols
The Christmas story in words and music.
Saturday 24
7pm
The Thistle & Shamrock Christmas Special: A Child’s Christmas in Wales.
Cerys Matthews she narrates excerpts from the Dylan Thomas holiday classic, set to music that she created and recorded with her collaborator Mason Neely.
9pm
Beale Street Caravan Christmas Special
Sunday 12/25
12 noon
Arizona Encore (repeat) Phoenix Chorale in concert
2pm
Chicago Symphony (regular broadcast)
Messiah part one and Nutcracker excerpts
Sunday January 1, 2023
9am
New Year’s in Vienna
Live broadcast from the Vienna Philharmonic. Dance away the old year and polka in the new. (Pro tip: move the living room furniture the night before.)
All listings are subject to change with or without notice.