Celebrating the Season

Today we'll celebrate the start of winter after yesterday's solstice. It's also the first full day of Hannukah, and Christmas is just a few days away. We'll have lots of great programming in honor of this most festive season of the year, featuring great performances from all over the world.

Episode Playlist

Hour 1

Michael Praetorius: "Dances from Terpsichore," from "Christmas Vespers"
Apollo's Fire with conductor Jeannette Sorrell

Stephen Bulla: "Rhapsody on Hannukah"
The United States Marine Band with conductor Lieutenant Michelle Rakers
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, Vienna, Virginia

Traditional (Arranged by Mark Summer): "Channukah, O Channukah"
The Turtle Island String Quartet
MPR Studios, St. Paul, Minnesota

William Beckstrand: "Winter Solstice Carol"
The National Lutheran Choir and Bell of the Lakes Handbell Choir with conductor David Cherwien
Basilica of St. Mary, Minneapolis

Antonio Vivaldi: "Winter" from "The Seasons," Op. 8, No. 4
Violinist Cynthia Roberts with Apollo's Fire and harpsichordist and conductor Jeannette Sorrell
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Cleveland Heights, Ohio

Archangelo Corelli: Concerto Grosso in G Minor, Op. 6, No. 8 ("Christmas Concerto")
Musicians from the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
New York Society for Ethical Culture, New York City

Rene Clausen: "Nunc Dimittis"
The St. Olaf Orchestra and Choirs with conductor Sigrid Johnson
Skoglund Auditorium, Northfield, Minnesota

Hour 2

Giacomo Puccini: "Un Bel di Vedremo" from "Madama Butterfly"
Cynthia Miller, ondes martenot, with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and conductor Neville Marriner

Steve Barnett: "For the Miracles"
The Dale Warland Singers with conductor Jerry Rubino
Wooddale Church, Eden Prairie, Minnesota

Max Bruch: Andante con moto from "Eight Pieces for Clarinet, Viola, and Piano," Op. 83
Clarinetist Todd Palmer, violist Hsin-Yun Huang, and pianist Stephen Prutsman
Spoleto Chamber Music Festival, Charleston, South Carolina

Giacomo Puccini: "Chrysanthemums" for String Quartet
Violinists Gary Levinson and Stefan Milenkovich, violist Nokuthula Ngwenyama, and cellist Ani Aznavoorian
Bravo! Vail Valley Festival, Beaver Creek, Colorado

Leroy Anderson: "Sleigh Ride"
The Spivey Hall Children's Choir with conductor Martha Shaw and pianist Judy Mason
Spivey Hall, Morrow, Georgia

Josef Suk: "Meditations on 'Saint Wenceslas'" for String Quartet
Violinists James Ehnes and Martin Beaver, violist Kirsten Johnson, and cellist Clive Greensmith
Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival, Bridgehampton, New York

Peter Tchaikovsky: Selections from "The Snow Maiden," Op. 12
The State Symphony Orchestra of Russia with conductor Mark Gorenstein
Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, West Palm Beach, Florida

Michael Praetorius: "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming"
Trio Medieval
Fitzgerald Theater, St. Paul, Minnesota