Holiday Stream Stories

Here is a day-by-day guide to all of our special holiday programming for the 2023 season, from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve.

We have a variety of classical specials for the holiday season, from Christmas to New Year's Day. Listen to them any time that's convenient using this comprehensive listing.

YourClassical MPR’s live broadcast of 'A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols' from King's College, Cambridge, with host Michael Barone, has ended. But you can relive this glorious event through on-demand audio, which is available through Jan. 23.

You ranked your favorite holiday tunes. Now, we’ve tallied the results to create ‘YourClassical Christmas Favorites,’ a two-hour holiday special highlighting the top carols based on your votes. Listen now, with hosts Tom Crann and Valerie Kahler.

The University of South Dakota’s Chamber Singers are releasing a new version of ‘America the Beautiful,’ just in time for the Fourth of July.

On Thanksgiving, host Andrea Blain and classical music fans from all around the country take time to give thanks and celebrate one of life's most meaningful gifts: music. It's ‘Every Good Thing’ — an hour of stories and music to celebrate Thanksgiving.

This Juneteenth we commemorate the holiday with two contrasting and power playlist — Remembrance and Celebration. Remembrance is about the past and represents the struggle of Black Americans to get to where we are today and Celebration is about the joy and jubilee felt in the presence of positive change for now and in the future.

In the United States, Memorial Day often is thought of as the unofficial beginning of summer, but its significance runs far deeper. The one-hour special ‘Dreams of the Fallen’ seeks to recognize and memorialize through music and poetry those who have protected our country — often at great sacrifice.

Join Steve Seel for an Easter celebration with the complete performance of Handel's sacred oratorio Messiah, performed by the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, conductor and countertenor Dmitry Sinkovsky, an all-star roster of vocal soloists, and the Singers, led by Matthew Culloton. Listen to the concert now!

What is the story behind Handel’s ‘Messiah,’ and why is it performed at both Christmas and Easter? Here’s everything you need to know about this enduring holiday masterpiece, including the best recordings.