Poster from the cover of the first edition of "A Christmas Carol"
Cover of the cloth first edition of "A Christmas Carol" (1843)
via Wikimedia Commons
Performance Today®

A Christmas Carol

In "A Christmas Carol," Ebenezer Scrooge not only hates Christmas, he hates generosity itself... at least until a three uninvited house-guests demonstrate what greed might cost him. On today's show, join us in a musical retelling of "A Christmas Carol," by Charles Dickens.

Episode Playlist

Hour 1

Sasha Margolis: Wallachian-Appalachian Scratchin'
Big Galut(e)
Central Vermont Chamber Music Festival in partnership with the Chandler Center for the Arts, Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph, VT

Traditional: Hanukkah
Symphony Nova Scotia; Howard Cable, conductor
Seasons Celebrations
CBC 5226

Traditional (arr. Paul Schoenfield): Al Hanisim
Essential Voices USA; Paul Schoenfield, piano; Judith Clurman, conductor
Cherished Moments: Songs of the Jewish Spirit
Dorian 92182

Stephen Schwartz (arr. Ryan Nowlin): Hanukkah Song "We Are Lights"
Essential Voices USA; Judith Clurman, conductor
Season of Light
Dorian 70006

Scott Robinson: Great is the Miracle (Hanukkah Medley)
Eaken Piano Trio
I'll Be Home for the Holidays
Naxos 554714

Alexander Krein: Caprice Hebraique, Op.24
Noah Bendix-Balgley, violin; Orion Weiss, piano
Seattle Chamber Music Society, Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya Hall, Seattle, WA

Joel Engel: Freilakhs, Op.20, No.2
Noah Bendix-Balgley, violin; Orion Weiss, piano
Seattle Chamber Music Society, Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya Hall, Seattle, WA

Traditional (arr. David Krakauer): Der Gasn Nign (The Street Song)
David Krakauer, clarinet; Nurit Pacht and Kelly Hall-Tompkins, violin; Melissa Reardon, viola; Aron Zelkowicz, cello
Pittsburgh Jewish Music Festival, Levy Hall at Rodef Shalom Congregation, Pittsburgh, PA

Hour 2

Traditional: Cold Frosty Morning/Old Christmas/Breakin' Up Christmas
Apollo's Fire Baroque Orchestra; Jeannette Sorrell, conductor
Christmas on Sugarloaf Mountain: An Irish-Appalachian Celebration
Avie 2396

John Jacob Niles: I Wonder As I Wander
Kirkmount: Alex Bigney, harp and bones; Samuel Bigney, fiddle; Simeon Bigney, cello and bodhran
Mittens for Christmas
Dorian 93236

Georgy Sviridov: Molitva ("Prayer")
Chanticleer; Kory Reid, conductor
Concerts at St. Ignatius, Church of St Ignatius Loyola, New York, NY

Jaakko Mantyjarvi: Die Stimme des Kindes
Chanticleer; Kory Reid, conductor
Concerts at St. Ignatius, Church of St Ignatius Loyola, New York, NY

Ralph Vaughan Williams: Wassail Song from "Two Songs of Winter"
Judy Mason, piano; Spivey Hall Children's Choir; Martha Shaw, conductor
Spivey Hall, Clayton State University, Morrow, GA

Traditional: Child in a Manger/ Gloucestershire Wassail
Kirkmount: Alex Bigney, harp and bones; Samuel Bigney, fiddle; Simeon Bigney, cello and bodhran
Mittens for Christmas
Dorian 93236

Traditional: Fum, Fum, Fum!
Apollo's Fire Baroque Orchestra; Jeannette Sorrell, conductor
Noels & Carols from the Olde World
Koch 7582

Traditional German: While by My Sheep (Als ich bei meinen Schafen)
Blake Eliason, Beth VanDam, James VanDam, soloists; Salt Lake Children's Choir; Ralph Woodward, conductor
Salt Lake Children's Choir, Cathedral of the Madeleine, Salt Lake City, UT

Traditional French: Il Est Ne / Masters in This Hall / Noel
Adagio Trio
Winter Gift
Adagio Trio 2

Traditional (arr. David Wilcocks): Sweet was the Song the Virgin sang; Ding Dong Merrily on High
Choir of King's College, Cambridge; David Willcocks, conductor
On Christmas Night
London/Decca 425499

Traditional: Maria durch ein Dornwald ging
Uppsala Academic Chamber Choir; Stefan Parkman, conductor
Winter Sounds
Footprint 85

Harold Darke (arr. Ken Gist): In the Bleak Midwinter
Adagio Trio
Winter Gift
Adagio Trio 2

Alan Silvestri: A Christmas Carol: I'm Still Here from the film
Hollywood Studio Symphony Orchestra
A Christmas Carol Original Soundtrack
Walt Disney 49208

Alan Silvestri: A Christmas Carol: Ride On My Good Man from the film
Hollywood Studio Symphony Orchestra
A Christmas Carol Original Soundtrack
Walt Disney 49208

Vijay Singh: A Glimpse of Snow and Evergreen
Oregon Chorale; Jason Sabino, conductor
A Glimpse of Snow and Evergreen
SELF PROD NA

Love the music?

Donate by phone
1-800-562-8440

Show your support by making a gift to YourClassical.

Each day, we’re here for you with thoughtful streams that set the tone for your day – not to mention the stories and programs that inspire you to new discovery and help you explore the music you love.

YourClassical is available for free, because we are listener-supported public media. Take a moment to make your gift today.

More Ways to Give

Your Donation

$5/month
$10/month
$15/month
$20/month
$

Latest Performance Today® Episodes

VIEW ALL EPISODES

Latest Performance Today® Episodes

VIEW ALL EPISODES
High praise for Wynton Marsalis

High praise for Wynton Marsalis

After a performance with Wynton Marsalis in 2019, conductor Cristian Macelaru looked into the trumpeter's eyes and felt his emotion, saying, "It just felt like it was the most pure connection." Macelaru was more than impressed; he considers Wynton Marsalis one of the most important American composers of all time. On today’s show, we'll hear the world premiere performance of the Concerto for Orchestra by Wynton Marsalis.

1:59:00
PT Weekend: A Far Cry

PT Weekend: A Far Cry

Antonín Dvořák's String Quartet No. 12 ("American Quartet") marked a significant departure from the European string quartet tradition, using pentatonic scales and birdsong to capture the essence of American nature and folk music. So, what might it sound like multiplied by four, with some extra bass thrown in? Tune in today to hear the ensemble A Far Cry perform an expanded arrangement of Dvořák's "American Quartet" at a concert in Rockport, Massachusetts.

1:59:00
Jacqueline Kerrod and the power of the harp

Jacqueline Kerrod and the power of the harp

Today, we explore the music of harpist and composer Jacqueline Kerrod. Kerrod began her musical journey enchanted by Mozart, but she now boldly straddles the worlds of classical and experimental music. Hear the world premiere of Kerrod’s own composition, Bumping Along, a piece that highlights the powerful, dramatic, and sometimes "gnarly" possibilities of the harp.

1:59:00
Missy Mazzoli: These Worlds in Us

Missy Mazzoli: These Worlds in Us

In 2006, composer Missy Mazzoli wrote a piece dedicated to her father, who served in the Vietnam War. The music explores the connection between her father’s war memories and a poem by James Tate. Today’s show takes us to a recent concert in Switzerland to hear “These Worlds in Us” by Missy Mazzoli.

1:59:00
Kian Ravaei: The Little Things

Kian Ravaei: The Little Things

In 2023, American composer Kian Ravaei created a work inspired by the words of Emily Dickinson. The seven-movement piece reflects on seven of Dickinson's poems, highlighting "nature's easily overlooked wonders" and illustrating a cyclic journey from morning to night. Today, we'll hear the Viano Quartet perform The Little Things by Kian Ravaei at a concert in Tempe, Arizona.

1:59:00
Marc-Andre Hamelin

Marc-Andre Hamelin

Marc-Andre Hamelin is one of the most celebrated and respected pianists of our time. His performances are renowned for their brilliance, technical mastery, and deep musicality. In today's show, we'll take you to a concert in Toronto to hear Hamelin perform from Nikolai Medtner's 'Forgotten Melodies.'

1:59:00
A Far Cry

A Far Cry

Antonín Dvořák's String Quartet No. 12 ("American Quartet") marked a significant departure from the European string quartet tradition, using pentatonic scales and birdsong to capture the essence of American nature and folk music. So, what might it sound like multiplied by four, with some extra bass thrown in? Tune in today to hear the ensemble A Far Cry perform an expanded arrangement of Dvořák's "American Quartet" at a concert in Rockport, Massachusetts.

1:59:00
PT Weekend: Evren Ozel

PT Weekend: Evren Ozel

On today's show, we're featuring Evren Ozel's Bronze Medal-winning performance from the 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Hear Ozel's rendition of Rachmaninoff’s demanding 'Variations on a Theme of Corelli,' and 'Rachtime,' a new work by Gabriela Montero.

1:59:00
Carlos Simon

Carlos Simon

Composer Carlos Simon grew up in the African American Pentecostal Church, where lively worship services featured singing, dancing, and sometimes speaking in tongues. Today, we're highlighting Simon's 'Four Black American Dances'—music inspired by his experiences in the church and community where he was raised.

1:59:00
Dvorak's "New World" Symphony

Dvorak's "New World" Symphony

On today's show, we're highlighting Dvořák's Symphony No. 9, "From the New World." Conductor Cristian Măcelaru explains how the composer's work captures an American soundscape while also beautifully reflecting his own Czech heritage. The result, Măcelaru says, is a powerful contribution from an immigrant artist to American culture.

1:59:00
VIEW ALL EPISODES

About Performance Today®

To find a station near you on our Stations Listings page, click here.

American Public Media’s Performance Today® is America’s most popular classical music radio program and a winner of the 2014 Gabriel Award for artistic achievement. The show is broadcast on hundreds of public radio stations across the country, including at 1 p.m. central weekdays on Minnesota Public Radio. More information about our stations can be found at APM Distribution.

Performance Today® features live concert recordings that can’t be heard anywhere else, highlights from new album releases, and in-studio performances and interviews. Performance Today® is based at the APM studios in St. Paul, Minnesota, but is frequently on the road, with special programs broadcast from festivals and public radio stations around the country. Also, each Wednesday, composer Bruce Adolphe joins host Fred Child for a classical musical game and listener favorite: the Piano Puzzler.

How do I leave a comment?

Send us a comment here.

About Performance Today®
YourClassical Radio
0:00
0:00