Texas Public Radio celebrates the season with holiday programming to get you into the spirit, or simply offer a moment of reflection. Join us on KPAC 88.3 FM, KSTX 89.1 FM, and all of TPR's stations for a cornucopia of programs, including music, spoken word, and more.
On KPAC 88.3 FM
Tuesday, December 24, 9am, A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols An annual and beloved Christmas tradition, “A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols” is an extraordinary and memorable live service of word and music from the Chapel of King’s College, Cambridge, England.
Share in a live, world-wide Christmas Eve broadcast of a service of Biblical readings, carols, and related seasonal music (anthems a cappella and with organ accompaniment, and congregational hymns), presented by one of the world’s foremost choirs of men and boys and performed in an acoustically and architecturally renowned venue.
December 24, 4pm: Welcome Christmas! Welcome Christmas! is a perennial Christmas favorite from VocalEssence, one of the world’s premiere choral groups. John Birge hosts an hour of traditional carols and new discoveries, including the world premiere of two carols from the annual Christmas Carol Contest. For 2019, hear the world premiere of Nico Muhly's "The Faire Starre," a nativity cantata that draws on 17th century metaphysical poets and is set in the unique, eclectic style that has earned Nico Muhly raves from the Metropolitan Opera.
December 24, 7pm: “Messiah” with the San Antonio Mastersingers A performance of Handel’s “Messiah” with orchestra, recorded live at University United Methodist Church on December 8, 2019.
December 25, 1pm: St. Olaf Christmas Festival This service in song and word has become one of the nation's most cherished holiday celebrations. 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. Host Valerie Kahler shares the sights and sounds of this choral favorite.
December 26, 4pm: Candles Burning Brightly Mindy Ratner hosts this celebration of Chanukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights. "Candles Burning Brightly" explores the meaning and traditions of Chanukah, including holiday foods and Sephardic and Ashkenazi music. Broadcast made possible by the Barshop JCC Jewish Film Festival, H-E-B, and Dr. Richard Lazor Family & Cosmetic Dentistry.
January 1, 10am-noon: New Year’s Day from Vienna The Vienna Philharmonic presents its ever popular annual New Year's Day concert from the Golden Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna. You'll hear your favorite waltzes, polkas and more, conducted by Andris Nelsons -- a festive way to start off the New Year! Hosted by WBUR's Lisa Mullins.
TPR News Stations:
Saturday, December 21, 8pm: Christmas Around the World with Deirdre Saravia
Sunday, Decemeber 22, 3pm: Hanukkah Lights 2019 A perennial NPR favorite with all new Hanukkah stories. Authors TBA. Hosted by Susan Stamberg and Murray Horwitz. Broadcast made possible by the Barshop JCC Jewish Film Festival, H-E-B, and Dr. Richard Lazor Family & Cosmetic Dentistry. Did you miss the program? Hear it in the embedded player below.
Tuesday, December 24, 10pm, All Songs Considered for the Holidays This year, All Songs Considered hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton decide to get away from it all with a holiday cruise to Bermuda. Along the way they meet a few special guests aboard the ship, including John Legend, Aloe Blacc, Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers, William Shatner, Lucius, Micky Dolenz of The Monkees and Rodney Crowell, who all try to share their own good cheer for the holidays. But nature inevitably runs its course and the gang finds itself stuck in the swirling vortex of the mystical Bermuda Triangle, desperate for some sort of passage back home. It all unfolds like a bad high school play in this regular, seasonal spoof from NPR Music.
Tuesday, December 24, 11pm, Peabo's 19th Annual Holiday Adventure, "Peabo's Christmas Gamble" In his 19th annual Christmas Eve adventure, Peabo the rooster, the self-appointed official “unofficial mascot” of TPR, gambles away his fortune and finds himself in dire straits on Christmas Eve. Can he get his feathers straight in time before Santa arrives at midnight? Pour some eggnog, and join TPR’s Nathan Cone and his pal David Furst to find out!
Tuesday, December 25, Noon and 7pm, Tinsel Tales from NPR Hear a collection of extraordinary Christmas stories that will transport you to unexpected places. NPR's past and present tell stories of the season in this hour-long special. Some tales are funny; some are touching; some are insightful or irreverent or nostalgic or surprising. You might recognize them from our broadcast archives — or you might fall in love with them for the first time. Hosted by Lynn Neary.
