Holiday Programming

Beginning in November, I thought about looking for a new opera to play as we approached the New Year. However, by the beginning of December, I’d already heard from several people who asked me to repeat Johann Strauss' “Die Fledermaus” because it’s become a part of their family tradition. Who am I to go against tradition? So, on this week’s Sunday Opera (12/28 3:00 p.m.), the all-star “bat” returns!

For many, this time of year features a whirlwind of parties. We really don’t have first-hand knowledge of that, so we had to turn to the musicals on this week’s Dress Circle (12/28 7:00 p.m.) for some help with what parties might entail.

This broadcast Monday evening (12/22 at 8 pm) features a performance of three complete Bach cantatas. (There will be an encore broadcast of this concert Christmas Day at 8 pm)

We have a Christmas favorite on this week’s Sunday Opera (12/21 3:00 p.m.) as we turn to Englebert Humperdinck’s 1892 Marchenoper or “fairytale opera,” “Hansel and Gretel” in an English Translation by Tom Hammond. It features Heidi Grant Murphy and Suzanne Mentzer in the title roles.

The holidays seem to induce memories, and some of them seem to be rather interesting. This is the case with this week’s Dress Circle (12/21 7:00 p.m.) and our playlist of songs from musicals and films that make up some of our holiday memories. Several of these may not be what you might expect.

The year is speeding by, and it’s unbelievable that we’re already facing Thanksgiving, but face it we must. To get you ready, this week’s Dress Circle (11/23 7:00 p.m.) is all about “thanks.” Well, songs that say “thank” in some way.

Halloween is looming on the horizon, and we hope you’ll join us on Friday for some devilishly good music for the season. Join Michael Kownacky from 4 – 6 p.m. for a playlist that’ll hopefully help you get ready for the evening ahead. Our evening of seasonal music includes pieces about devils, witches, and a few ghosts thrown in for good measure.

We hope you’re enjoying your holiday weekend, and on this week’s Dress Circle (8/31 7:00 p.m.), we’re hoping to add to that enjoyment with “work” songs for Labor Day. The fourteen songs we've programmed include physical work, allegorical work, mental work, and more.

We’ve got two contemporary operas for Christmas on this week’s Sunday Opera (12/22 3:00 p.m.) as we begin with Jake Heggie’s 2016 version of “It’s a Wonderful Life” and continue with Ricky Ian Gordon’s setting of Gail Rock’s beloved novel, “The House Without a Christmas Tree.”

It’s time again for the ghosts to visit, and this year, we’re being visited by some Programs of Christmas Past on this week’s Dress Circle (12/22 7:00 p.m.) as we look at some listener favorites from past programs featuring songs from stage and screen musicals.