If you’ve ever had a nightmare about a grimacing nutcracker or found yourself profoundly disturbed by a Rankin-Bass Christmas special, then this one’s for you. Paul Hindemith’s unusual Christmas fairy tale, “Tuttifäntchen, ” presents a wooden figure, carved from a fir by a master woodcutter, which springs to life and generates all sorts of havoc. In a similar vein, we'll hear Ernst Toch’s “Pinocchio: A Merry Overture” and Leroy Robertson’s “Punch and Judy Overture.” Nothing says Christmas like malevolent puppets, this Sunday at 10 pm.
2021 Holiday SeasonJoin WWFM as we present a variety of musical specials for the holidays.Friday Dec. 176 pm - B&K Holiday SpecialBill McGlaughlin (host of Exploring Music) and Karrin Allyson bring a cozy hour of holiday music and conversation.8 pm – An Evening of Readings and Carols - Westminster Choir CollegeEnjoy this year's joyful return to Princeton University Chapel of this cherished holiday tradition. Seven choirs and soprano Laquita Mitchell perform.10 pm –Millennium of Music: A German ChristmasMusic from the late sixteenth and early seventeenth century featuring the Saxony Vocal Ensemble and the Schola Heidelberg.Saturday Dec. 181 pm – Listener Request HourToday's Request Hour features Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors.6 pm – Picture Perfect with Ross Amico: TV Christmas SpecialsEnjoy classic favorites from TV Christmas specials including music from “The Snowman” (Howard Blake), “The Homecoming” (Jerry Goldsmith), “A Christmas Carol” (Bernard Herrmann), and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (Vince Guaraldi). 7 pm – A Tempo with Rachel KatzHost Rachel Katz wraps up her series exploring how choral ensembles are returning to the stage for the holiday season with performances including Messiah sing-ins and other traditionalholiday favorites. This week features an interview with Malcolm Merriweather, music director of The Dessoff Choirs, which will present a concert featuring Margaret Bonds' The Ballad of the Brown King on Dec. 19.Sunday Dec. 191 pm – With Heart and VoiceChoral and orchestral works celebrating the Fourth week of Advent and Christmas.2 pm – Sounds ChoralHost Ryan Brandau, Music Director of Princeton Pro Musica and Monmouth Civic Chorus, shares some of his holiday favorites, including motets, carols and Bonds' The Ballad of the Brown King.3 pm – The Sunday Opera with Michael KownackyThe Pulitzer Prize-winning opera "Silent Night" by Kevin Puts, inspired by the tragic, short-lived peace during WWI. Following the opera, stay tuned for more music for the season.7 pm – The Dress Circle with Ted Otten and Michael KownackyAn hour of holiday memories with songs from "Hans Brinker or The Silver Skates", "The Gift of the Magi," and "The Stingiest Man in Town," as well as a performance of Clement Moore's "A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Lionel Barrymore.10 pm – The Lost Chord with Ross Amico: Christmas RosesA Christmas bouquet featuring Hugo Distler's “Die Weihnachtsgeschichte” (“The Christmas Story”), an otherworldly, a cappella masterpiece punctuated by seven variations on the carol “Es ist ein Ros entsprungen” (“Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming”), and Emil Waldteufel’s waltz, “Roses de Noël.”Monday Dec. 2011 am – Pipedreams with Michael BaroneAn American Organist's Christmas featuring holiday music in performances featuring performers, composers and organ builders in the U.S. Wednesday Dec. 22, 20218 pm – The New York Philharmonic This WeekA Winter Holiday Jukebox, featuring a mix of holiday songs to celebrate the season.Thursday Dec. 23, 202112 pm – A Soulful ChristmasThis program presents an uplifting, relevant display of Black music in the classical, gospel, spiritual, and jazz-inspired style. This special celebrates the non-idiomatic Black classical music, while exploring non-idiomatic choral traditions. (From American Public Media)Friday Dec. 24 - Christmas Eve10 am – A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King's College Cambridge (From American Public Media)2 pm – A Chanticleer Christmas - Hear why this superb 12-man ensemble is known as "an orchestra of voices," as they perform holiday classics and new favorites, with choral commentary by host Steve Staruch. (From American Public Media)6 pm – The Princeton Singers - "A Christmas Carol"Join The Princeton Singers and actor Christopher Coucill for Charles Dickens' classic "A Christmas Carol."8 pm – The Princeton SingersDr. Steven Sametz directs The Princeton Singers in this concert entitled "What Sweeter Music."10 pm – St. Olaf Christmas FestivalA service in song and word that 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. (From American Public Media)Saturday Dec. 25 - Christmas Day8 am – Festival Service of Christmas Lessons & Carols from Trinity Church Princeton12 pm - Welcome Christmas with VocalEssenceAn hour of traditional carols and new discoveries with VocalEssence, one of the world's premiere choral groups.1 pm - Christmas Request HourDavid Osenberg hosts this special two-hour edition of our Saturday Listener Request program, sharing Christmas and holiday requests that have come in from listeners.3 pm – Westminster Choir College Readings and CarolsEnjoy this year's joyful return to Princeton University Chapel of this cherished holiday tradition. Seven choirs and soprano Laquita Mitchell perform.5 pm – Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple SquareThe Tabernacle Choir continues its tradition of great artistry with touching arrangements of familiar carols, and surprises with lesser-known melodies that will surely become new classics.6 pm - Picture Perfect with Ross AmicoMusic from some of the most beloved holiday movies, including "A Christmas Carol," "Miracle on 34th Street," and "Home Alone."7:30 pm – Inside Music with George Marriner MaullHallelujah! - Part 2.8 pm – Bach Choir of BethlehemThe choir performs JS Bach's Christmas Oratorio.10 pm – A Chanticleer Christmas (Rebroadcast)Sunday Dec. 2611 am - All is Bright: Contemplative Music for ChristmasLynne Warfel hosts an hour of gorgeous, contemplative choral music that tells the traditional Christmas story with songs about angles, the star and the manger scene.3 pm - Sunday OperaJoin us for a charming fantasy for the holiday with Hans Pfitzner’s “Das Christ-Elflein.” 7 pm – The Dress Circle with Ted Otten and Michael KownackyAn hour of holiday memories, part 2, including a 1953 radio production of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” featuring Sir Laurence Olivier.Saturday Jan. 1, 202110 am – New Year's from ViennaWelcome 2022 with this annual broadcast from the Vienna Philharmonic, conducted by Daniel Barenboim.