© 2024
Classical 99.5 | Classical Radio Boston
Donate
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Joy and Serenity for the Holidays on WCRB

WCRB
Published November 30, 2023 at 1:37 PM EST
Holly berries and leaves
Jorien Loman
/
Unsplash
Holly berries and leaves

Throughout December, make WCRB your home for holiday music!

From Messiah to The Nutcracker and beyond, let holiday music ring out this season! We're playing festive favorites all month on 99.5 WCRB, including on WCRB In Concert, The Bach Hour, and The Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Sunday, Dec. 10, 7pm: WCRB In Concert with Handel and Haydn Society

Jonathan Cohen stands at the podium with his hand raised high above him. He gazes upwards and smiles.
Hallelujah! Handel and Haydn Society's "Messiah"
On WCRB In Concert with the Handel and Haydn Society, Artistic Director Jonathan Cohen leads the H+H Orchestra, Chorus, and a slate of spectacular soloists in a centuries-old Boston tradition.

Wednesday, Dec. 13, 7:30pm: GBH Music's Holiday Spectacular!

On December 13, 2023, GBH opened its doors and Calderwood studio to the public for GBH Music's Holiday Spectacular, hosted by GBH Music Hosts Laura Carlo and Greg Ferrisi. The event included some of the best musical acts in Massachusetts -- Renaissance Men, a Boston-based ensemble of ten male voices known for their close-knit a cappella harmonies; Blue Heron, a medieval vocal ensemble led by Scott Metcalfe which will bring audiences back to the sounds of the earliest holiday celebrations; pianist John Paul McGee, who performed his holiday favorites in his signature "Gospejazzical" genre; the angelic singers of the Handel and Haydn Youth Chorus Chamber Choir led by conductor Alyson Greer Espinosa; and members of the triumphant and jubilant New England Brass Band led by Music Director Mark Olson.
GBH Music's Holiday Spectacular
Experience the magic of this season with GBH Music's Holiday Spectacular, an enchanting evening featuring some of the best musical acts in Massachusetts, now available on demand!

Sunday, Dec. 17, 7pm: WCRB In Concert with the Boston Pops!

Keith Lockhart stands on stage with and the Boston Pops. Symphony Hall is decorated in red and white lights.
Holiday Pops 2023!
Keith Lockhart conducts the Boston Pops in a program of holiday music old and new through traditional carols, Pops classics, and a special visit from one jolly, old fellow!

Saturday, Dec. 23, 8pm: The Boston Symphony Orchestra

Close up view of a nutcracker doll
The Boston Symphony and Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker"
Seiji Ozawa leads the BSO in a magical ballet score for the season that expresses the innocence of childhood and the drama of transformation, sprinkled with musical delights and passion.

Sunday, Dec. 24, 7pm: WCRB In Concert with Blue Heron

The vocal ensemble Blue Heron stands outside leaving against stone pillars.
Blue Heron's "Christmas in Medieval England"
On WCRB In Concert with Blue Heron, the acclaimed vocal ensemble transports us to the 1440s through carols, plainchant, hymns, and mass settings for the season.

Sundays, 6am, starting Dec. 3: J.S. Bach's Christmas Oratorio
Celebrate the season with Bach's stunning setting of the Christmas story, his Christmas Oratorio, over six Sundays starting Dec. 3 at 6am, on The Bach Hour.

Looking for continuous holiday music? We have three different 24-hour streams, filled with the most beautiful classical holiday music, available in the player at the top of our homepage.

WCRB's Perfect Holiday Party Soundtrack - Traditional holiday favorites that keep your mood festive and warm. From "Winter Wonderland" to "Have Yourself a Merry Christmas" to "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," and everything in between.

WCRB's Ultimate Holiday Classical Mix - All of the traditional classics, plus carols from across centuries and around the globe.

WCRB's Heavenly Holiday Classics - From baroque to renaissance and beyond, this stream features choral and symphonic masterpieces, like Handel’s Messiah, Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, Britten’s Ceremony of Carols, and more.

To listen to our holiday streams on Amazon Alexa:

Go to Amazon.com or open your Alexa app on your phone and search for WCRB Holiday streams and click enable. Then the following voice commands will work.

Say "Alexa, Open WCRB Holiday Streams."

Once the skill is enabled, you can say:

"Play Perfect Holiday Party," or
"Play Ultimate Holiday Classical Mix," or
"Play Heavenly Holiday Classics."

It will also prompt you with a menu of the three stream options.

There is currently no Google Home skill for the holiday streams.

Explore holiday music with selections from our blog!