Thursday, December 4, at 7:00 pm, and Sunday, December 7, at 1:00 pm
From the Top welcomes the 2003 Junior Division winners of the Fischoff Competition, along with a 12-year-old pianist from California and a guitar player from Alabama. Listeners will also hear two movements of a work by Handel played by two very different instruments.
Saturday, December 6, at 1:30 pm
Season Preview
The Metropolitan Opera begins its 64th consecutive year of radio broadcasts live from the stage of the Met, with a Season Preview program. It's an introduction to the upcoming broadcast season, featuring selections from the Met's extensive archive of recordings. Plus, the show includes interviews with several of the Met's opera personalities.
Saturday, December 6, at 8:00 pm
Harry O'Donoghue hosts this locally produced Celtic music program. Playlists are available at the Green Island archive page.
Thursday, December 11, at 7:00 pm, and Sunday, December 14, at 1:00 pm
This week's From the Top was recorded in Davis Theatre for the Performing Arts at Troy State University in Montgomery, Alabama. You'll hear a pianist from Montgomery playing the spectacular Passacaglia by Aaron Copland and an ensemble of young mandolin players and guitarists who make up the unique ensemble "Fretworks" playing movements from Goodin's Louisville Suite. Also, you'll hear a recreation of a young harpist's wedding nightmare and learn the story of one very special teenage romance.
Saturday, December 13, at 1:00 pm (Note early start)
Halévy: La Juive (The Jewess)
Fromental Halévy's La Juive, a shattering story of religious persecution and terrible vengeance set in fifteenth-century Switzerland, returns to the Met for the first time since 1935. When Rachel, daughter of the Jewish goldsmith Eléazer, discovers her lover, whom she knows as Samuel, is actually Prince Léopold, a Christian and engaged to Princess Eudoxie, she exposes his deceit. The Cardinal condemns the lovers and the goldsmith to death, but he offers to spare Rachel if her father will accept Christianity. The goldsmith refuses and Rachel is executed. Eléazer then reveals Rachel's true identity: she was the cardinal's own long-lost daughter.
Marcello Viotti, conductor; Soile Isokoski (Rachel); Elizabeth Futral (Princess Eudoxie); Neil Shicoff (Eléazar); Eric Cutler (Léopold); Ferruccio Furlanetto (Cardinal Brogni).
Saturday, December 13, at 8:00 pm
Harry O'Donoghue hosts this locally produced Celtic music program. Playlists are available at the Green Island archive page.
Saturday, December 13, at 9:00 pm
Dick Wallace hosts this locally produced folk show. Playlists are available at the Music Americana archive page.
Thursday, December 18, at 7:00 pm, and Sunday, December 21, at 1:00 pm
From the Top welcomes special guest Yo-Yo Ma for a program filled with Mr. Ma's trademark humor, humility, and artistry. Mr. Ma and Chris premiere a piece by a brilliant 15-year-old composer, Mr. Ma shares some wacky real-life lessons about touring and life as a cellist, and the program concludes with a glorious performance of the Bachianas Brasileiras by Villa-Lobos, performed by Yo-Yo Ma, seven young cellists, and a wonderful young soprano.
Saturday, December 20, at 1:30 pm
Schoenberg: Moses und Aron
Arnold Schoenberg wrote his own libretto, based on the Book of Exodus, for Moses und Aron, which was the composer's last opera, unfinished at his death. Moses feels unable to communicate his revelation of God to the Israelites, and allows his brother Aaron to explain by miracles and other familiar images. Descending from Mount Sinai, Moses finds the people worshipping the Golden Calf, which he smashes as he despairs of ever being able to get his divine message across without the distortions of intermediaries such as Aaron.
James Levine, conductor; Philip Langridge (Aron); John Tomlinson (Moses).
Saturday, December 20, at 8:00 pm
Harry O'Donoghue hosts this locally produced Celtic music program. Playlists are available at the Green Island archive page.
Monday, December 22, at 7:00 pm
A Hanukkah special, featuring a conversation between Rabbi Ismar Schorsch and host Larry Josephson, mixed with beautiful music of the holiday, chosen by cantor Marcia Tilchin. Rabbi Schorsch explains the meaning of Hanukkah, which occurs this year from sundown December 19 through sundown December 27.
(Pre-empts Classical Guitar Alive)
Tuesday, December 23, at 7:00 pm
From Athens producers Pat and Neal Priest comes a holiday special showcasing the work of gifted Athens musicians who have written original holiday songs that range from quirky to holy to simply mighty pretty. Featured songwriters include Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers, Anne Richmond Boston of the Swimming Pool Q's, Jeff Andrews, formerly of the Fountains, Jean Spencer, and Bill Mallonee.
(Pre-empts Harmonia)
Tuesday, December 23, at 8:00 pm, and Thursday, December 25, at 8:00 pm
From member station WACG in Augusta, The Augusta Opera at St. Paul's returns to GPR this month. Now in its 19th season in the spectacular acoustics of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, this moving and powerful concert of Christmas music has become an Augusta holiday tradition. This year's program features soloists Colleen Gaetano, soprano, Maria Zifchak, mezzo-soprano, Jonathan Boyd, tenor, and Terry Murphy, baritone, with Robin Stamper at the piano, the Augusta Opera Chorus and Orchestra, and the Augusta Children's Chorale. Mark Flint conducts.
(Pre-empts Detroit Symphony on Tuesday and Studio GPR on Thursday)
Wednesday, December 24, at 8:00 pm
Early-music group Apollo's Fire performs Handel's Messiah from Cleveland's Severance Hall. Apollo's Fire takes a dramatic approach to the masterpiece, using approximately the same forces Handel used (30 instruments, 36 singers), and performing on period instruments, with a professional early-music choir. Soloists are Meredith Hall, Derek Lee Ragin, Ian Honeyman, and Christopheren Nomura.
(Pre-empts San Francisco Symphony)
Wednesday, December 24, at 10:00 pm
A concert of brass and choral music of the 16th and 17th centuries by composers such as Giovanni Gabrieli, Michael Praetorius, and Samuel Scheidt. Hosted by Peter Van De Graaff.
(Pre-empts Night Music)
Thursday, December 25, at 11:00 am
Music director and conductor Norman Scribner, host Martin Goldsmith, and the Choral Arts Society invite you to celebrate Christmas in Washington. The program features traditional carols and special holiday favorites from various nations, including Castilla, a charming instrumental work by Isaac Albeniz.
(Pre-empts hours 1 and 2 of Midday Music)
Thursday, December 25, at 1:00 pm
The 70-voice University of Notre Dame Glee Club presents music illuminating the many facets of the holiday season. The program includes traditional carols, music from earlier centuries, multicultural works, and American popular favorites.
(Pre-empts hour 3 of Midday Music)
Thursday, December 25, at 7:00 pm
Christmas in Cologne from the Romanesque Church of St. Gereon, including works from the Italian Baroque by Dall'Abaco, Lotti, Manfredini, Caldara, and Vivaldi. Performing is the chamber chorus Accentus, an ensemble of 32 professional singers, and Concerto Cologne, a top ensemble of early music.
(Pre-empts From the Top, which can be heard on Sunday at 1:00 pm)
Thursday, December 25, at 10:00 pm, and Sunday, December 28, at 10:00 pm
From our own WSVH in Savannah comes two hours of music with a Southeastern emphasis celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. We'll hear the Hallelujah Singers, whose roots are in the Gullah tradition; the Chancel Choir of White Bluff United Methodist Church in Savannah; the Robert Shaw Festival Singers; the Memphis Boychoir; Irish performers from around Savannah; Bob Alberti's Jazz Piano Trio; Jewish lullabies from Tanja Solnik; and much more.
(Pre-empts Night Music on Thursday and Studio GPR on Sunday)
Friday, December 26, at 3:00 pm, and Sunday, December 28, at 10:00 am
Stories from Jonesborough, hosted by Jill Jordan Sieder, is a collection of stories and songs from this year's National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee. Among the featured artists are the Georgia Sea Island Singers. You can find more information about the featured tellers and their recordings on the Georgia Public Radio website, at www.gpb.org. To learn more about the National Storytelling Festival and storytelling events around the country, visit www.storytellingcenter.com.
(Pre-empts Georgia Gazette)
Saturday, December 27, at 1:30 pm
Berlioz: Benvenuto Cellini
The Metropolitan Opera premiere of Hector Berlioz' first completed opera, based on events from the autobiography of the brilliant 16th century sculptor/goldsmith Benvenuto Cellini. Cellini and Fieramosca are rivals both in art and for the love of Teresa, daughter of the papal treasurer. After Cellini kills a man in a fight that breaks out during Carnival, he is offered a pardon -- but only if he can finish a monumental statue before midnight.
James Levine, conductor; Isabel Bayrakdarian (Teresa); Kristine Jepson (Ascanio); Marcello Giordani (Benvenuto Cellini); Peter Coleman-Wright (Fieramosca); John Del Carlo (Giacomo Balducci); Robert Lloyd (Pope Clément VII).
Saturday, December 27, at 8:00 pm
Harry O'Donoghue hosts this locally produced Celtic music program. Playlists are available at the Green Island archive page.
Saturday, December 27, at 9:00 pm
Dick Wallace hosts this locally produced folk show. Playlists are available at the Music Americana archive page.
Sunday, December 28, at 1:00 pm
This week's From the Top, recorded in Corson Auditorum on the campus of the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, features a soprano from Indiana performing the playful aria "Vedrai Carino" from Mozart's Don Giovanni, and a guitarist from Queens, New York, performing de la Maya's lyrical piece, Andaluza. We'll also learn how a very unusual farming product can improve those horrible chapped lips suffered by brass players.
Sunday, December 28, at 8:00 pm
This week we hear an encore presentation of the November 2000 program, featuring Oconee County author Philip Lee Williams, talking about his holiday memoir, The Silent Stars Go By, the story of how life changed for him in 1959 when he was 9, and his family spent their last Christmas in the countryside outside of Madison, Georgia. Williams' story "An Early Snow" is included in After O'Connor: Stories from Contemporary Georgia, a new short story collection from the University of Georgia Press.
Wednesday, December 31, at 7:00 pm
Do you remember where you were when you heard that Dennis Kucinich was running for President? That Liza Minelli was getting married? Or splitting up? That the voters of California elected a Terminator as Governor? While giving 10,00 votes to Gary Coleman? From the ridiculous to the even more ridiculous, all the best and worst events of 2003 are smushed together into one hour of song.
(Pre-empts With Heart and Voice)
Wednesday, December 31, at 10:00 pm
As part of our New Year’s Eve celebrations, Georgia Public Radio will rebroadcast a special, produced by Jazz Spot host Masani, that first aired earlier this year. You’ll hear the music of vocalist Gwen Hughes, guitarist Steve Cunningham, and bassist Brian Hall, all well-known players on the Atlanta jazz landscape. You’ll also catch the smoky vocals of Augusta area native Kari Gaffney, who is really making a name for herself across the country. Tune in and enjoy the music and the conversations these artists have with The Jazz Spot host, Masani.
(Pre-empts hour 1 of Night Music)
Wednesday, December 31, at 11:00 pm
A live broadcast, celebrating the 50th anniversary of The Midnight Special, from Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music. Rich in tradition and history, The Midnight Special retains its timeliness, delighting listeners with an eclectic mix of song and story. Host Rich Warren is joined by Tom Paxton, with special guests Anne Hills and Greg Greenway.
(Pre-empts hour 2 of Night Music and 3 hours of Classics 24 overnight)
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Page updated 12/24/03