Holiday Specials

In celebration of opening day of baseball season (3/29), we present this musical celebration of baseball season. Host Carl Grapentine curates a selection of music for America’s great pastime, including Take Me Out to the Ball Game, music from Field of Dreams and The Natural, mixed with poetry and marches all related to the theme.

A new adaptation of George Frideric Handel’s oratorio, Israel in Egypt, is performed by Apollo’s Fire and soloists, led by Jeannette Sorrell.  From plagues and pyramids, to crossing the Red Sea, this critically acclaimed performance navigates Handel’s musical story with exhilarating abandon.

Saturday 3/17/18, 5:00-6:00 p.m.

A musical exploration of how classical musicians and composers have incorporated the music of Ireland into their performances and compositions.  We’ll enjoy beautiful and unexpected examples of classical music that has its roots in the traditional and folk music of the Emerald Isle.  Selections include Beethoven's "The Pulse of an Irishman," Sousa's "Overture to the Irish Dragoon," Grainger's "Irish Tune from County Derry," and many more.  Andrea Blain hosts.

Wednesday, 2/14/18, 12:00 p.m.  

The renowned men’s ensemble Cantus presents music from the ensemble’s project The Four Loves, an exploration of romantic, familial, friendly and unconditional love, recorded on January 6, 2016 at Plymouth Congregational Church in Minneapolis, MN.  Host Alison Young and the nine men of Cantus talk about the project. 

Ring in the New Year with the Pittsburgh SO and a concert of Strauss waltzes and polkas in the style of the Vienna New Year’s concert. Noa Wildschut makes her Heinz Hall debut to play Chausson’s Poeme and Ravel’s Tzigane.  Manfred Honeck then conducts a program of musical gems from the waltz and polka tradition.

The Vienna Philharmonic presents its annual New Year’s Day concert of waltzes, polkas and more from the Golden Hall of the Musikverein.

Host Scott Blankenship and The Singers’ Matt Culloton join forces to review their favorite carols this holiday season.  Audiences will love singing along as the two share their top picks for the Christmas season, performed by today’s leading artists and ensembles

Advent is a time of quiet contemplation and waiting. It's waiting for darkness to become light and for hopes to be realized. Throughout the centuries Advent has been observed musically in sacred and secular ways. Join Lynne Warfel for an hour of the most beautiful vocal music inspired by and written for Advent. Performers include NY Polyphony, The Cambridge Singers, Cantus, The Tallis Scholars Apollo’s Fire and more.  Selections include "I Wonder As I Wander," "Gabriel’s Message," "Twas in the Moon of Wintertime," and "Still, Still, Still."

Manuel de Sumaya (1678-1755) is probably the best known composer from colonial Mexico and a shining star of the baroque era. In celebration of the holiday season, A Baroque Christmas in the New World brings you music from 17th- and 18th-century Mexico, Peru and Bolivia, including a cantata and three free-standing works by Sumaya, most of which comes from the only surviving manuscript in full-score in Sumaya's own hand!

Director Jonathan Miller leads the virtuoso vocal ensemble Chicago a cappella in an inspiring show of choral music set to Chanukah texts.  The program includes familiar tunes as well as new versions of traditional melodies and original compositions by American and British composers.