This holiday season on KWTU, enjoy festive concerts near (right here in Tulsa!) and far (New Years Day in Vienna, anyone?), including much-loved favorites like A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King's College, England!
Oklahoma Bach Choir Sings Bach
Sunday, Dec. 12th at 4:00 PM
From a performance recorded Dec. 3 at St John’s Episcopal Church, the Oklahoma Bach Choir perform an Advent program of two of Johann Sebastian Bach’s most celebrated cantatas. The Cantata No. 62 (Now Come, the Gentile’s Savior) and the Cantata No. 140 (Sleeper’s Awake). The Oklahoma Bach Choir is an ensemble devoted to the music of Bach and other Baroque era composers using period instruments of the day.
Tulsa Chorale: Vaughan Williams’ Hodie, A Christmas Cantata
Saturday, Dec. 18th at 8:00 PM
Sunday, Dec. 19th at 4:00 PM
From a performance in November 2019, Dr. Tim Sharp, soloists Michele Eiler, Kim Childs, and David Howard, and the Tulsa Chorale and Children’s Chorus sing English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Christmas cantata “Hodie.” The cantata takes settings from Christmas vespers, translated hymns by Martin Luther, quotations from the Gospel of Luke, and songs and choral selections featuring the poetry of John Milton, Thomas Hardy, and other English poets to tell the story of Jesus’ birth.
New York Philharmonic
Sunday, Dec. 19th at 1:00 PM
This week’s regularly scheduled broadcast features Handel’s “Messiah” featuring conductor Helmuth Rilling, soloists, and Rilling’s Gachinger Kantorei Stuttgart.
All Is Bright: Contemplative Music For Christmas
Monday, Dec. 20th at Noon
Friday, Dec. 24th at 9:00 PM
Hosted by Lynne Warfel, All is Bright presents a program of contemplative music related to the Christmas season and its symbolism using sacred choral music grouped to tell the traditional Christmas story by way of songs about angels, the star, and the manger. Featuring the music of Jennifer Higdon, John Rutter, Arvo Part, and traditional music.
Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra
Tuesday, Dec. 21st at Noon
The sounds of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square floated into many homes during the holidays in the '60s & '70s on Goodyear and Firestone albums, bringing lush renditions of favorite Christmas carols. Those warm memories and feelings come right back again in this holiday special. The choir continues its tradition of great artistry with touching arrangements of familiar carols by their director Mack Wilberg, and surprises with lesser-known melodies that are fast becoming the new classics.
Chanticleer Christmas
Wednesday, Dec. 22nd at Noon
A unique program of holiday music presented in concert by Chanticleer, this superb 12-man ensemble known as “an orchestra of voices” as they perform holiday classics and new favorites with host Steve Staruch.
St. Olaf Christmas Festival
Thursday, Dec. 23rd at 9:00 PM
The St. Olaf Christmas Festival started in 1911 at St Olaf College as a simple service for students, faculty and friends. In the 109 years since, the Festival has grown to include over 500 student musicians who perform for over 12,000 audience members over four live concerts, a ticket that sells out months in advance. The St Olaf Christmas Festival is chance to hear one of the nation’s most treasured holiday celebrations with sacred choral and instrumental music from many traditions, hymns, classical masterworks, folk songs and African-American spirituals.
A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
Friday, Dec. 24th at 9:00 AM
Friday, Dec 24th at 10:00 PM
Performed live once again from Cambridge England’s Chapel of King’s College, the internationally renowned choir share a world-wide Christmas Eve broadcast of Biblical readings, carols, and related seasonal Classical music. The service opens with a sole boy’s treble singing the first verse of “Once in Royal David’s City” and continues with the world premiere of a carol by a commissioned composer and concludes with a communal singing of “O Come, All Ye Faithful.”
New Year’s Day from Vienna 2022
Saturday, Jan. 1st at 10:00 AM
Welcome in the New Year with the popular New Year’s Day concert performed by the Vienna Philharmonic under the direction of conductor Daniel Barenboim. Enjoy the music of 19th century imperial Austria and the waltzes, polkas, galops, of Johann Strauss II and the Strauss family, as the Philharmonic send a New Year’s greeting to the people of the world in the spirit of hope, friendship, and peace.