Travel the world and celebrate the season with WLRN

Monday, December 19
11pm – European Christmas Markets – Travel/Culture
A fun trip to discover European Christmas markets.

Discover the European Christmas markets, downtown, market square, or along the narrow, cobblestone streets in the winter darkness with festively decorated wooden stalls, mulled wine, regional food, Christmas decorations, sweets, toys. , regional crafts and local entertainment. Travel to eight stunning medieval towns and castles in Germany, France and Switzerland. Learn the city’s history, check out its Christmas markets, and celebrate the magic of the season. Enjoy a special public performance of traditional Christmas carols performed by the Kingston Trio.

11:30 pm – Christmas on the Danube – Travel/Culture
Visit the towns near the Danube, which are especially wonderful at Christmas.

Visit the impressive Danube cities of Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. Learn about the history of each place, visit Christmas markets, see holiday decorations, and discover their traditions, like the ancient gingerbread tradition and the story of that most famous Christmas carol, Silent Night. The journey is accompanied by classical music by great composers from the regions we are visiting.

Tuesday, December 20
10:00 – Ella’s Swinging Christmas with Vanessa Williams – Performance – The American Pops Orchestra performs music from “Ella Wishes You a Swingin’ Christmas,” Ella Fitzgerald’s Holiday Classics album; Edited by Vanessa Williams.

In partnership with Ella Fitzgerald’s charity, the American Pops Orchestra presents an evening celebrating the entire holiday classic album. This 60 Minutes performance stars host and vocalist Vanessa Williams with appearances by Dee Dee Bridgewater, Norm Lewis, Carmen Ruby Floyd, Nova Peyton, Dave Detwiler and Morgan James.

11pm – ST. Olaf Christmas: Love Divine – Performance – For many people, over many generations, the season of Advent – Christmas – Epiphany begins with the annual St. Olaf Christmas Festival, a centennial tradition of the college.

The St. Olaf Christmas Festival is one of the oldest music festivals in the United States. Under the direction of five directors, the college has over 500 student musicians who are members of world-renowned choirs and orchestras.

The festival features a rich selection of classical Advent and Christmas compositions, classic carols, hymns, and contemporary works from a variety of composers and cultures, both celebrating the college’s Norwegian American history and highlighting its beautiful scenery. Works from around the world.

St. Olaf Christmas Facts and Pictures

• 1912 – A music program for the college community began and was planned and directed by F. Melius Christianson, founder of St. Olaf’s music department.
• 7,000+ guests attend the festival’s concerts and special events.
• 500 student musicians participate as members of five choirs and orchestras.

Wednesday December 21
9:00 p.m. – O Holy Night: Christmas with Tabernacle Choir – Performance
Following twenty years of tradition, Oh holy night It marks the return of a special in-person concert for the first time since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Booked over three nights in December 2021 at the Salt Lake City Convention Center on Temple Square.

The long-running tradition, which has hosted famous singers and actors from Broadway, music, film and television, has been the No. 1 original holiday program on PBS for 17 years since it first aired in 2004.

10:00 – Anthony Williams Urban Nutcracker – Performance – A modern retelling of “The Nutcracker” draws on classical ballet, urban tap, hip-hop, swing, flamenco, step and jazz.

Anthony Williams’ Urban Nutcracker puts a modern spin on the 19th century tale. Duke Ellington’s Dovetail with Neon Screams, Driven by Tchaikovsky’s Heartbeat, Blends Classic Ballet, Urban Tap, Hip Hop, Step and Jazz into Something Unique. You might say it’s a fusion of modern and classical dance….but it’s so much more! It’s a celebration of our multicultural community!

11.30pm – The Magic of Christmas in Alsace – Travel/Culture – Experience the delightful way the towns and villages of France’s Alsace region celebrate Christmas.

The magic of Christmas in Alsace takes you into a small French region where the villagers celebrate the holidays with elaborate decorations and traditional festivities. Learn the legend of the first Christmas tree, watch glass blowers at work, adventure through the Manger Trail and explore a medieval Christmas market. When wine-making towns put their grapes to sleep for the winter, the region explodes with color and creativity.

Thursday, December 22
10 pm – Jewel of the World – Culture/Documentary – See how Muslims, Jews and Christians created a cultural identity in medieval Spain.

As we travel through Córdoba, Granada, Seville and Toledo, we retrace 800 years in medieval Spain where Muslims, Christians and Jews forged a common cultural identity that transcended their religious differences. This fascinating story reveals what made this rare and fruitful collaboration possible, and what ultimately tore it apart.

Saturday, December 24
11:00 – O Holy Night: Christmas with Tabernacle Choir – Performance
*** Rebroadcast ***

Sunday, December 25
7 a.m. – 20 Years of Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir – Performance/History

Brian Stokes Mitchell reflects on 20 years of Christmas specials for the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. Featuring appearances and performances by Kristen Chenoweth, Audra McDonald, Hugh Bonneville, the Sesame Street Muppets, and more.

9 am – Praise and Sing! Glory to the new king – Performance – A concert featuring secular and sacred music.

This spectacular Christmas concert of secular and sacred music is conducted by Steven R. Jobman and features Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church’s renowned 150-voice sanctuary choir, orchestra and organist/artist-in-residence, Bradley Hunter Welch. The program also features handbells, bagpipes, a jazz ensemble and soloists.

10 a.m. – The Nutcracker and the Mouse King – Performance – Alan Cummings tells the origin story of how a prince got into a nutcracker.

Conceived by John Mousseri, this new work is a reimagining of Tchaikovsky’s holiday favorite, “The Nutcracker.” Based on ETA Hoffmann’s 1816 book, Alan Cummings tells the origin story of how a prince gets into a nutcracker. Unlike the ballet, we learn what happens to the girl after she grows up, rescues the prince, and what they are doing today.

11.30am – Anthony Williams The Urban Nutcracker – Performance *** Rebroadcast ***