This Week at The Classical Station

(Still Life of Musical Instruments by Unknown, mid 17th Century)

My music is a white light which contains all colors. The prism which can divide those colors is the spirit of the listener.

~ Arvo Pärt

This Week at The Classical Station

by Chrissy Keuper & Mark Schreiner

Saturday and Sunday, 20-21 December 2025

We are here to accompany your weekend plans with great classical music. Join us!

 

This weekend:

Join us at 1pm ET for Saturday On Point, our weekly spotlight on classical music for the ballet. This week, the holiday classic by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovky: The Nutcracker.

 

 

Then at 6pm ET, more of your favorites and special dedications on the Saturday Evening Request Program.

Here’s the playlist; make your requests and dedications for next week right here.

 

 

 

Get your sacred Sunday morning started at 8am ET with Great Sacred Music as James Steelmon brings you devotional thoughts accompanied by beautiful sacred works, which include Von Himmel hoch by Felix Mendelssohn.

 

 

And at 6pm ET, Preview! features the best in new and recent classical releases, including recordings of the Ariel Quartet and Ludwig van Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 5 in A, Op. 18, and Johannes Brahms’ Symphony No. 2 in D, Op. 73, performed by the Chamber Orchestra of Europe.

 

 

Friday, 19 December 2025

 

It’s All-Request Friday, the day that we honor your requests and special dedications

(and we’ll do it again on the Saturday Evening Request Program).

Tune in to hear them all!

 

Where are the playlists?

Where can I make a request/dedication?

 

 

Thursday, 18 December 2025

It’s Friday Eve, All!

(The Snow Maiden by Nicholas Roerich, 1947)

We celebrate at 7pm ET with a special holiday version of Thursday Night Opera House: “Opera Stars Sing Songs of the Season” for winter, Christmas, and Hannakuh in an eclectic mix curated by Dr. Jay Pierson.

 

 

Monday, 15 December 2025

Wrap yourself in the warmth of vinyl at 7pm ET with Vince Tillona on Drop the Needle. This week, we celebrate Ludwig van Beethoven’s birthday with a special extended edition, featuring Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D minor in all its analog, vinyl glory.

 

At 8pm ET, Monday Night at the Symphony is our spotlight on the recordings of the world’s great orchestras. Tonight, we’ll hear the esteemed Bamberg Symphony Orchestra under the direction of conductors Jakub Hrůša, Jonathan Nott and more. See you at the symphony!

 

Tune in tomorrow as The Classical Station celebrates Beethoven’s birthday with beloved favorites throughout the day! Plus, music to celebrate Hanukkah, beginning at sundown ET.

Now Playing

Symphony No. 35 in D, K. 385 "Haffner"

Composed by

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Performed by

Vienna Philharmonic/Bernstein

Label

DG

Catalog Number

415

Today's Playlist

9:48am Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2

Composed by

Franz Liszt (1811-1886)

Performed by

Vancouver Symphony/Comissiona

10:01am Character dances from Act II, The Nutcracker, Op. 71

Composed by

Peter I. Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)

Performed by

New York City Ballet Orchestra/Zinman

10:16am Deborah's Theme (From "Once upon a Time in America")

Composed by

Ennio Morricone (1928-2020)

Performed by

Butta/Munich Radio Orchestra/Morricone

10:24am Symphonic Dance, Op. 64 No. 3

Composed by

Edvard Grieg (1843–1907)

Performed by

Utah Symphony Orchestra/Abravanel

10:32am Overture to William Tell

Composed by

Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868)

Performed by

National Philharmonic/Chailly

10:45am Keyboard Trio No. 8 in B flat, Hob.XV:8

Composed by

Josef Haydn (1732-1809)

Performed by

Mendelssohn Piano Trio

11:00am Sarabande ~ Cello Suite No. 4 in E-flat, BWV 1010: IV

Composed by

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), arr. Alon Sariel

Performed by

Alon Sariel

11:06am Prelude to Act 1 & Love-Death from Tristan & Isolde

Composed by

Richard Wagner (1813-1883)

Performed by

Berlin Philharmonic/Karajan

11:28am Chaconne ~ Violin Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004

Composed by

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), arr. Alon Sariel

Performed by

Alon Sariel

11:44am Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Op. 21

Composed by

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)

Performed by

Cleveland Orchestra/Szell

11:56am Gymnopedie No. 3

Composed by

Erik Satie, arr. Ronnie Bauch

Performed by

B. Marsalis/Orpheus Chamber Orchestra

12:01pm Symphony No. 2 in C, Op. 61

Composed by

Robert Schumann (1810-1856)

Performed by

Vienna Philharmonic/Sinopoli

12:40pm Hungarian Rhapsody No. 3 in D

Composed by

Franz Liszt (1811-1886)

Performed by

Israel Philharmonic/Mehta

12:50pm Music selected by the announcer

1:01pm Guitar Quintet No. 7 in E minor

Composed by

Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805)

Performed by

Romero/Academy Chamber Ensemble

1:21pm Danse Macabre, Op. 40

Composed by

Camille Saint-Saens (1835-1921)

Performed by

Sax/National Philharmonic/Stokowski

1:30pm Piano Concerto No. 3 in G minor

Composed by

Ignaz Moscheles (1794-1870)

Performed by

Klansky/Dvorak Chamber Orchestra/Parak

2:00pm 1st Movement ~ Piano Trio in D, Op. 101 No. 5

Composed by

Anton Reicha (1770–1836)

Performed by

Trio Bohemo

2:13pm L'Arlesienne Suite No. 2

Composed by

Georges Bizet (1838–1875)

Performed by

French National Orchestra/Ozawa

2:33pm Main Theme (From "Cinema Paradiso")

Composed by

Ennio Morricone (1928-2020)

Performed by

Butta/Munich Radio Orchestra/Morricone

2:37pm Fantasia for a Gentleman

Composed by

Joaquin Rodrigo (1901-1999)

Performed by

P. Romero/Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields/Marriner

3:00pm Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring

Composed by

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Performed by

Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields/Marriner

3:07pm Piano Trio in A, Op. 101 No. 6

Composed by

Anton Reicha (1770–1836)

Performed by

Trio Bohemo

3:31pm Asturias (Leyenda) from Suite española, Op. 47

Composed by

Isaac Albeniz/trans. Andres Segovia

Performed by

Andres Segovia

3:40pm Women's Dignity Waltz, Op. 277

Composed by

Josef Strauss (1827-1870)

Performed by

Vienna Philharmonic/Nezet-Seguin

3:49pm Overture to Benvenuto Cellini, Op. 23

Composed by

Hector Berlioz (1803-1869)

Performed by

London Symphony/Previn

4:00pm Shepherd Fennel’s Dance

Composed by

Henry Balfour Gardiner (1877-1950)

Performed by

Indianapolis Symphony/Leppard

4:07pm Overture to Orpheus in the Underworld

Composed by

Jacques Offenbach/arr. Carl Binder

Performed by

La Pieta/Dubeau

4:17pm Canon & Gigue in D

Composed by

Johann Pachelbel (1653–1706)

Performed by

Academy of Ancient Music/Hogwood

4:23pm Wedding March from A Midsummer Night's Dream

Composed by

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)

Performed by

Chicago Symphony/Levine

4:30pm Alia Fantasia in A minor

Composed by

Nicola Matteis (c.1650-1713), arr. Alon Sariel

Performed by

Alon Sariel

4:36pm Horn Concerto No. 3 in D

Composed by

Josef Haydn (1732-1809)

Performed by

Baumann/Concerto Amsterdam/Schroder

4:55pm Bavarian Dance, Op. 27 No. 3

Composed by

Edward Elgar (1857-1934)

Performed by

English String Orchestra/Boughton

5:01pm Dances from Marouf, Cobbler of Cairo

Composed by

Henri Rabaud (1873-1949)

Performed by

Minnesota Orchestra/Oue

5:16pm Main Theme (From "H2S")

Composed by

Ennio Morricone (1928-2020)

Performed by

Butta/Munich Radio Orchestra/Morricone

5:20pm Overture to Oberon

Composed by

Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826)

Performed by

Dresden State Orchestra/Sinopoli

5:32pm Emperor Waltz

Composed by

Johann Strauss Jr. (1825-1899)

Performed by

Vienna Philharmonic/Maazel

5:43pm Slavonic Dance in C, Op. 72 No. 7

Composed by

Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904)

Performed by

Boston Symphony/Ozawa

5:47pm Waltz No. 2 from Jazz Suite No. 2

Composed by

Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975)

Performed by

Radio France Philharmonic/P. Jarvi

5:52pm Bassoon Concerto in E flat, RV 483

Composed by

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)

Performed by

Thunemann/I Musici

6:00pm Piano Trio in D, Op. 101 No. 5

Composed by

Anton Reicha (1770–1836)

Performed by

Trio Bohemo

6:32pm Symphony No. 15 in G, K. 124

Composed by

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Performed by

Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields/Marriner

6:46pm Music selected by the announcer

7:03pm Overture to Der Freischutz

Composed by

Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826)

Performed by

New York Philharmonic/Bernstein

7:17pm Ride of the Valkyries from Die Walkure

Composed by

Richard Wagner (1813-1883)

Performed by

Cleveland Orchestra/Szell

7:26pm Polonaise in A flat, Op. 53 "Heroic"

Composed by

Frederic Chopin (1810-1849)

Performed by

Maurizio Pollini

7:37pm Overture to The Marriage of Figaro, K. 492

Composed by

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Performed by

Orchestra of the 18th Century/Bruggen

7:45pm Music for the Royal Fireworks

Composed by

George Frideric Handel, arr. by Hamilton Harty

Performed by

Pittsburgh Symphony/Previn

8:04pm Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F, BWV 1047

Composed by

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Performed by

Herseth/Ravinia Music Festival Orchestra/Levine

8:19pm Asturias (Leyenda) from Suite Espanola, Op. 47

Composed by

Isaac Albeniz (1860-1909)

Performed by

Thibaut Garcia

8:30pm Finale (Rondo) from Piano Concerto No. 1 in C, Op. 15

Composed by

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Performed by

Rubinstein/Boston Symphony/Leinsdorf

8:43pm Overture to The Barber of Seville

Composed by

Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868)

Performed by

Philharmonia/Karajan

8:54pm Russian Dance from Act III, Swan Lake, Op. 20

Composed by

Peter I. Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)

Performed by

Bell/Berlin Philharmonic/Tilson Thomas

9:02pm Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565

Composed by

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Performed by

E. Power Biggs

9:15pm Overture to Fidelio

Composed by

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Performed by

Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra/Masur

9:25pm Prelude to Act 3 from Lohengrin

Composed by

Richard Wagner

Performed by

Boston Pops/Fiedler

9:32pm Overture to William Tell

Composed by

Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868)

Performed by

Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields/Marriner

9:47pm Etude in E, Op. 10 No. 3 "Tristesse"

Composed by

Frederic Chopin (1810-1849)

Performed by

Tamás Vásáry

9:54pm Overture to Russlan and Ludmilla

Composed by

Mikhail Glinka (1804-1857)

Performed by

Cincinnati Pops/Kunzel

10:02pm Pavane for a Dead Princess

Composed by

Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)

Performed by

Berlin Philharmonic/Karajan

10:10pm String Quartet in F minor, Op. 80

Composed by

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)

Performed by

Ysaye Quartet

10:38pm Quintet No. 6 in G minor

Composed by

Antonio Soler (1729-1783)

Performed by

Schrader/Chicago Baroque Ensemble

11:02pm Fantasia on Greensleeves

Composed by

Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)

Performed by

Orpheus Chamber Orchestra

11:07pm Etudes, Op. 10

Composed by

Frederic Chopin (1810-1849)

Performed by

Yunchan Lim

11:36pm Adagio in G minor

Composed by

Tomaso Albinoni (arr. Remo Giazotto)

Performed by

Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields/Marriner

11:43pm Music selected by the announcer