Winter Programming Highlights
All times are eastern.
See pages 6 and 7 of your winter issue of Quarter Notes to read more about what’s coming up this quarter at WCPE, The Classical Station.
Dmitri Hvrostovsky and Anna Netrebko in Prokofiev’s “War and Peace.” Photo: Met Opera Archives
The Metropolitan Opera
Saturday, December 5
While the Met Opera has cancelled its 2020–21 season of live performances, the company remains committed to providing a complete schedule of Saturday matinee radio broadcasts from December 5, 2020, through June 5, 2021, featuring classic, pre-recorded opera performances.
Chanukah (Hanukkah)
Begins at sunset Thursday, December 10
We’ll celebrate the beginning of the Jewish Festival of Lights with special music on December 10 at 6:00 p.m., with additional seasonal selections throughout the eight-day observance.
Quatuor Ébène (photo by Julien Mignot)
Beethovenfest
December 14–16
This year the world marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Ludwig van Beethoven, a tragic figure whose towering accomplishments forever changed the course of music. His compositions embody the best of qualities of mankind—freedom, dignity, and heroism in the face of adversity. We’ll spend three days celebrating the music of Beethoven, culminating on the presumed day of his birth with his stirring Symphony no. 9 in D Minor. Among the wide range of works we’re delighted to broadcast will be Quatuor Ébène’s Beethoven Around the World, Stephen Hough’s Beethoven: The Piano Concertos, and the Malmö Symphony Orchestra’s Beethoven: The Nine Symphonies.
Photo credit: Islem Benzegouta
Christmas
December 25
Celebrate the magic of Christmas with The Classical Station as we bring you the best music of the season from the classical tradition, embracing the sacred wonder and sheer joy of the season. Stay tuned for details of special programs created by Bob Chapman, host of the WCPE Opera House; Rob Kennedy, host of Great Sacred Music; and George Douglas, host of Renaissance Fare.
Top 100 List
Saturday, December 26–Thursday, December 31
Join us as we unveil the results of The Classical Station’s recent survey of your Top 100 listener favorites.
Image credit: Flash Alexander and Pixabay
New Year’s 2020–21
We bid farewell to this most unusual year with Viennese waltzes and other festive favorites starting at 10:00 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. We’ll ring in the New Year at midnight with music of Beethoven. And because New Year’s Day falls on an All-Request Friday, you’ll get to choose your favorite music through the day to usher in 2021.
Russian Romantics Weekend
January 16–17
The stark beauty of the Russian landscape, and the passion of the people who live there, provided plenty of musical inspiration for composers such as Mussorgsky, Borodin, and Rimsky-Korsakov. Join us for one of our favorite feature weekends.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
January 18
We celebrate the legacy of Dr. King with music of American composers and performers.
Mozart Madness
January 25–27
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart created an extraordinary amount of music in his 35-year lifespan. We bring you a three-day celebration of his symphonies, piano concertos, chamber music, opera, and sacred music in celebration of the 265th anniversary of his birth.
William Grant Still (photo credit Carl Van Vechten)
Black History Month
February
We’ll celebrate music by composers and performers of African ancestry throughout the month.
Photo courtesy of NCCMI
Simply Strings Weekend
February 6–7
We don’t know who first discovered the joy of tightening a string and plucking it to make a note. But we can see how far that concept has come, evidenced by the masterful string works of Bach, Paganini, and Brahms. We feature music for violin, viola, cello, bass, guitar, mandolin, and harp, in performances by the great masters of the 20th century as well as today’s brightest young players.
Valentine’s Day by Advance Request
Sunday, February 14
Make a classical music request in honor of your sweetie. We’ll play as many requests and dedications as we can from noon to 5:00 p.m., but because of the shortened hours we encourage you to ask for shorter works or single movements. Submit your request by February 10 to make sure we can play it for you.
Presidents Day
Monday, February 15
We’ll play patriotic selections and American music to honor our leaders through the years.
All-Request Fridays, weekly
Our popular All-Request Friday continues every week (although we will take break on Christmas Day). Submit your request online anytime at TheClassicalStation.org, or call WCPE at 919-556-0123 on Friday morning. We’ll play your requests from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m.
Quarterly programming highlights appear in Quarter Notes, the member magazine and program guide of WCPE Radio, The Classical Station. To receive a subscription, become a member today!
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