With the shortage of live concerts during the holiday season, our local Public Broadcasting stations, WGTE FM 91 and WGTE HD TV 30, have stepped up to fill the classical gap. On offer is a feast of seasonal musical programming with a little something for everyone.
WGTE FM 91 Radio
Thursday
8 p.m. Toledo Symphony and Toledo Choral Society: Handel’s Messiah.
Friday
8 p.m. Paul Winter Consort: 37th Annual Winter Solstice Celebration.
Monday (Chirstmas Eve)
10 a.m. A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols live from King’s College in Cambridge, England.
1 p.m. Winter Holidays Around the World celebrated through international music.
2 p.m. Toledo Choral Society’s Christmas Concert: “Heavenly Light”.
7 p.m. “All is Bright”: An hour of contemplative music.
8 p.m. WGTE’s own radio play: Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol by local Toledo actors.
9 p.m. VocalEssence Choral Ensemble: “Welcome, Christmas!”
Tuesday (Christmas Day)
9 a.m. St. Olaf Choirs: “Christmas Festival”.
1 p.m. A Chanticleer Christmas.
2 p.m. Toledo’s Masterworks Chorale: “And Heav’n and Nature Sing!”
7 p.m. Stile Antico Ensemble: “A Choral Christmas”.
8 p.m. A rebroadcast of WGTE’s A Christmas Carol.
9 p.m. Tinsel Tales 4: A collection of Christmas stories.
Wednesday
7 p.m. A Season’s Griot 2018: A Celebration of Kwanzaa.
WGTV HD TV 30
Saturday
3:30 p.m. Masterworks Chorale’s 2017 concert: Radiant Midnight.
Sunday
6 p.m. Toledo Symphony and Toledo Choral Society Handel’s Messiah.
Monday
6 p.m. The Toledo Jazz Orchestra: A Holiday Concert.
Tuesday (Christmas Day)
12 p.m. The Raleigh Ringers: Holiday Handbells.
1 p.m. Jim Brickman: A Joyful Christmas.
3 p.m. The Kingston Trio: Holiday Cheers.
5 p.m. Christmas at Belmont University.
10:30 p.m. Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
11:30 p.m. Christmas on the Danube.
A full listing of the complete holiday offerings for both WGTE FM91 and TV30 can be found at wgte.org/2018-holiday-specials.
■ The Toledo Museum of Art offers its annual between-the-holidays “Great Art Escape,” a series of live performances, art activities, flashlight tours, and more designed to beat the ennui of post-celebration cabin fever.
This year’s musical lineup carries two tracks. First, a series of Dutch Cabinet Organ recitals, featuring the unique piece of musical furniture found in Gallery 24. These performances begin at 1 p.m. daily. Slated performers for the coming week are: Dennis Johns (Wednesday) and Nancy Russell (Dec. 27).
Second are offerings of multicultural musical experiences 2 p.m. daily in the Peristyle. Slated for this week are: Ardan Academy of Irish Dance (Wednesday) and JP Dynasty (Dec. 27).
All concerts take place at the Toledo Museum of Art, 2445 Monroe St. More information is available at 419-255-8000 or toledomuseum.org.
■ Bowling Green natives, violinists Alex, Wallace, Zach, and Jason DePue, return to their hometown for a classical, bluegrass, country, and rock “Holiday Spectacular” 7:30 p.m. Friday at Kobacker Hall, Moore Musical Arts Center, Bowling Green State University. Tickets and more information can be found at facebook.com/depuebrothersband/.
■ A Million Dollar Christmas features four impersonators paying tribute to Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash and their greatest rockabilly and holiday hits. The show begins 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the River Raisin Centre for the Arts, 114 South Main St., Monroe. Tickets are $20-$35 and available at 734-242-7722 or riverraisincentre.org.
■ Michigan Opera Theatre presents Menotti’s Christmas opera Amahl and the Night Visitors. The show chronicles a night in the life of a handicapped child when three Wise Men turn up on their way to the manger. Performances are 2:30 p.m. at the Macomb Center for Performing Arts, 44575 Garfield Rd., Clinton Township. Tickets range from $15 to $30. For more information, call 313-961-3500 or visit motopera.org.
■ The Ann Arbor Ballet concludes the live Nutcrackers with performances 7 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, and 1 p.m. Sunday at the Power Center for the Performing Arts, 121 Fletcher St., Ann Arbor. Purchase tickets at 734-763-8587 or annarborballettheatre.org.
■ The University Musical Society presents a “Live in HD” broadcast of the Bolshoi Ballet Theatre of Moscow performing a truly authentic Russian version of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Michigan Theatre, 603 East Liberty St., Ann Arbor. For tickets and more information, call 734-764-2538 or visit michtheater.org.
■ The St. Lucas Choir will present J.S. Bach’s cantata For us a Child is Born Dec. 23 at the 10:30 service Sunday. Soloists are Robert Dauel, Patrick Codden, and Karen Thornton Biscay; an orchestra will accompany at St. Lucas Lutheran Church, 745 Walbridge Ave.
■ Opera MODO, Detroit’s experimental opera company, heralds the holidays with Jake Heggie’s Three Decembers. The work portrays three December days in the life of a family, each a decade apart. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Jam Handy, 2900 East Grand Blvd., Detroit. Tickets and more information are at 313-451-0806 or operamodo.com.
Send news of classical music and dance events at least two weeks in advance to classics@theblade.com.
First Published December 20, 2018, 1:00 p.m.
