Mindy Ratner is host of the holiday favorite Candles Burning Brightly®, in celebration of Hanukkah.
This year's program — new for 2020 — brings back Theodore Bikel's beautiful reading of Howard Schwartz's "The Lost Menorah," and there's plenty of charming music to highlight the history and traditions associated with the Jewish Festival of Lights.
Tune in or stream Classical MPR Saturday, December 12 at 6 p.m. CT!
More Classical Holiday Programming
Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 12 and 13, The Current has your all-access pass to On Air Fest! As part of our Month of Gratitude, we'll rock your radio with some of the best live-music experiences you've helped us create over the years. It's no surprise that the lineup is stacked!
Listen Saturday, Dec. 12, from noon to 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 13, from noon to 6 p.m. (Central) for half-hour sets from artists like Adele, Bon Iver, Lizzo, The Avett Brothers, Sharon Jones, Billy Idol and more. See the full schedule below.
The Current's On Air Fest is supported by the Members of Minnesota Public Radio.
Find more Month of Gratitude programming
Minnesotans know that with the coming of bitter cold, something else is knocking on the door. The holiday season is a time of tales, readings, song, and reflection. Get your fill of lutefisk; hear the church bells rung the old fashioned way; feel the melancholy of the farm; envision a man stuck in bookstore chimney; and learn the history of fruitcake. These are the varied stories, distinctly of this land we call home, that await your senses.
- Enjoy holiday stories in the MPR Archive
- Explore more featured collections in the MPR Archive
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Minnesotans could begin to be vaccinated against the coronavirus in a couple of weeks. Health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities will be the first to receive it. Here’s what you need to know about the vaccine and Minnesota’s distribution plan.
- Tuesday Walz details COVID-19 vaccine plan; GOP leaders back it
- A COVID-19 vaccine has come quick But expert says that's no reason to fear it
- Beware of COVID-19 scams As vaccine approaches FDA approval
During our Month of Gratitude, Tom Crann reflects on what our donors made possible despite the challenges of this year.
December 2020 marks the end of the 5-year Inspired by You campaign, which is transforming MPR | APM for the benefit of changing audiences in Minnesota and beyond. We’re dedicating the final month of the campaign to celebrating our incredible community and everything you’ve made possible.
See the full schedule of special programs at mpr.org/december
Let your light shine in a statewide MPR video! Record a 10-second video of your favorite light-filled solstice activity, and share it on social media using #mprsolstice. Share it before Dec. 14, so we can compile all the light!
Then, at 5 p.m. on Dec. 21, join us for a special virtual Bring the Sing on the Solstice. Tune in as we broadcast "This Little Light of Mine" for a giant, virtual statewide singalong.
On Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 5 and 6, The Current is hosting round four of Sounds Like Home. It’s two days of virtual performances celebrating Minnesota musicians. Join an incredible lineup of local musicians and Andrea Swensson from The Current as we meet up on the internet for a virtual festival. Great music lives here, and you can still enjoy it live on The Current’s YouTube channel or Facebook page!
Schedule
Sunday, Dec. 6
12 p.m. Freaque • Watch on Facebook
12:30 p.m. Rø • Watch on Facebook
1 p.m. Mixtape for the Milky Way • Watch on Facebook
1:30 p.m. Muja Messiah • Watch on Facebook
On Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 5 and 6, The Current is hosting round four of Sounds Like Home. It’s two days of virtual performances celebrating Minnesota musicians. Join an incredible lineup of local musicians and Andrea Swensson from The Current as we meet up on the internet for a virtual festival. Great music lives here, and you can still enjoy it live on The Current’s YouTube channel or Facebook page!
Schedule
Saturday, Dec. 5
8 p.m. Monica LaPlante • Watch on Facebook
8:30 p.m. Miloe • Watch on Facebook
9 p.m. Tina Schlieske • Watch on Facebook
9:30 p.m. Lupin • Watch on Facebook
Sunday, Dec. 6
12 p.m. Freaque • Watch on Facebook
12:30 p.m. Rø • Watch on Facebook
1 p.m. Mixtape for the Milky Way • Watch on Facebook
1:30 p.m. Muja Messiah • Watch on Facebook
Gov. Tim Walz is expected to speak on COVID-19 at 2 p.m. and take reporter questions at 2:45 p.m. The newest numbers come as officials brace for another expected wave of cases, hospitalizations and deaths in coming weeks originating from Thanksgiving gatherings.
- Looking at the numbers Understanding COVID Today
- Comparing COVID-19 In Minnesota and its neighbors in Upper Midwest
- Sign up Daily analysis on COVID-19 in MN from data reporter David H. Montgomery
Each year, the mystery of the Nativity invites us to contemplate with awe and to respond with joy. Music of contemplation and music of joy are both featured in this season's Concordia Christmas Concert.
Tune in to Classical MPR at 7 p.m. CT on Dec. 3 to listen.
