The winter holidays are right around the corner, and WFMT has a feast of musical offerings to make the season bright! Peruse below to explore broadcast highlights to honor Christmas, Hanukkah, and the New Year.
From live broadcasts and original recordings of Chicago-area performances to timeless musical classics, celebrate with us at 98.7, WFMT.com, and the WFMT app.
Dec. 10, 10pm: BAROQUE & BEFORE
Handel's Judas Maccabeus
Nicholas McGegan leads the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra with the U.C. Berkley Chamber Chorus.
Dec. 14, 5pm
Miracle of Miracles: Music for Hanukkah
The vocal ensemble Chicago a capella highlights the creativity and vitality of American Jewish musical traditions.
Dec. 17, 10pm: BAROQUE & BEFORE
Italian Christmas Concertos
Christmas concertos by seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Italian composers, recorded live in Malmö, Sweden.
Dec. 19, 8pm
Music of the Baroque at the National Museum of Mexican Art
Festive sounds of the season combined with Baroque-era music and composers of Latin America.
Dec. 20, 12pm: MET OPERA
The Magic Flute Holiday Presentation
A family-friendly holiday version of The Magic Flute sung in English.
Dec. 20, 4pm: Listening to Singers
The Ballad of the Brown King
Music of Margaret Bonds and other music for Christmas.
Dec. 20, 7pm
Christmas on Sugarloaf Mountain
A beloved program of Appalachian music for the holidays.
Dec. 20, 8pm: Folkstage
Hanukkah (2007)
The international Guy Mendilow Ensemble illuminated Hanukkah on Folkstage in 2007.
Dec. 20, 9pm: THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL
Winter Songs
Seasonal songs about fronts, snow, and other wintry weather.
Dec. 21, 6am: WITH HEART AND VOICE
Advent IV
Preparing for Christmas eve with music to celebrate the arrival.
Dec. 21, 6pm: CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Messiah Part One
Also including music by Gabrieli and Tchaikovsky.
Dec. 21, 8pm: FIESTA!
Immaculate Conception Mass
A recording of Jose Mauricio de Nunes Garcia's monumental Senhora da Conceição.
Dec. 22, 7pm: EXPLORING MUSIC
Holiday Music Around the World
A week exploring winter holidays from around the world.
Dec. 22, 8pm
Holidays with Cantus
Bringing a trademark vocal blend of warm and inviting music for the holiday.
Dec. 24, 9am
A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols Live
A beloved, contemplative, and celebratory Christmas Eve tradition, broadcast live from the Chapel of King’s College in Cambridge, England.
Dec. 24, 10pm: BAROQUE & BEFORE
Bach's Christmas Oratorio
Jordi Savall leads a performance of Bach's Christmas Oratorio.
Dec. 25, 8pm
Handel's Messiah
Dame Jane Glover leads the Music of the Baroque Chorus and Orchestra with soloists soprano Yulia van Doren, mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke, tenor Miles Mykkanen, and baritone Will Liverman. Recorded live in concert.
Dec. 25, 10pm: New York Philharmonic
Winter Holiday Playlist
A selection of winter-themed highlights from the New York Philharmonic’s storied discography.
Dec. 26, 11pm: BEST OF STUDS TERKEL
Christmas Memories
A holiday time capsule, comprising a compendium of voices and memories of childhood Christmases.
Dec. 27, 2pm: NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC
Winter Holiday (Re-broadcast)
A selection of winter-themed highlights from the New York Philharmonic’s storied discography.
Dec. 27, 7pm
The Film Score: Winter Holidays
Film critic Michael Phillips presents music from holiday favorites and other wintry classics.
Dec. 27, 8pm: FOLKSTAGE
New Year's Steve - Three!
Sons of the Never Wrong and friends present Bruce Roper’s musical, based on Steve Goodman songs, as a radio play.
Dec. 27, 9pm: THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL
Songs for the End of the Year
Celebrate responsibly with folk music for the end of the year, including a few new versions of "Auld Lang Syne."
Jan. 1, 10am
Vienna New Year's Concert 2026
For the first time Yannick Nézet-Séguin joins the long tradition conducting the orchestra in this beloved annual event.
