Celebrate the Season With These KCET Holiday Programs
Ring in the holidays this 2015 season with KCET! From "Christmas on the Danube" to a marathon of the original BBC "House of Cards," below you'll find broadcast information on all the holiday-themed programs KCET will air in honor of this special time of year.
Alsatian Christmas Dinner with Chef Hubert Keller
Thursday, December 24 at 1:00 p.m.
Chef Hubert Keller prepares a classic Christmas dinner: roast turkey with chestnut stuffing served with braised fennel and dried figs.
Thursday, December 24 at 1:30 p.m.
With their Christmas markets filled with local crafts and food, holiday lights and activities, a visit to the cities along the Danube at Christmas is a magical experience. As we travel along the river -- from Budapest, Hungary to Passau, Germany -- we see magnificent sites, learn their histories, and hear classical live music.
Thursday, December 24 at 2:00 p.m.
"The First Silent Night" tells a tale 200 years in the making. The story begins in humble circumstances and ends with the creation of the world's most popular carol. For close to 200 years, one somg has occupied the heart of Christmas celebrations across the world. It has been translated into over 300 languages and performed by symphony orchestras, international artists, and soloists.
Join renowned actor Simon Callow as he uncovers the moving origins of "Silent Night." Simon journeys to the Austrian village of Oberndorf as well the city of Salzburg, where the story of the world's favorite carol had its origins.
Festive Celebrations: The Crane Candlelight Concert 2014
Thursday, December 24 at 3:00 p.m.
Over 300 carolers and musicians from the renowned Crane School of Music at the State University of New York at Potsdam come together to bring you a very special holiday concert replete with traditional Christmas, seasonal hymns, and other popular festive favorites.
52nd Annual Wassail Concert at Chapman University
Thursday, December 24 at 4:00 p.m. and Friday, December 25 at 1:00 p.m.
This holiday season, Chapman University proudly presents their 52nd Annual Holiday Wassail Concert on KCET, including holiday favorites and songs from around the world. Under the direction of Stephen Coker, Chelsea Dehn, and Daniel Alfred Wachs, this campus tradition has been delighting audiences for more than 50 years and features 150 student singers and musicians.
Spy -- Christmas Special -- "Codename: Show Stopper"
Thursday, December 24 at 10:00 p.m.
The magic of Christmas has long been lost on Marcus and, when his party plans force the other kids to go on strike, he must make alternative arrangements. Meanwhile, 'tis not the season to be jolly if you're Portis. The agent's thoughts turn to revenge after he finds out about Tim and Caitlin having feelings for one another.
Thursday, December 24 at 11:00 p.m. and Friday, December 25 at 4:00 p.m.
Join Chapman University as they celebrate the season with their annual Winterfest and Wassail Concerts. This program blends holiday favorites with festive songs from around the world. Share the tradition!
Holiday Handbells: The Raleigh Ringers
Thursday, December 25 at 2:00 p.m.
The Raleigh Ringers, a community handbell choir based in North Carolina, present the sequel to their critically acclaimed holiday special "One Winter Evening at Meymandi." "Holiday Handbells" runs the gamut of song selections from old yuletide favorites to Vince Guaraldi's "A Charlie Brown Christmas" score. In between, director and conductor David Harris explains the centuries-old history of handbells, the variety of bells and bell-like instruments used, and the teamwork required to perform a piece.
Joshua Bell Presents Musical Gifts
Friday, December 25 at 3:00 p.m.
In celebration of the release of his 2013 album "Musical Gifts," world renowned violinist Joshua Bell welcomed cameras into his Manhattan residence for a rare and intimate concert. The salon-style performance captures the warmth, beauty, and magic of the season. The 10-song set list features holiday standards, including "An Old-Fashioned Christmas" with opera star Renee Fleming, "I'll Be Home for Christmas" with pianist and vocalist Frankie Moreno, Jimmy Van Heusen-Sammy Cahn's "The Secret of Christmas" with Michael Feinstein, "Let it Snow" with guitarist-violinist Rob Moose, and a heartwarming rendition of "Silent Night" by the Young People's Chorus of New York.
Original BBC "House of Cards" Marathon
Friday, December 25, 8:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Christmas day marks the return of the original popular black-hearted villain Francis Urquhart who narrates a story of greed, corruption and burning ambition in the precursor of the hit Netflix series "House of Cards" that was originally presented as a four-hour miniseries by the BBC. Francis gives viewers the opportunity to follow along with his innermost thoughts and plans as he expertly manipulates his political rivals and takes them down one by one.
