In 1982, MPR and the BBC embarked on the first live, digital, transatlantic stereo broadcast of a Christmas Eve service of music and readings from King's College Chapel at Cambridge University in England. Over the years, A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols has become a holiday hallmark for public radio listeners in the U.S., just as it has for 60 million BBC World Service listeners around the world. From its humble beginnings in 1926 as a Christmas Tree Party for the college community, the Christmas concert has grown to six performances, national television distribution, and concert attendance by over one million audience members. A single Christmas theme is presented though a creative flow of narration, musical transitions and choral and orchestral works. This seamless offering of word and music creates a worshipful atmosphere for the listener.
Applause is held until the end of the program.
If you would like to listen via live internet audio streaming, hit the button on the left at 9 a.m. Now, in its 89th annual presentation, this is one of the nation's premier holiday events. This event will feature more than 500 musicians, including the world-famous St. Olaf Choir from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. This inspiring holiday event has been hailed nationally by critics and reviewers as an outstanding presentation of sacred music for the season. The Los Angeles Times hails the concert as one of the world's top thirty events and festivals in the month of December.