Christmas Eve On Radio 2

This will be my last blog post of the year (yikes!) as holidays beckon. (Well, they don't actually raise up a hand and wave, but I am taking some regardless.) The talented Philly Markowitz (see last post!) will be hosting the blog Christmas Day through New Year's Eve. I hope you will welcome her with open virtual arms. I sure do -- thanks, Philly, have fun.

And to all who celebrate any of the end-of-December holidays, be it Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivus for the Restofus, International-Eat-Lots-Of-Cookie-Dough-Day, have a lovely time. For those who do not, ignore the whole thing. And for those who are working and wishing you were holidaying, this too shall pass.

Meanwhile, here are the special programmes you can hear tonight as part of CBC Radio 2's Christmas Eve broadcast:

6 p.m. In The Key Of (Christmas Eve) Charles, hosted by Gregory Charles
"Gregory Charles invites you over to his place for a very special holiday edition of In the Key of Charles. Gather around the piano in Gregory's living room for some chat and all kinds of music from some of his favourite Christmas albums. Gregory's friends from Le Collège Vocal de Laval will also be stopping by for some key-of-charles-style carolling."

8 p.m. A Quebec Christmas, hosted by Kelly Rice
"The CBC/McGill Concert Series presents its 6th annual Youth Choir Gala. Guest conductor Jeff Joudrey leads two hundred young singers from the Montreal area: the McGill Conservatory Youth Choir, The English Montreal School Board Senior Chorale, Les Voix Boréales, Les Petits Chanteurs de Laval, and the South Shore Children's Chorus. Joining them for the grand finale is the John Roney Trio to perform Robert Chilcott’s roof-raising Little Jazz Mass. The Trio also plays selections from A Charlie Brown Christmas by Vince Guaraldi, in a new arrangement created especially for this concert by pianist John Roney."

10 p.m. Alleluia! A Joyful Sound hosted by Michel Lalonde
"CBC and Radio Canada in Saskatchewan presents a bilingual Christmas concert from Saskatoon. The concert is called in English ‘Alleluia – A Joyful Sound’ or in French ‘Alleluia – Glorie et Louange’, takes place before a packed house at the beautiful historic Knox United on Church located along the Saskatchewan River.

Head liners for the evening include on the English side from Saskatoon, Jessica Robinson, the 2008 female vocalist of the year at the Saskatchewan Country Music Awards, and on the French side, Rachel St-Phard, a young rising star from the Montreal Caribbean community. Regina’s Spyder G (aka Garland Headley) - gospel, rap and hip hop artist performs and Annette Campagne, a member of the world-renowned Campagne family, is featured along with her Francophone Gospel ensemble. These performers are supported by a fine house band led by Saskatoon musician Sheldon Corbett with a quartet of superb players include Brett Balon, Lloyd Tomczack, Glenn Ens andRichard McFarlane."

11 p.m. "The Once Upon A Christmas, hosted by Francesca Swann
"The Once Upon a Christmas extends the hospitality of a Newfoundland house party to radio listeners across the country. Francesca Swann hosts this one-hour Christmas special from the revelry and warmth of a St. John's house party where The Once (Geraldine Hollett, Phil Churchill and Andrew Dale) - a new 3 piece vocal/instrumental group - is standing by with some familiar seasonal fare and a few arrangements inspired by the repertoire of the Irish group, 'The Voice Squad.' 'The Once' is joined by traditional singer, and multi-instrumentalist, Greg Walsh in a kitchen full of merry-makers. Festive songs are augmented by instrumentals (bouzouki, mandolin & fiddle) that blend traditional tunes from Ireland and Newfoundland to entertain you over the Christmas holiday."

12 a.m. Yule Night, hosted by Nora Young
"Yule Night: On the night before Christmas Nora Young presents a merry mix of seasonal music with choirs, crooners, fiddlers, cellists, divas, pianists, trumpeters, and even a ukelele virtuoso. On the playlist (in no particular order): carols, the Barenaked Ladies, Renee Fleming, carols, Jane Siberry, Bach, Michael Buble, carols, Louis Quilico, the Nutcracker, Satchmo, carols, French noels, the Iseler Singers, angelic voices - and carols."