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Radio SpotlightAdvertisementHosts’ Holiday Picks for 2012Looking for a good book? A festive holiday event? Ever wonder what a“Poinsettia” tastes like? We’ve asked a cross-section of WGBH radio personalitiesto make some holiday recommendations.Brian O’Donovan, A Celtic SojournLullabies for Love, CD, Compass Records, 2011This has become one of our favorite giftsfor any time of the year, but it’s absolutelyperfect for the holidays. It’s a superb collectionof lullabies from around the Celticworld. Though I produced it myself, theconcept was born out of my wife Lindsay’stime at Many Hopes in Kenya in 2010. It’s ahome for abandoned and orphaned girls, dedicatedto changing Kenya through the education of women. The inspirationcame from a tune Lindsay wrote on her return. We recorded that, and thenshe came up with the idea of asking our musician friends to donate a lullabyeach. They did so with immediate generosity and this compilation was born.Proceeds go directly to the home.Kara Miller, Innovation HubDon’t Shoot: One Man, A StreetFellowship, and the End of Violence inInner-City America, by David KennedyBook, Bloomsbury USA, 2011The Storytelling Animal:How Stories Make Us Human,by Jonathan GottschallBook, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012I’m recommending two books whose authors I interviewed this year. Don’tShoot: One Man, A Street Fellowship, and the End of Violence in Inner-CityAmerica by David Kennedy is captivating, terrifying and enlightening. You’llnever look at crime the same way again. The other book is The StorytellingAnimal: How Stories Make Us Human by Jonathan Gottschall. It examines thebiological imperative to tell and consume stories—and Gottschall proves acaptivating storyteller himself.Eric Jackson, Eric in the EveningThe Jazz Standards: A Guide to theJazz Repertoire, by Ted GioiaBook, Oxford University Press USA, 2012Prolific author Ted Gioia looks at 250different songs, examining the individualsongs both historically andmusically, and commenting on multipleversions. Easy reading—even a jazz newbieshould be able to understand and enjoy it.Mindy Todd, The PointFestival of Trees Event,The Whaling Museum, NantucketAlways a lot of fun to see how creative everyoneis with their tree. Our theme for our treethis year is “Do you hear what I hear?” Fromthe Nantucket Historical Association’s website:“The Whaling Museum is transformed into a festivewinter wonderland. This island tradition featuresaround 80 brilliantly decorated trees designed by community members, localmerchants, nonprofit organizations, artists, artisans and schoolchildren.”Highfield Hall Holiday Ball Event, Highfield Hall, FalmouthFun to get dressed up and enjoy some yummy food, dancing, holidaycaroling and a silent auction in the renovated mansion built by thefamily of James Madison Beebe in 1878.But my favorite activity happens after Christmas: a second Christmasof sorts on New Year’s Eve. My brother’s family comes to visit fromConnecticut and we invite other family and friends over and have a granddinner followed by a Yankee swap (this year’s theme: “as seen on TV”)and charades.Laura Carlo, Classical Music with Laura CarloEverything You Always Wanted to Know About Classical MusicBut Were Too Afraid to Ask, by Gareth MaloneBook, Elliott & Thompson Ltd., 2012Gareth Malone has written an interesting book to share with someone justbeginning to explore classical music. He speaks to the everyman.There also were some great local CDs released thisyear: Boston Baroque’s The Creation byHaydn (on Linn Records); HarryChristophers and The Sixteen’sPalestrina, Vol. 1 issued by Coro(which technically came out last yearbut was just delivered to the station);Keith Lockhart and the BBCConcert Orchestra’s George W.Chadwick on the Dutton label; andfinally, the Musicians of the Old Post Roadhave just issued a new CD, Roman Handel, on theCentaur label.We do Christmas “big” in our family. My husband and I take our son and afriend of his choosing to the following every year: The Holiday Lightsexhibit/amusement park down at Edaville Railroad in Carver, MA; a (Boston)Holiday Pops Kids Matinee; the Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker; and wealternate year-to-year between Christmas Revels and Messiah. We also tryto take part in something fun like a gingerbread house decorating event.And finally, we always participate as a family in a charitable fundraiser.22 Schedules, program info, playlists: wgbh.org/listen
Callie Crossley, Boston Public RadioAt holiday time, I find myself returning tomy own kind of seasonal tapestry—amix of old family traditions mergedwith those of my friends and some Icreated for myself.My tools: Quincy Jones’s Handel’sMessiah: Soulful Celebration(Warner/Reprise, 1992), and theMormon Tabernacle Choir singingChristmas songs. Also, eggs, sugar, coconutrum: basic ingredients (there’s more but I’m not telling) for a batch ofCoquito, a traditional Puerto Rican rum punch similar to eggnog. Because itpacks a punch, I’ll be taking dainty sips at home.Of course I’ll be in my traditional holiday dress—flannel pj’s—fromL.L. Bean or the just-discovered Nick and Nora line. And for me, nothing saysChristmas like my fluffy slippers stitched with pictures of Mr. and Mrs. BlackSanta Claus.Dressed appropriately, I’ll be curling up for several days of watchingDownton Abbey. I’m woefully behind and have not allowed anybody totell me the Season 2 details.I’m doing Christmas Day dinner for friends and loved ones. On the table willbe one important staple for this Southern woman—my mom’s cornbreaddressing (that’s stuffing to you people above the Mason-Dixon line). It’s sogood it’s made grown men cry with delight. My special guests will enjoy mydécor—a house decorated with my vast (and I do mean vast) collection ofblack angels, black Santas, and yes, black nutcrackers. It’s completely overthe top and I love it!And since it’s the season for adult beverages, I’m happy to share the recipe(see below) for one of my favorite holiday drinks, the Poinsettia (yes,named after the plant). Drinks that feature champagne and sparkling wineare especially festive. I like a tasty drink that looks like the holiday, and thePoinsettia is perfect.So a tip of the glass to all Boston Public Radio listeners—happy holidays!Poinsettia Recipe3 ounces cranberry juice1/2 ounce Cointreau4 ounces Brut champagne or sparkling wine1 ounce orange juice*Lime twist or fresh cranberries as a garnishMix ingredients and enjoy!*I’ve also seen versions of this drink made with pomegranate juice.Ben Roe, Classical Services Managing DirectorLetters from Father Christmas, by J.R.R. TolkienBook, Mariner Books, 2004 (revised edition)I may be a music guy, but my go-to gift for the holidays is a slender littlebook by J.R.R. Tolkien. Yes, that Tolkien—the Lord of the Rings author whowas a master of creating full-blown exotic worlds, replete with dragons,elves, goddesses and enough evil characters to filla thousand nightmares. But this utterlydelightful collection displays Tolkien’s storytellingcraft in a far more personal andintimate light: a collection of dispatchesTolkien wrote in the guise of FatherChristmas fretting about doings at theNorth Pole. He actually mailed the stories tothe young members of his family. They tellcharming, vivid tales of life at the North Pole,including the adventures of the somewhat clumsy North Polar bear (he fallsthrough the roof and straight into the dining room of Father Christmas’shouse), reindeer on the loose, and this being Tolkien, the inevitable goblinsmaking trouble for everyone. It’s a gift that anyone young or old will treasure.Here’s a hint: read it aloud to a young one while your dial is tuned tothe holiday sounds of 99.5 Classical New England!Brian McCreath, The Bach Hour with Brian McCreathBach: Cantatas for Christmas, CD,Soli Deo Gloria Records, 2012Each year, as Handel’s Messiah rings outthrough concert halls, explore some ofthe lesser-known seasonal music byHandel’s contemporary, J.S. Bach. JohnEliot Gardiner’s traversal of Bach’s cantatasis a landmark for incredible music,and this six-CD collection will bring youunparalleled brightness and joy.Lisa Mullins, The WorldAncient Grains for Modern Meals: Mediterranean Whole GrainRecipes for Barley, Farro, Kamut, Polenta, Wheat Berries & More,by Maria SpeckBook, Ten Speed Press, 2011Mongrel, CD, ONC-Producoes Culturais, 2010In the past few months, I’ve traveled toMorocco and Portugal, two countries withancient food traditions perfect for themodern palate—including mine! Tastefor yourself with Ancient Grains forModern Meals. Warm oat berries with walnutsand gorgonzola is a mighty fine start.When I was in Lisbon this summer, I discovered themusic of jazz pianist/composer Mário Laginha. In his trio’s latest CD,Mongrel, Mário brings Chopin a bit closer to his own musical universe.AdvertisementSchedules, program info, playlists: wgbh.org/listen 23
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