Celebrate the Return of the Sun -- and the Warming of the Earth with an exuberant Feast of Sound captured live in the majestic Cathedral of St. John the Divine. WNYC's John Schaefer hosts this all new performance, featuring the Paul Winter Consort with Paul McCandless, gospel singer Theresa Thomason, Danny Rivera -- the "National Voice of Puerto Rico”, and Abdel Salaam's Forces of Nature percussion and dance ensemble.
The Winter Solstice Celebration is a contemporary take on ancient solstice rituals, when people came together during the longest night of the year to celebrate the return of the sun, as the Earth begins its rotational cycle back towards summer. Now in its 34th year, the performance at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, the world's largest cathedral, is New York's favorite holiday alternative to The Nutcracker and Radio City Christmas.
The Consort musicians: Paul Winter, soprano sax; Paul McCandless, oboe and English horn; Eugene Friesen, cello; Paul Sullivan, keyboards; Jamey Haddad, drums; Eliot Wadopian, bass; and Tim Brumfield, pipe organ. The Sextet musicians: Paul Winter, alto sax; Warren Bernhardt, piano; Cecil McBee, bass; Marvin Stamm, trumpet; and Howard Johnson, baritone sax.
This program will air Saturday 12/21 at 7 pm CT and again on Thursday 12/26 at 8 pm CT.