PBS Kicks Off Holiday Shows

Award-winning pop sensation and "American Idol" alum David Archuleta and acclaimed actor Michael York join the renowned Mormon Tabernacle Choir in an energetic Christmas celebration in this year's annual concert from Salt Lake City airing December 13.

PBS kicks off its Holiday Programming with Pop Sensation and Acclaimed Actor Join Renowned Choir in Energetic Christmas Celebration, PLUS encore presentation of L.A. HOLIDAY CELEBRATION 2010 and Part I of the Frontline series FROM JESUS TO CHRIST:  THE FIRST CHRISTIANS.  Other Holiday programs include GEORGE BALANCHINE’S “THE NUTCRACKER” and CHRISTMAS AT ST. OLAF And CHRISTMAS IN YELLOWSTONE.  PLUS, encore presentations of the hit series DOWNTON ABBEY.

PBS kicks off its Holiday Programming with Pop Sensation and Acclaimed Actor Join Renowned Choir in Energetic Christmas Celebration, PLUS encore presentation of L.A. HOLIDAY CELEBRATION 2010 and Part I of the Frontline series FROM JESUS TO CHRIST:  THE FIRST CHRISTIANS.  Other Holiday programs include GEORGE BALANCHINE’S “THE NUTCRACKER” and CHRISTMAS AT ST. OLAF And CHRISTMAS IN YELLOWSTONE.  PLUS, encore presentations of the hit series DOWNTON ABBEY.

Recorded live in the spectacular 21,000-seat Conference Center in Salt Lake City, this remarkable event combines elegant dancing, masterful musical performances and storytelling. Complete with Yuletide favorites such as “Silent Night” and “Joy to the World,” the memorable performance also includes unique music such as “Los pastores a belén,” sung by David Archuleta completely in Spanish, Michael York’s touching tale about the humble beginnings of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, together with moving organ, choir and orchestra performances.

Check out what other holiday programming PBS will be airing:


WEDNESDAY, DEC. 14 AT 8:00-9:00 PM
LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER: George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™
New York City Ballet’s beloved holiday favorite, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™, airs live from Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater. Set to Tchaikovsky’s glorious score, Balanchine’s Nutcracker features New York City Ballet’s entire roster of more than 150 dancers and musicians, as well as two alternating casts of 50 children from the School of American Ballet, the New York City Ballet’s official school. In addition to Balanchine’s choreography, the seminal work features scenery by Rouben Ter-Arutunian, costumes by Karinska and lighting by Mark Stanley, after the original design by Ronald Bates.

TUESDAY, DEC. 20 AND FRIDAY, DEC. 23
CHRISTMAS AT  ST. OLAF
Tuesday, December 20, 2011, 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET; Friday, December 23, 2011, 10:00-11:00 p.m. ET
This new production of one of the nation’s most highly acclaimed annual musical celebration marks the 100th anniversary of the annual Christmas Festival from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. Featuring St. Olaf’s renowned choirs and orchestra, the program’s rich blending of compositions will highlight selections from previous Christmas Festivals, including excerpts from R.V. Williams Hodie. Additionally, this centennial performance will debut newly commissioned works by American composers André J. Thomas and David N. Childs.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 21 AND SUNDAY, DEC. 25
NATURE:   Christmas in Yellowstone
Wednesday, December 21 and Sunday, December 25, 2011, 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET
As snow falls and Christmas lights glow in Jackson Hole, a holiday season of a different sort settles in just beyond the town, in the great winter world of Yellowstone. Breathtaking landscapes frame intimate scenes of wolves and coyotes, elk and bison, bears and otters as they make their way through their most challenging season of the year. NATURE journeys in the footsteps of the men who first explored the park, and travels with their modern-day counterpart on his own journey of discovery. From the unique crystals of individual snowflakes to the grand sweep of Yellowstone's Hayden Valley, this is a Christmas like no other.