Hosting An In-Home Concert (NAPSA)—If you’re looking for a delightful way to spend some time with loved ones, try hosting an in-home concert. The concerts can be fun excuses to gather together—and don’t worry, no musical talent is required, just a television tuned to your local PBS station. To make the event more fun, try sending out invites made to look like concert tickets, and have some music-themed hors d’oeuvres (guitar-string cheese and crackers, for example) ready to eat when your guests arrive. Of course, there’s still the question of what to watch. A good concert DVD can do thetrick, or you may enjoy a number of programs airing in December on PBS. Here’s a look at some showsto watch for: * Standards And Favorites— Pop music legend Carly Simon is back on the Top 10 list with a new album of standards. “Carly Simon: Moonlight Serenade—Live on the Queen Mary 2” showcases these romantic songs in the vast ballroom and on the majestic deck of the new ocean liner. Simon also performs new acoustic interpretations of her best-knownclassics. * Guitar Flair—Guitarist Roni Benise and 50 musicians and dancers in “Benise: Nights Of Fire” take viewers on a spectacular journey of Spanish music and dance— from Cuban salsa to Spanish Flamenco to Brazilian samba. Traditional Flamenco dancers, De La Guarda performers, Broadway dancers and featured soloists all join forces to create a new vocabulary of Spanish dance that reflects Benise’s musical invention andartistry. * Blast From The Past—Nearly eight years after uniting for public television, hosts Jerry Butler, Johnny Maestro and Alan Freed (via archival clips) present “all the hits, by all your Credit: Sioux Nesi Carly Simon: Moonlight Serenade— Live on the Queen Mary2. favorite doo-wop stars” during “Doo Wop Cavalcade: The Definitive Anthology.” The special performance program features a mix of new live performancesand classic archival gems from the vaults. * Born To Run—Music fans can catch a never-before aired, 1975 performance by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. The concert was taped live at the Hammersmith Odeon in London during the band’s Born To Runtour. * Family Fun—“Jim Brickman at the Magic Kingdom: The Disney Songbook” presents some of the greatest Disney musical moments with the help of piano virtuoso Jim Brickman—and some talented guests. Guests include music superstar Michael Bolton; Emmywinning TV star, comedian and singer Wayne Brady; the voice of Broadway, Linda Eder; country star Lila McCann; Anne Cochran and Tracy Silverman; plus some favorite Disney characters. PBSwill also air programs featuring Paul Anka, the late Ricky Nelson, Tom Jones, Barbra Streisand and others. For more information, check your local PBS station listings.
