For anyone sober enough to actually ponder the text, “Auld Lang Syne” must be the most melancholy song on the planet. And for everyone else to be singing it on New Year’s Eve – good Lord, which way is the nearest bridge?

If New Year’s is not a difficult time for you, take a moment today to count your blessings. For the rest of us, it is my hope that the playlist this afternoon will operate on two levels: not only as a festive celebration of the turn of the year, but also a reminder of the consolation and hope that music can provide.

I’ll be keeping it light with a potpourri of nimble dances, euphonious British Light Music, and rib-tickling selections from music-oriented comedy albums, with perhaps just a few highlights from the world of operetta, provided that sentiment won’t weigh too heavily on the heart.

I can’t promise that the New Year holiday will be a happy one, but I will do my best to serve up some great musical hors d’oeuvres. We’ll be laughing on the outside, crying on the inside, this Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. EST, on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.

Remember: Your year-end contribution will still count toward 2018 through 11:59 tonight! If you appreciate all that we do at The Classical Network, and the music is an indispensable part of your life, please consider visiting our website now and clicking on “donate.” Thank you for your continued support of The Classical Network! And for what it’s worth, Happy New Year.