This week the Mormon Tabernacle Choir will present it’s annual Christmas Concert in Salt Lake City at the 21,000 seat LDS Conference Center. This year there will be 6 amazing guest artists (yes, six!) gracing the stage and joining their talents with the Choir, Orchestra, Bells, and dancers to present an evening of pure magic. There are sure to be lots of exciting Christmas surprises, too! 😉
Performances are Thursday Dec. 17, Friday Dec. 18 and Saturday Dec. 19, 2015. [As in previous years, this program will be filmed as a future PBS special]
Are you coming this week? Do you want to come? (You Should!) Great!
Let’s meet the guests, shall we?
#1. LAURA OSNES – Broadway Star
Laura Osnes got her “big break” into showbiz in 2007 when she won a nationally televised talent competition to play the role of Sandy in the Broadway revival of Grease.
From there, she landed the lead role in Broadway’s Cinderella opposite Santino Fontana (also a former Mormon Tabernacle Choir guest).
Ms. Osnes performed as special guest artist with the Choir in July 2015 for the Pioneer day Concert. We are excited to welcome her back!
#2. MARTIN JARVIS – Actor, Narrator, Author from U.K.
Martin Jarvis, OBE (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire), is one of Britain’s most versatile leading actors. His distinguished career continues to encompass just about every aspect of the entertainment industry: film, television, theatre, radio and audio recording. In 2001 he played the leading role of the Broadway musical comedy “By Jeeves” (written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Alan Ayckbourn) which was created into a film version.
Mr. Jarvis is also the author of two bestselling books: a hilarious autobiography Acting Strangely and a compelling account of his award-winning time in New York: Broadway, Jeeves – The Diary of a Theatrical Adventure.
In his spare time he volunteers for a program encouraging Dads to read to their children. Here’s a most darling video of him reading a children’s book:
#3. ERIN MORLEY – Metropolitan Opera Star & Utah Native
Erin Morley was born and raised in Salt Lake City. She is one of the most sought-after Coloratura Sopranos in the world, with over 70 performances at the Metropolitan Opera, and appearances with Vienna State Opera, Munich’s Bavarian State Opera, Opera National de Paris, and the Palau de les arts in Valencia, Spain.
Erin Morley is a Mormon Soprano who really rocks those high notes! (and this Mormon Soprano bows to her greatness).
Fun fact: Erin comes from a very musically talented family. Her father currently sings with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and her mother plays violin with the Orchestra at Temple Square – so, this Christmas Concert will be a family affair for them! 🙂
#4. TAMARA MUMFORD – Mezzo-Soprano, Metropolitan Opera Star & Utah Native
A graduate of the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, Ms. Mumford made her MET debut as Laura in Luisa Miller, and has since appeared in more than 140 performances with the company.
Fun fact: Tamara’s brother-in-law sings with the Tabernacle Choir.
#5. BEN BLISS – Tenor, Metropolitan Opera Star
Another recent graduate of the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program at the Metropolitan Opera, Ben Bliss was the recipient of the Mozart and Plácido Domingo awards at the 2015 Francisco Viñas International Competition in Barcelona, and received 2nd place overall. In the 2015-2016 season, Mr. Bliss will return to the Metropolitan Opera as Belmonte in Die Entführung aus dem Serail, conducted by James Levine, and will make his European debut in the same role with Glyndeborne Festival on tour.
#6. TYLER SIMPSON – Bass-Baritone, Metropolitan Opera Star
Tyler Simpson is at the top of his game. The 2015-2016 season will mark Tyler’s sixth consecutive season at the Metropolitan Opera, where he has worked on over 15 productions after having made his debut in Verdi’s Don Carlo in the 2010-2011 season.
PERFORMANCE DETAILS
Thursday December 17, 2015 – 8 PM*
Friday December 18, 2015 – 8 PM*
Saturday December 19, 2105 – 8 PM*
*If you are ticketed, plan to arrive 1 hour before the start of the show to get through the lines, the security check and find a seat before the stand-by line begins to fill all the seats in. Remember, you must be sitting in your seat at least 30 minutes prior (7:30 PM) before the 8 PM start of this concert to ensure a seat.
Most seating is assigned to a general section, not a specific seat number.
DO NOT COME LATE.**
**LATE = Arriving to the front doors 30 minutes before the concert starts.
Tip: Don’t even think about driving and trying to park. Take TRAX or a bus or have someone drop you off several blocks away from the madness and enjoy a brisk walk…
NO TICKETS? NO PROBLEM!
All of the complimentary tickets (limit of only two per household this year) were distributed several weeks ago. But, that does not mean that you cannot see this amazing show!
In fact, if you have the ability to be in downtown Salt Lake City this weekend, you should definitely come see this show!
- A standby line forms near the North Gates of Temple Square (you will be kept warm and dry seated in the Tabernacle or elsewhere before taken to the Conference Center)
- Talk to any usher on Temple Square and ask them if they have any tickets in their pockets (many do)
- Bring a little “beggar sign” asking for the # tickets you need (hey, I hear this really works well!) Many concert goers have a spare ticket or two with them of someone in their group who just could not make it, and they will gladly hand it to you)
- Worse case scenario? There isn’t one! If you don’t get into the Conference Center you STILL get to watch the concert sitting in the comfort and warmth of the historic Tabernacle and seeing the concert live via Satellite broadcasting on a big screen. 🙂
There’s Always Sunday
No tickets are required for the 30-minute Music and the Spoken Word broadcast on Sunday, December 20, 2015, at 9:30 am** in the Conference Center. The Choir, Orchestra and Bells will be sharing a special broadcast filled with Christmas music and messages.
**Please arrive no later than 9:15 am when the doors are closed for the LIVE Broadcast and recording session to prepare for camera roll promptly at 9:30 am.
And if you don’t live in Northern Utah? No worries – you can watch from the comfort of your own home in your pajamas! WATCH here!
Merry Christmas! – MoSop
Latter-day Soprano 