Trans Siberian Orchestra Returns to Salt Lake City

It’s Thanksgiving week, which means another holiday season is upon us which can sometimes feel like a double-edged sword.  For many of us, it means battling crowds, shopping and dealing with the never-ending loop of holiday music.  On the other hand, for fans of Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) it’s a time to celebrate.  It’s the time of year that the prog/rock, symph/metal outfit takes to the road giving us all some holiday music that we can look forward to.  This past Wednesday, November 20th, TSO delivered their signature holiday magic to Salt Lake City, performing two shows in one day at the Delta Center.

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Musical director and guitarist, Al Pitrelli, informed the crowd during the show that Salt Lake City holds a unique place in TSO history, being the first city to host a matinee performance.  This year's show continued that tradition which saw the group return with their story of The Lost Christmas Eve.  The tale follows a grieving father who, after losing his wife during childbirth and grappling with the challenge of raising the child whom he discovers has special needs, gives the baby away.   Years later the father embarks on a redemptive journey to reunite with his son.  The emotional journey paired with TSO’s electrifying symphony metal resonated with the fans tying our emotions up with the visual spectacle unfolding on stage before us. 

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What a spectacle it was.  TSO’s shows are known for their visual theatrics and this year’s show did not disappoint.  From dazzling pyrotechnics to falling snow in the arena, to lasers and incredible sound that filled the Delta Center, the performance was one for the books.  Highlights of the evening included musicians performing on moving platforms, performing in life-sized snow globes and a visual production that outdoes any other arena show out there.  Yet throughout all the fire and lights, TSO manages to keep the theme of the holidays and redemption at the heart of the show with the powerful voice of Phillip Brandon who narrates the evening. 

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One of the most memorable moments of the show was when Chloe Lowery performed.  Lowery’s stunning vocals captivated the audience who gave her a standing ovation before she even finished with her song. 

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For many Utah families TSO’s holiday concerts have become a tradition.  This year though it seemed evenly split between new fans and returning fans.  When Al Pitrelli asked the crowd who was seeing the show for the first time about half of the fans in attendance started cheering and raising their hands, which was a testament to TSO’s ability to keep attracting new fans while keeping long-time faithful devotees coming back for more. 

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As the lights came up after the performance and the manufactured snow quit falling from the rafters it was clear from the applause that TSO had once again succeeded in bringing magic to the season.  For music lovers in Salt Lake City the experience was another bright start to the holiday season and gave us a reason to smile at holiday music. 

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For more dates and info visit Trans-Siberian Orchestra