The Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Christmas concerts are arguably the biggest show in town, drawing more than 80,000 listeners to the vast LDS Conference Center. Gracing the holiday extravaganza this year is the larger-than-life presence of Brian Stokes Mitchell, who thrilled Friday's crowd with his enormous charm and equally prodigious vocal talent.
Mitchell seemed equally at home declaiming the powerful "Through Heaven's Eyes" and crooning his own jazz-inflected arrangement of "The Christmas Song." In the more intimate numbers, such as the tenderly playful "New Words," it was almost as if he and the multitude were all sitting in a cozy living room together -- but when he cut loose with his Tony Award-winning voice, it was easy to believe he could reach every corner of the Conference Center with no amplification. Only for a brief moment, when vocalizing in a falsetto on his arrangement of Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring," did Mitchell betray the slightest sign of effort. Moments later, though, that grand voice was filling the arena with praise.
The choir, under Mack Wilberg's expert direction, turned in a polished performance. (The altos deserve special kudos for their beautiful tone in the Welsh lullaby "Suo gân.") Wilberg contributed several ingenious arrangements to the evening. "The Friendly Beasts" was a marvel, simultaneously silly and sublime. Mitchell's uncanny portrayals of the various animals, delivered with kid-in-a-candy-store delight, made it one of the evening's high points.
Another highlight was award-winning actor Edward Herrmann's telling of "Longfellow's Christmas," the story of the personal tragedy that led Henry Wadsworth Longfellow to pen "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day." The Bells on Temple Square, augmented by scores of ringers from the community, added a glorious dimension to the touching tale. Wilberg also used the bells to grand effect on "I Saw Three Ships."
Catherine Reese Newton is a music critic. Contact her at creese@sltrib.com or 801-257-8616. Send comments about this review to livingeditor@sltrib.com.
With » Orchestra at Temple Square, Bells on Temple Square, baritone Brian Stokes Mitchell, narrator Edward Herrmann and conductor Mack Wilberg.
Where » LDS Conference Center, 60 W. North Temple, Salt Lake City.
When » Friday; repeats tonight at 7:30.
Running time » Just under 2 hours; no intermission.
Also » The guest artists will join the choir on "Music and the Spoken Word" Sunday at 9:30 a.m. (broadcast live on KSL Ch. 5 and radio 1160 AM), with a mini-concert to follow.
Tickets » Free, but long gone; try the standby line, which forms at the North Gate of Temple Square 90 minutes before event time.
Bottom line » Mitchell and the choir fill the Conference Center with the spirit of the season.
