The first note struck by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra is a moment of complete and utter sensory overload.

Scores of lights, about a dozen video screens and the sound of electric guitars blending with electric violins can be overwhelming. It takes nearly an hour just to adjust to the size of the sound, music and lights that envelop you when you're at a Trans-Siberian Orchestra show.

But after getting used to the neon, lasers and pyrotechnics, you can start to appreciate the musical talent on display.

Yes, Trans-Siberian Orchestra easily could be a parody of itself, but the vocal and instrumental talent of the nearly three dozen or so band members helps suppress the urge to giggle as the middle-aged rockers with the nearly waist-length hair take the stage. Even with all of the guitar wind-milling, the wild hair-swinging and the cock-rock vocal stylings of some of the singers, their ability to entertain due to excellent musical talent comes through.

The first 90 minutes of the show followed the story of an angel visiting Earth on Christmas Eve. The booming bass voice of Tony Gaynor narrates the angel's travels as band members rock out to songs such as "Joy to the World" and the band's megahit "Carol of the Bells."

The band made introductions after the Christmas music to launch into some of their rock-n-roll takes on classical music. The transition was necessary as the sparkly star field that draped the backdrop earlier was suddenly filled with gargoyles, Gothic castles and a pyromaniac's wonderland of flames and fireworks.

"What do you think, Salt Lake City?" asked guitarist Al Pitrelli. "Do you want to hang out a little while longer?"

The second half seemed to be more fun for the band members as they launched into a ramped-up Toccata that was a clear break from the feel-good music from just a few minutes earlier.

After adjusting to the bombast that sets the backdrop for Trans-Siberian Orchestra shows, it becomes apparent that it's not just the lights and amped-up sounds that makes the show so entertaining -- it's the amount of energy each band member expends in the nearly 2½ hours of music.

It's easy to feel tired just watching as they ran constantly not only on the stage that extended across EnergySolutions Arena to reach up into the side stands, but also up stairs and down aisles to get closer to the screaming fans. It was amazing to think they would be back up onstage in an hour for their second Salt Lake City performance.

But getting to see the spectacle that only Trans-Siberian Orchestra can create is well worth the price of admission.

smcfarland@sltrib.com