If you like Christmas carols, choral music, incredibly beautiful soprano vocals, or just plain spectacular concert settings, you owe it to yourself not to miss this year’s Christmas With the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (actually recorded December 2004). It’s showing on PBS stations across the country several times in the next couple of days.
The featured vocalist is Audra McDonald, who has a fantastic voice and knows how to use it (and is pretty easy on the eyes, to boot). The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is its usual excellent self.
I sang bass in my high-school men’s chorus and concert choir, and our vocal teacher (the incomparable David Pool) warned us that we’d likely never sing in a group again. Sadly, so far he’s been right in my case. But every time I see one of these concerts I vow to tune up my pipes in the shower and drag my wife to one of the Messiah sing-alongs. Maybe this year’s the one.
DON’T MISS IT. I’m taking the trouble to record it as I plan to make it a permanent part of our family’s Christmas music from now on. It’s really that good. Or you can just buy the DVD, I suppose.
I was also in choir in high school and junior high, singing alto (although I sometimes could hit the tenor parts). I also played in the orchestra. I miss performing in both of these group events. Then again – no one wants me tro try a cello out at *this* point — after 30 years 😉 But a Messiah Sing-along would be amazing! The Hallelujah chorus was my mother’s all-time favorite, and I always tear up when I hear it performed properly.