Conference Center Concert

Sunday morning's wake-up alarm came at O-four-thirty, so that I could have the big Sunday newspapers delivered in time for our family to be on the snowy roads by 6 am. Keri got some last minute tickets to the Sunday morning "Music and the Spoken Word", narrated by Lloyd Newell, combined with a Christmas Concert by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra, conducted by Mack Wilberg, at the LDS Conference Center on Temple Square.

Special guests included Grammy Award winning performing artist Natalie Cole and Pulitzer Prize winning author and narrator David McCullough. We made decent time on the treacherous roads, Escalade-pooled with Grandpa Dave, found a parking place,

braved the snow storm,

and made it into our great floor-level seats by 8:30 am. First we witnessed the "Music and the Spoken Word" live broadcast performance/production. The audience of over 20,000 people were asked to avoid any clapping, coughing or extra noise, due to the nature of the live TV and radio broadcast, which was also recorded for future broadcast. After each musical number, it was very difficult to remain silent and delay any appreciative applause. Although I do not listen to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on a regular basis, witnessing their performance in person is an awesome, moving experience. When we finally went "off-air" a half hour later, the audience erupted in applause and cheers.

*The above embedded You Tube video was disabled, but you can click on the following link to get to the same video on a different page: http://www.deseretnews.com/video/1584/Mormon-Tabernacle-Choir-Christmas-concert.html

The Christmas concert portion of the morning performance then began a few minutes later. It was an incredible hour of classic and contemporary Christmas songs and hymns, including a bell choir, a children's choir,

and a number of dancers in costumes representing Christmas from around the world.

Guest artist Natalie Cole wowed the audience with her smooth vocals, including a soulful version of "The Holly and the Ivy". David McCullough provided narration focusing on the role of music in Christmas and American history. Senior Organist Richard Elliot amazed the audience with his multiple-carol-arrangement, seamlessly weaving together Good King Wenceslas, The Nutcracker and Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy . He seemed to be doing four different things simultaneously, as both hands and both feet worked independently in the stirring rendition.

The Conference Center stage was beautifully decorated with stained glass windows, stone walls and holiday decorations. This annual performance required months of planning throughout the year focused on this Christmas concert series.

LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson was in attendance, along with a number of other General Authorities. Following the concert, Pres. Monson presented the guest artists with special gifts, following which the choir sang "God be with you" to them. Natalie and David were obviously moved by the kind gestures.

This concert culminated four days of performances at the conference center, a Christmas "gift to the community". Highlights from each of the four concerts were recorded, and will be edited together into a PBS special program to be broadcast in 2010. http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/natalie-cole-david-mccullough-and-the-mormon-tabernacle-choir-bring-in-the-christmas-spirit