Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Not a ticket I would’ve bought for myself. From the snippets of information I’d encountered over the years, I was under the impression it was mostly a light show. But, I was being taken last night, as part of a Christmas present.

It was one great present.

This concert sells out, so anticipate that for parking. We dined first and opted for parking up in town and walking. This is probably the best strategy.

While the name may sound a bit stuffy, it belies the eclectic nature of the performance. Classical? Rock? R&B? How about all of the above? An amalgam.

With a generous troupe, the range is boundless. The cast changes to create variety and impact you in many ways. As best as I could count, there were two keyboards, eight violins, three guitars, four lead singers, six backups and one kick-butt drummer.

You can’t exclude the special effects people from the performer category. The props, laser lights, strobes, flame throwers, fireworks, “snow,” smoke and other devices produce amazing effects, and are well coordinated with the music.

We were about twenty rows from the stage, and up five. If you’re closer, it’s too close. There’s a lot to take in.

Virtually impossible to categorize. The first half of this show was a James Earl Jones type telling a Christmas story. Each part was punctuated with a holiday number done in grand fashion, usually in a rock arrangement. Very good, but not world class. They know how to finish and save the best parts.

The “break” before the second half is the introduction of performers. Two of the vocalists, a keyboarder and the drummer were definitely star quality.

The second half commences with some covers of rock classics. Bold move, since they took on the best of the best. But, they brought it off. I like to see sights set high, but cringed a little when they started with “Proud Mary” in the Ike & Tina style. That’s gutsy to square off with I&T on that number. They rocked the house. Everyone was on their feet dancing, as was the case with several numbers. Great art evokes emotion, and this was great art.

This segment was followed by numbers that featured various solo performances. The two best were the dueling keyboards and the drummer. The latter rivaled “Wipeout” and brought down the house.

The diverse crowd reflected their broad appeal. It’s more like a first-rate Vegas show than a concert.

If you have the opportunity the next time around, go. Thoroughly enjoyable evening.