Concert Review - WOW

[Sir_Galahad]

Words cannot adequately describe the experience I had last night. We (Lady G and I) attended one of the most fabulous concerts we have ever seen. And we have seen many many concerts from Air Supply to Yes. Last night we were simply enthralled with the concert by Trans-Siberian Orchestra. We had missed seeing them in Vegas and, then again, in South Carolina for various reasons but this time I went and got my tickets (back in September) just after they announced they were coming to town. It is difficult to describe the show as it lies somewhere between rock opera, broadway and rock concert. The central idea for the show is that they place Christmas-themed, rock-oriented music with a touch of classical music (and I mean classical as in Beethoven) thrown in something akin to Mannheim Steamroller but with more punch. Although you may not specifically know the names of the "songs" (and I use that term loosely) they play, you will recognize a lot of the classical strains and Christmas songs interwoven with their original music. Again, it is difficult to describe unless you see it.

They played their story-themed music (check out their "Christmas Eve and other Stories" CD) for about 2 hours and then they played some old, new and in between stuff for about another 45 minutes. I was simply thrilled when they played the Prelude to Madness which, if you are a rock aficionado, is the musical number you hear on the Hall of the Mountain King CD by Savatage (in case you were unaware, TSO was the brainchild of one of the founding members of Savatage, a hard rock/metal band). They also played one of my other favorites; a little ditty called Wish Liszt where they take Franz Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody and "modernize" it.

The music and the light show were all simply mesmerizing.

All I can say is that if you see just once concert in your life, you absolutely must go see TSO. I can't wait for them to come back next year.

[Catfish]

I'm glad you liked it. We saw them for the first time last year and were blown away. We're seeing them in Chicago on Jan 3.

[ulysses5019]

I listen to their cds during the Christmas season and I love them. They are unique. Their song "Wizard of Winter" is the one used for a Miller Lite commercial a few years ago:

http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=13101

[Estonut]

I'm a five-timer. I missed them this year because they played here on the weekend we celebrate my sisters birthday out of town.

[T_Bone0806]

I've seen 'em 3 times. First two times were in a small theatre, before they became the huge draw they are now. Third time was in a much larger venue. All 3 times they were terrific.

Our whole family loves 'em. In fact, it has become the tradition for their first cd to be the first Christmas cd we pull out and listen to each year. It's not officially Christmas season until we have listened to "Christmas Eve and other Stories".

"Christmas Canon" from "The Christmas Attic", which adds a multi-layered multi-part children's choir singing lyrics set to Pachelbel's Canon, deeply touches my heart each and every time I hear it.

TSO was in Albany TODAY at 3pm and TONIGHT at 7:30pm. Unfortunately, finances did not allow us to see them. We've missed them the last 3 or 4 years for various reasons.

Maybe next year. Hope so.

[TheCalvinator24]

I'm glad you liked it. We saw them for the first time last year and were blown away. We're seeing them in Chicago on Jan 3.

But they're in Dallas on January 3rd.







Apparently, they have 2 traveling orchestras because they are double-booked on several dates.

[Catfish]

I'm glad you liked it. We saw them for the first time last year and were blown away. We're seeing them in Chicago on Jan 3.

But they're in Dallas on January 3rd.







Apparently, they have 2 traveling orchestras because they are double-booked on several dates.

Yes. I was terribly confused last year as I was ordering tickets, then I figured out about the two troupes. Even looking at the itineraries for the individual troupes, it's amazing how close together the performances are.