The Best Way to Spread Christmas Cheer is Singing Loud for All to Hear

I was very fortunate this year to attend the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Christmas concert featuring Alfie Boe, Tom Brokaw, and the Candy Bomber, Gail Halvorsen. It was easily one of the most fantastic performances I've ever been to. Mix Alfie Boe's amazing tenor voice with Tom Brokaw's incredible story of the Candy Bomber, as well as Richard Elliot's crazy organ-playing talents, and you're in for a night filled with emotion. It was truly a memorable event. Watch a snippet of the night here.

 

 I was able to attend the concert twice, and one of them happened to be Sunday morning. We were told not to applaud because it was a live recording for 'Music and the Spoken Word.' Let me tell you, that was not an easy task. It took all I had not to applaud because the story of the Candy Bomber is so incredible (you HAVE to watch it when it comes out on video) and Alfie Boe is amazing. 

Alfie played Jean Valjean in the 25th Anniversary of Les Miserables so he sang, "Bring Him Home." It brought me to tears each time. You can listen to it here. I promise you won't regret it.

I snuck a picture of the Boe's, Brokaw's, and Halvorsen's posing for a picture after the Sunday concert. :)

I feel beyond blessed to live so close to Temple Square and that I'm able to attend its incredible events. If you want to listen to more of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Christmas concerts, or any of their other music, check out their YouTube website here. It's pure awesomeness. :)

Slightly Obsessing...

... over this CD. SO good. Oh goodness, I can't even tell you how much I love it. I went with my family to the concert last year and have been anxiously waiting ever since to get the CD. When I found out Mom bought it, it quickly found its way to my iPod. I just barely listened to it twice. I just laid on my bed, put a blanket over my head, and just soaked it in for the full 120 minutes. Life was grand. I know it's only October 9th, and most would agree that Christmas music should not be listened to this far in advance, but you can't help but give in to some good ol' MoTab and David Archuleta. Pure beauty.

David Archuleta and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir

{David Archuleta and Michael York}

{Imgae via Google}

One of my highlights this Christmas was seeing David Archuleta sing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. We were fortunate enough to get tickets the same night as my grandparents, so we were all able to go together, even if we were separated in the Conference Center. Everything was just perfect. David sang beautifully with his pure, Latino voice, and the Choir was amazing, as always. Michael York, a British actor, was invited to tell the story of how the Tabernacle Choir began (a really neat story) and the decorations were of course, amazing. Afterwards I felt like Christmas had really begun, and I couldn't stop thinking about how incredible it all was. Some of my favorite performances were when David sang about a cat and a mouse at Christ's birth ("Cat and the Mouse Carol"), "Joy to the World," and "Angels From the Realms of Glory," as well as Richard Elliot's organ rendition of, "Holiday Hoedown." If you want a professional review and some pictures of the concert, click here.

Ever since the concert I can't stop listening to David's Christmas album. To listen yourself, click here.