SPREADING AUTUMN JOY

November 12, 2010

Christmas spirit arrived in Vancouver early this year, in the form of a captivating rock orchestra. The show was spectacularly over the top from beginning to end, complete with lasers, pyrotechnics, and state of the art visuals.

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra captivated the crowd at Rogers Arena Friday night with an elaborate concert that stimulated all the senses.

Opening with show with the full ensemble of guitars, drums, keyboards, a string section, and singers, accompanied by a maze of video screens, lasers, flames, and musicians headbanging from suspended platforms above the stage. It was a dazzling scene that mixed drama of traditional orchestra with edge of electric guitars.

An aura of the holiday season descended upon the crowd. Classic Christmas themes transcended rock attitude with "An Angel Came Down", "Oh Come Holy Night", and "Prince of Peace".

The instrumental "First Snow" was phenomenal and brought to life by confetti snowing down on the audience.

Producer, composer, and lyricist Paul O'Neill first conceived TSO in 1996 with a vision of transcending musical boundaries, cultivating an array of influences in an ambitious rock opera production.

O'Neill brought together Jon Oliva and Al Pitrelli—members of Savatage—and keyboardist and producer Robert Kinkel, to form the core of the group. The live show maintains a two-group touring format and features a plethora of other artists.

Merging all of the styles that impacted him growing up in New York—everything from classical to musicals to rock in the form of Pink Floyd and Queen—O'Neill succeeded in building a progressive rock bank and full rock opera that pushes boundaries unlike any act before it.

The diverse range and sound of the set list kept the crowd engaged and in awe, from "Promises to Keep" sung by angelic vocalist Erin Henry to "Nutrocker" off their fifth studio album Night Castle released in 2009, and "Wizards in Winter".

Embodying the giving spirit of Christmas, the philanthropic artists donated one dollar from every ticket sold to the Union Gospel Mission, that feeds, clothes, and supports Vancouver's homeless.

TSO began touring in 1999, bringing their annual extravaganza to fans across North America every winter with the sole goal of leaving audiences speechless from the visual, audio, and emotional overload.

A decade after taking their breathtaking spectacle and musical show on the road, the progressive rockers are still exceeding that original aspiration.