One of the world’s leading tenors and most beloved entertainers, Rolando Villazón, will be the featured guest artist at this year’s Christmas concerts by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Orchestra at Temple Square, and Bells on Temple Square on December 8, 9, and 10 in the Conference Center. Villazón will also join the Choir, Orchestra, and Bells for the Sunday broadcast of Music and the Spoken Word on December 11, which will not be ticketed.
"Rolando Villazón is one of the great singers of our time," said music director Mack Wilberg. "Pairing his talent with that of the Choir and Orchestra will result in yet another majestic collaboration just as it did in our recent recording of Messiah."
Villazón was one of four featured soloists on the Choir and Orchestra’s landmark recording of Handel’sMessiah, which was released earlier this year.
“Rolando Villazón not only has extraordinary musical talent but will charm audiences with his onstage performance,” said Ron Jarrett, president of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. “We are playing to his strengths as an artist which means we will also use his talents as the narrator for this year’s concert.”
“In keeping with tradition, audiences can expect some wonderful surprises at this year’s concert that will delight people of all ages, as only music can,” Jarrett said.
Rolando Villazón is renowned for his uniquely compelling performances with leading opera houses and orchestras around the world. Heralded as “the most charming of today’s divos” (The Times) and “a great singer and brilliant entertainer, at once extremely funny and deeply profound” (Crescendo), Rolando Villazón is among the most versatile artists alive today, maintaining successful careers as a stage director, novelist, and TV personality next to his on-stage career.
Instead of the random selection distribution of tickets for the Tabernacle Choir's Christmas concert used in prior years, tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Patrons will be able to see which nights are available and will know at the end of their selection which night they have received.
On, Saturday, October 15 at 10 a.m. MT, tickets will become available atlds.org/events. Patrons will be able to request 4 tickets online, however, tickets will not be available through phone or in person.
Lead image from mormontabernaclechoir.org.
For more fun Christmas concerts from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, check out their performance of Handel'sMessiah or their fun performance with the Muppets® from Sesame Street® in Keeping Christmas with Youthat your whole family will love.
