SALT LAKE CITY—The Christmas season is not complete without The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square concerts filled with music, dance and features guest artists set against the backdrop of the iconic organ pipes at the Conference Center downtown. This year’s concert is just as spectacular and the first with a live audience after two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Choir is under the direction of Mack Wilberg, music director of the Choir and Ryan Murphy, associate music director.

Singer Lea Salonga and actor Sir David Suchet are guest artists for the event that began Dec. 15 with two more performances Dec. 16 and 17. Salonga is a multiple award-winning actress and singer best known for her Tony Award-winning role in “Miss Saigon.” Salonga has also used her talent as the singing voice of Princess Jasmine from “Aladdin” and Fa Mulan from “Mulan” and “Mulan II.”

Eminent stage, screen and television actor Sir David Suchet is the narrator for the production. He is best known for his role as sleuth Hercule Poirot from the Agatha Christie mysteries. Suchet told the true story of Nicholas Winton who rescued more than 600 children from Czechoslovakia during World War II. Pictures faded in and out on screens behind the organ pipes as Suchet recounted the story. In a special surprise, Winton’s son Nick Winton joined Suchet on stage and talked about his father and his humility about saving the children saying “I did it because it was the right thing to do.”

Salonga, backed by the choir, sang familiar Christmas songs like “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” “Sleigh Ride” and a beautiful rendition of “O Holy Night.” 

Dancers filled the stage to the accompanying music of the choir as members of the Bells at Temple Square marched down the aisles between the choir. Organist Richard Elliott performed a solo of “On Christmas Night.” 

The audience was also invited to take part near the end of Suchet’s reading of The Christmas Story: Luke 2 when he asked them to hold up the light of their cell phone like a Christmas star. As a sea of shining lights filled the Conference Center the audience joined in the singing of a new verse of “Once in Royal David’s City.” 

The concert finished with “Angels from the Realms of Glory,” which brought the audience to their feet. 

All tickets have been distributed for Christmas with The Tabernacle Choir and due to construction on Temple Square, seating is limited to 15,000.