Lights, Crescendos and Pyrotechnics: Our Night with Trans Siberian Orchestra

For my birthday, I had requested tickets to see Trans Siberian Orchestra -- and my wish came true! 

I am familiar with the music (which I thoroughly enjoy at Christmas time) but I knew little about their concert. The preview videos highlighted the lights and sounds and when I mentioned to others that I was going, they said it was fabulous. Now I can say myself: it. was. fabulous!

It was rock concert, a bit of orchestra, Disney and a little Las Vegas blended all up. It was loud, it was strobing. There was constant movement of lights and stage pieces. It was top to bottom entertainment. The video screens behind the stage were huge and ever changing, making the performers look quite tiny, though it did not diminish their sound. 

There was a constant fog in the air to amplify the lights and lasers. And to keep going bigger, there was plenty of fire, with orange AND green flames!

The show included two very distinct parts -- the first followed a story line (it was OK, though the narrator had the perfect voice) and the second spotlighted their hits (which was awesome).

I think we all preferred the instrumental songs. Carol of the Bells (officially known as: Christmas Eve/Sarajevo by TSO) is THE BEST EVER. Check out the [physical] raising and lowering of the guitar and electric violin players in the front (don't miss the flipping hair) and the drums and 2 keyboarders in the back. NOTE: The serious, professional Texas-based orchestra players stayed put, positioned discretely between the drums and the keyboards.

Thanks to programmable lights displays, probably the most recognizable song is Wizards in Winter. Keep an eye out for the moving light sticks overhead and the green flames. Pretty epic.

A handful of the vocal songs were nice for the season, and the females tended to have stronger, more pleasant voices, and sang during one of the coolest moments, in my opinion. The focus shifted to the back of the arena, where there was a small stage. And then...there were...

DRONES!

It was an amazing treat!! So happy we were able to experience it as a family.