Last night I cried.  I cried like a baby who’s just been sent to her room.  That is the impact the Mormon Tabernacle Choir‘s Christmas special had on me.

The show started out as explosive as ever with not only the full 360 member choir, but the full orchestra, dancers, and the largest bell choir I’ve ever seen.  Brian Stokes Mitchell joined the choir the add power to such songs as “The Christmas Song” (which was originally sung by Mel Torme), “Sleigh Ride,” “Angels from the Realm of Glory,” and the adorable “The Friendly Beasts” where Mr. Mitchell sang as the animals that took part in the birth of Jesus (the donkey who carried Mary, the Cow who gave up its stall, the sheep who gave wool for warmth, and the dove that cooed the baby to sleep).

The most emotional part of the night was when Edward Herrmann (very distinguished and fantastic actor you may know from playing the grandfather on Gilmore Girls) came out and told the story “Longfellow Christmas.”  The story followed the Longfellow family, through the happy Christmases and the loss of the mother to a fire and oldest son to the Civil War.  It told of depression, sadness and despair.  Then one Christmas, Mr.

Longfellow heard the church bells on Christmas.  He was so overwhelmed he wrote “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” and was filled with the joy he had been missing.  I was bawling (as I mentioned earlier).

One of the most fantastic pieces of the evening was the Welsh lullaby “Suo Gan” performed by just the women.  What many people don’t know is it’s much harder to sing in unison than it is to sing in harmony.  When there’s harmony, any mistakes can be masked but not with unison.  The ladies of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir can the lullaby with grace and beauty in perfect unison.  Color me impressed!

The Tabernacle in Salt Lake City seats 21,000 people and all concerts given are completely free.  I wish I could have been there in person!