Concert Review
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
The Ghosts of Christmas Eve
Blue Cross Arena
Rochester, NY
Thursday November 29, 2018
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto
Some say the Holiday season doesn’t begin until the Trans Siberian Orchestra makes their yearly visit. The ensemble brought their annual tour to the Blue Cross Arena Thursday night. This year the tour is billed as The Ghosts of Christmas Eve- the best of TSO and more. The band delivered on that promise and then some.
The band started off with the trio of “Night Enchanted”, “Winter Palace” and “The Lost Christmas Eve.” The band then played songs from their film The Ghosts of Christmas Past before ending with a solid set of songs labeled as the Best of TSO. All in all a very satisfying show that really helped get you in the spirit for the upcoming holiday season.
The idea of the TSO came from the late producer, composer and lyricist Paul O’Neill when he started to work with the band Savatage. There he met Jon Oliva, amd Al Pitrelli as well as co-producer, keyboardist Bob Kinkel. That was how the formation of the creative core came to be as they took classical and rock music and merged them with many different lead vocalists and topped it all off with an over the top concert experience which features a stunning light and stage show.
To ensure that they could visit as many cities as they could the touring lineups are split into two factions, east and west coast. This east coast members include guitarist Chris Caffery, drummer Jeff Plate and vocalist Zak Stevens all who have been in Savatage. Other notables include music director and keyboardist Derek Wieland, bassist Tony Dickinson and guitarist Joel Hoekstra. Hoekstra is one example of a top notch musician who loves to play in TSO. He also keeps busy during the rest of the year playing with David Coverdale in Whitesnake. He will also on the road with Cher in 2019.
Year after year the orchestra delivers a fantastic show as they pull out all the stops. Whether you are in the front row or the very last row of the furthest section from the stage you go home fully satisfied by sights and sound of the TSO.
Set List
Night Enchanted
Winter Palace
The Lost Christmas Eve
The Ghosts of Christmas Eve
O Come All Ye Faithful / O Holy Night
Good King Joy
Christmas Dreams
Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)
Christmas Canon Rock
What Child Is This?
Music Box Blues
First Snow
Promises to Keep
This Christmas Day
The Best of TSO
Wish Liszt (Toy Shop Madness) / Christmas Jam
A Mad Russian’s Christmas
Hark! The Herald Angel’s Sing / The Three Kings & I
Wizards in Winter
Tracers (with Pink Floyd’s “Shine On Crazy Diamond” intro)
Carmina Burana
Someday
Chance
Madness of Men
Find Our Way Home
Requiem (The Fifth)
Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24) (Reprise
Reminder that TSO will be in Bufalo at KeyBank Center on December 15
Click the links for tickets
Saturday 3PM show
Saturday 7:30 PM show
