We are excited to announce acclaimed tenor and entertainer Rolando Villazón as the 2016 Christmas concert guest artist. The concerts, featuring the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Orchestra at Temple Square, and Bells on Temple Square, will be held December 8–10 in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Villazón will also join the Choir, Orchestra, and Bells for the Sunday broadcast of Music & the Spoken Word on December 11, which will not be ticketed.

Villazón is considered among the world’s top tenors and highly respected by his musical peers. “Rolando Villazón is one of the great singers of our time,” said music director Mack Wilberg. Villazón is renowned for his uniquely compelling performances with leading opera houses and orchestras around the world. He has been 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).

Mormon Tabernacle Choir fans who bought the Choir’s 2016 album Messiah will recognize Villazón as one of four featured soloists on the Choir and Orchestra’s landmark recording.

“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.”

Instead of the random selection distribution of tickets 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 10:00 a.m. mountain daylight time, tickets will become available at lds.org/events. Patrons will be able to request four tickets online. Tickets will not be available through phone or in person. 

Take a behind-the-scenes look at the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's newest release of Handel's Messiah, featuring guest artists Rolando Villazón, Bryn Terfel, Sonya Yoncheva, and Tamara Mumford.