Christmas Day Music & the Spoken Word Special

Sunday, December 25, 2016, the Music & the Spoken Word broadcast will feature a collection of Christmas performances by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Orchestra at Temple Square, and Tabernacle organist, Richard Elliott.  This program will include Richard Elliott’s famous organ solo “Go, Tell It on The Mountain” which recently surpassed 1-million views on YouTube.

Since Christmas day falls on Sunday this year, visiting hours on Temple Square will be limited to 2:00 p.m. through 10:00 p.m. There will be no live broadcast of Music & the Spoken Word from the Salt Lake Tabernacle, but a thirty-minute organ recital will take place at 2:00 p.m. 

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Orchestra at Temple Square, and Bells on Temple Square and staff extend sincere best wishes for a very Merry Christmas!

2016 – What an Amazing Year!

The end of the holiday season concludes an amazing year for the Choir, Orchestra, and Bells.  Wonderful new opportunities were presented in 2016 for the Choir, Orchestra, and Bells to fulfill their mission as ambassadors for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and to reach new audiences all over the world. Here are a few of the highlights:

• In March, landmark new recordings of Handel’s Messiah by the Choir and Orchestra were released to critical acclaim.
• Just before Easter, a live performance by the Choir and Orchestra of Messiah was held on Temple Square and live streamed over the Internet and made available for on-demand viewing during the following week. The concert was viewed by 175,000 people in over 190 countries in homes, with friends and family, or with larger groups in churches, schools, and community centers. (Watch for the next Messiah concert and live stream again in March 2018.)
• For the first time in 18 years, the Choir, with the Orchestra, traveled to Europe and performed in seven cities to enthusiastic audiences. “It was an opportunity to acquaint European audiences with the Choir. For many it was their first exposure, not only to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, but to the Church.” said Ron Jarrett, president of the Choir.”
• Only a few days after returning from Europe, the Choir and Orchestra welcomed The King’s Singers, England’s renowned six-man a cappella vocal ensemble, for the July Pioneer Day Concert. This concert was counter-tenor David Hurley’s last U.S. performance of his 26-year career with The King’s Singers.
• The year ended with Rolando Villazón, joining the Choir, Orchestra, and Bells for the annual Christmas concerts. Villazón—born in Mexico and now a French citizen—is an acclaimed tenor soloist, stage director, television host of his own show in France and Germany, and published author. His talent as a singer and narrator was highlighted throughout the program. Watch for this concert to be released next year on PBS as well as on CD and DVD!