Well-known American soprano Deborah Voigt and acclaimed British actor John Rhys-Davies will join the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square for their annual Christmas concerts on 12, 13, and 14 December in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City. The guest artists will also join the Choir and Orchestra for the weekly Music & the Spoken Word broadcast and a mini-concert the following Sunday, 15 December.

“This is going to be an unforgettable concert,” said Ron Jarrett, president of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. “The talents of Deborah Voigt and John Rhys-Davies will fill our hearts with the Christmas spirit that will linger with us all season long.”

Today’s carefully guarded announcement was eagerly anticipated by thousands in the community who have attended the Christmas concerts for over a decade. The free performances are arguably the hottest tickets in town during the Christmas season, and this year will be no exception. “We are overwhelmed and humbled by the response of our audiences each year,” said music director Mack Wilberg.

Recognized as one of the world’s most versatile singers and one of music’s most endearing personalities, Deborah Voigt is known as a leading dramatic soprano revered for her performances in the operas of Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss and has portrayed some of the great heroines in Italian opera. She is equally at home with the music of Broadway and America. She recently starred as Brünnhilde in the PBS series Great Performances from the Met in Wagner’s Ring cycle. Ms. Voigt was the gold medal winner in Moscow’s Tchaikovsky Competition and won first prize at Philadelphia’s Luciano Pavarotti Vocal Competition. 

Celebrated British actor John Rhys-Davies is probably best known to film audiences for his roles as the dwarf Gimli in The Lord of the Rings trilogy and the charismatic Arab excavator Sallah in the Indiana Jones films. His television credits include Shogun and War and Remembrance.  Raised in England, Africa, and Wales, he credits his early exposure to classical literature for his decision to pursue acting and writing.