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SALT LAKE CITY — Thursday, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir announced the guest artist who will perform with it, the Orchestra at Temple Square and Bells on Temple Square at their Christmas concerts in December.
Rolando Villazón will be featured at the concerts Dec. 8, 9 and 10 in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City and in the Dec. 11 broadcast of “Music and the Spoken Word.” "Music and the Spoken Word" is not a ticketed event, according to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
"Rolando Villazón is one of the great singers of our time," music director Mack Wilberg said in a statement. "Pairing his talent with that of the Choir and Orchestra will result in yet another majestic collaboration just as it did in our recent recording of Messiah."
The upcoming guest artist is one of the four soloists in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square’s recording of Handel’s “Messiah,” the Mormon Tabernacle Choir reported.
“Rolando Villazón not only has extraordinary musical talent but will charm audienceMs with his onstage performance,” President of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Ron Jarrett said in a statement. “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.”
Villazón is a stage director, novelist and a TV personality. He is an exclusive recording artist with Deutsche Grammophon and has recorded more than 20 CDs and DVDs that have received multiple prizes, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir reported.
In the past, tickets were distributed randomly, but this year’s free tickets will be claimed on a first-come, first-served basis. Those younger than 8 years old may not attend the concert.
“Patrons will be able to see which nights are available and will know at the end of their selection which night they have received,” the Mormon Tabernacle Choir reported.
Tickets will be available Saturday at 10 a.m. MDT on lds.org/events. Those wishing to get tickets may request four tickets online, but they can’t obtain them over the phone or in person, according to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
