Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY – Disney princess and broadway star Lea Salonga will perform with the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square for its annual Christmas concerts Dec. 15, 16 and 17.
Salonga, an award-winning stage and screen performer who was the singing voice for Princess Jasmine from "Aladdin" and Fa Mulan from "Mulan" and "Mulan II," will be the featured guest artist for the concerts in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City.
Salonga is renowned across the world for her powerful voice and perfect pitch. She won a Tony Award for her role in "Miss Saigon" and also won the Olivier, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Theatre World awards in the field of musical theater.
Salonga received the title of "Disney Legend" from the Walt Disney Company because of her portrayal of the two princesses.
This performance will also host live public audiences for the first time in two years due to COVID-19 impacting prior concerts.
"We are delighted to have Lea Salonga with us as we welcome the community back to the Conference Center for our Christmas concerts," Tabernacle Choir music director Mack Wilberg said. "Her compelling voice will bring the holiday spirit to the hearts of our audiences with joy, peace, light and love."
Can't wait! This will be a lot of fun! https://t.co/18fgD5dts0
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) October 21, 2022
The response to this announcement on social media was overwhelmingly positive with many stating how excited they are for her to be in the concert.
The 2020 Christmas concerts were canceled and the 2021 concerts were closed to the public. The choir continued the Christmas concert tradition by taping a special featuring Brian Stokes Mitchell in 2020 and airing it in December 2021.
The 2021 live concert featured Broadway star Megan Hilty, renowned actor Neal McDonough and the Gabriel Trumpet Ensemble. The performance was taped and will be broadcast on PBS on Dec. 13 and on BYUtv on Dec. 18.
Tickets for this year's concert are limited to two per household and will be distributed through a random selection process. Individuals must sign up for tickets before the registration period ends at 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 30. Because of construction at Temple Square, the number of tickets will be limited.
"The choir has appeared at 13 world's fairs and expositions, performed at seven U.S. presidential inaugurations and sung for numerous worldwide telecasts and special events — all while broadcasting "Music & the Spoken Word," the oldest continuing radio network broadcast, a weekly tradition now in its 94th year," a press release said.
Salonga will also be featured in the choir's "Music & the Spoken Word" broadcast on Dec. 18.
Past featured guests at the Christmas concerts include Gladys Knight, Kristin Chenoweth, Angela Lansbury, Walter Cronkite, Edward Herrmann, Natalie Cole, John Rhys-Davies, the Muppets from "Sesame Street" and more.
