Earlier this week, the Canadian Tire Centre was transformed into a mesmerizing winter wonderland as the Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) made their way to Ottawa with their highly-anticipated holiday tour for the first time in 12 years. Blending rock, classical, and theatrical elements, TSO always delivers a performance to get concertgoers into the spirit of the season.
The stage was beautifully lit with every kind of light imaginable, from floating candles to icy blue backdrops to giant fireballs, evoking the magical essence of the holiday season. The band effortlessly whisked the audience into a realm where music tells stories, as longtime narrator Bryan Hicks opened up his novel and told the story of The Lost Christmas Eve.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Photo provided: Jason McEachren.
While the album debuted in 2003, The Lost Christmas Eve took the audience on a journey through themes of love, hope, and redemption—all underscored by the vibrant energy of the multitude of musicians who would appear in and out of songs. The ensemble of musicians crafted soundscapes that intertwined seamlessly with the story, knowing their moments to up the energy or remain a lingering melody in the background.
Vocalists commanded attention with their powerful renditions of TSO classics, each voice adding a unique texture to the tapestry of sound. A special moment came during “O Come All Ye Faihful,” as singer Kelsie Watts belted out her own rendition, that had the audience on their feet for a standing ovation by the end of the song.
The first half of the performance went through the entirety of The Lost Christmas Eve with favourites such as “Wizards in Winter” and “Christmas Canon Rock”, before then going through the rest of TSO’s most famous songs, ending with “Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24).”
Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Photo provided: Jason McEachren.
Several pure spectacle moments took place in the second half of the show, the first being members of the band hopping on two cranes that took them far out above the audience while performing solos together with a backdrop of pyrotechnics launched from the stage. Another memorable performance took place as a giant snow globe was raised near the front of house area, with one of the vocalists inside performing an operatic call and response with those on stage.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s performance at the Canadian Tire Centre was the perfect way to kick off the holiday season in what was a shared experience of joy and connection. The group also continued their tradition of donating a dollar from every ticket sale to a local charity (which has now surpassed over $20 million from their years as a band), as almost $9000 was donated to the Ottawa Food Bank.
