The 2023 Christmas concert by the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square | WOW!!

The 2023 Christmas concert by the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square was an incredible celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth, filled with music and stories about family, love, and service.

Broadway singer and actor Michael Maliakel, along with British actor Lesley Nicol, joined the talented musicians for this special event.

The concert, which we saw on December 15, featured a variety of performances, from the opening processional “Sing We Now of Christmas” to the finale of “Angels from the Realms of Glory.”

Throughout the evening, the message emphasized the importance of service and love during the Christmas season, reminding everyone about the true meaning of the holiday—celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.

Maliakel, known for his role as the title character in Disney’s “Aladdin” on Broadway, shared his personal connection to the Tabernacle Choir’s Christmas concerts. Growing up, his family made it a tradition to watch these concerts, and he continues to carry on this tradition with his own family. Maliakel’s rich baritone voice resonated through the hall as he performed solos like “Joy to the World” and “I Wonder as I Wander.”

In a section called “Christmas Once More,” Maliakel sang festive songs like “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” with the choir. Later, he presented a moving rendition of “God Help the Outcasts” from “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” emphasizing the importance of love and compassion, inspired by the author Victor Hugo’s message.

Lesley Nicol, famous for her role as Mrs. Patmore in “Downton Abbey,” narrated a heartwarming story about Victor Hugo and his wife, Adele, who hosted meals for destitute children in their home, including a special Christmas feast. The story highlighted the theme of forming a family not only through blood but also through shared love and acts of kindness.

Victor Hugo, a renowned author, believed in the divine origin of all children and incorporated their stories into his literary works. Nicol shared how Hugo and his wife, moved by compassion, organized efforts to help orphaned children, starting with eight children and eventually growing to 40. The Hugoes’ Christmas feast became a symbol of love and inclusion, emphasizing the idea that to love is to act.

Nicol connected the story to the broader theme of Christmas, stating that the courage to act comes from the light of the manger—the child born to all of us. She urged the audience to see each other as brothers and sisters, discovering the true Christmas gift: recognizing the face of the holy child in one another.

The concert also featured various musical performances, including arrangements of traditional carols like “Noe! Noe!” and “Vom Himmel Hoch,” as well as classical pieces like Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.” The Gabriel Trumpets Ensemble, organist Richard Elliott, and the entire choir and orchestra contributed to the festive atmosphere.

The evening concluded with the traditional finale, “Angels from the Realms of Glory,” bringing together the guest artists, choir, orchestra, bell ringers, trumpeters, and organists for a grand and joyous celebration.

Despite limited seating due to construction around Temple Square, 18,000 tickets were distributed for the 21,000-seat Conference Center. The concert will be broadcast on PBS and BYUtv next Christmas season, allowing a broader audience to experience the heartwarming and uplifting celebration of Christmas presented by the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square.