By Julie Halversen Tate
Last night, despite the wintry snowy weather in Salt Lake City, thousands of patrons filled the Eccles Theatre with Live at the Eccles in downtown Salt Lake City to hear the incomparable male vocalists of GENTRI perform their annual holiday concert. It was well worth braving the storm, as they put on a heart-warming, exciting, and polished show, complete with symphony orchestra and adult and children’s choirs to accompany them.
GENTRI is comprised of a trio of tenors: Brad Robins, Casey Elliott, and Bradley Quinn Lever, along with their Music Director and Producer, Stephen Nelson. They have performed for hundreds of audiences around the world and shared stages with renowned performers Journey, One Republic, Alfie Boe, Idina Menzel, Lee Greenwood, and Kristen Chenoweth. They have a strong YouTube presence, along with a new Christmas Album, “Noel,” which was just released this month. They all reside in Utah and they mentioned during their concert that having people such as “Mom and Dad” in the audience brings a special warmth to the concert for them, and for this reason the audience cannot help but to feel a special connection to them as well.
The concert opens with GENTRI’s vibrant new release, “Mary’s Boy Child,” a buoyant calypso-inspired arrangement of the Christmas classic. Robins, Elliott, and Lever each assume the position of storytellers as the stage fills with the members of the Rise Up Children’s Choir, smiling and dancing and eager to hear the stories they tell. This song is the perfect opener as it grabs the audience’s attention quickly and hints at the variety and fun that is to follow. The orchestra seated on the stage is a wonderful set up and allows them to become part of the show. The smiling children’s faces beaming from the stage at the end of the first song are contagious.
The children exit the stage and the trio then serenades its audience for two hours with many more exquisite arrangements of well-known Christmas songs. Many are performed with full orchestrations from musicians seated behind the singers in view on the stage and with Nelson at the piano. Some numbers include a full adult choir, and others are performed with the only accompaniment being a solo acoustic guitar. Every single number is impeccable and worthy of note. A few stand-out moments are the timeless “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” which pierces through the air and brings a spirit of holiness; “Do You Hear What I Hear?,” which highlights the timbre in each tenor’s vocals while also showcasing their ability to blend in parts as well as in unison as one voice; “I Saw Three Ships” highlights the amazing talents of guest guitarist Nick Johnson, who frontlines along with the trio; “Silent Night” is performed with beauty and reverence; and the French Carol, “O Holy Night,” fills the entire concert hall with reverence and soul-filling awe.
The trio laces throughout the concert their messages of hope, gratitude, giving, and love through thoughts and personal experiences. Following a particular message of gratitude from one of the trio, the curtain lifts to reveal Rise Up Children’s Choir, who then performs its version of Josh Groban’s “Thankful,” arranged and directed by the choir’s Music Director Scott Shattuck. Dressed in lovely golden dresses and handsome gray suits, the children sound angelic as they share their timely message of gratitude.
To complete the evening, the gents recount a story that dates back to the Korean War, embedded in a hauntingly beautiful arrangement of “In the Bleak Midwinter,” complete with moving silhouettes of people boarding a ship behind a scrim. The show closes with a joy-filled arrangement of “O Come All Ye Faithful,” at which point all of the guest performers, including the adult choir, guest guitarist, and Rise Up Children’s Choir join GENTRI on the stage for a triumphant finale and final bows. Audiences spring from their seats in applause to thank these artists for their beautiful gift of the season.
The set for the stage is simple and elegant with a few changes, from snowy trees moving on and off, to traditional holiday fare of homey Christmas décor, to gigantic red ornaments hanging from the rafters rising and falling to the music. Every piece is beautiful while never distracting from the performance. The lighting is remarkable as well, using a variety of spots to highlight the singers in a variety of ways, colored lights shining to raise the gaze upward, and also moving lights at times to bring dimension to the stage. GENTRI is dressed in time-tested traditional gentleman’s attire, complete with 3-piece suits; as always, they look classy and dashing.
Spending this evening with GENTRI is the perfect way to open the holiday season. There is value for music-lovers young and old and they will leave the venue with smiles on their faces and a warm hearts, having indeed “found” the Spirit of Christmas.
GENTRI present Finding Christmas
Delta Performance Hall at Eccles Theatre, 131 So. Main Street, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
November 29-30, 7:30 PM
Tickets $20-60; Eccles Theatre Box Office
Contact: artsatsaltlake.org, (801) 355-ARTS
GENTRI Finding Christmas Facebook Event
GENTRI Facebook Page
Rise Up Children’s Choir Facebook Page
Eccles Theater Facebook Page
Live at the Eccles Facebook Page
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