By Kendra Hill
A Kurt Bestor Christmas at the Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City is the perfect way to kick-off your holiday season. Kurt Bestor, along with his orchestra and band, perform many favorite Christmas songs with beautiful arrangements that are a joy to hear. Bestor has no fear with presenting songs with a new twist. He has added elements of jazz and Latin music to add a new spin to traditional Christmas songs. Bestor is an Emmy-award-winning and Grammy-nominated composer. Some of his most well-known songs include “Prayer of the Children” and “Mama Don’t You Weep.” He’s composed for over 30 feature-length films, 18 albums, television themes. He has also orchestrated works for choirs and orchestras and more. He has also performed and conducted internationally with many groups, including the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir and the Estonian National Orchestra. His latest album is entitled “Kurt Bestor and the Collective ‘Outside the Lines.’” Every year, Bestor chooses a theme to convey with his concert and this year, he decided on ‘unity.’ The audience definitely feels unity, peace, and joy while listening to his music.
My childhood during Christmas-time was filled with the smells of sugar cookies, family, and the heavenly tones of Kurt Bestor’s holiday albums playing on our CD player. For years I have listened to his music and have many of his arrangements and melodies memorized. In spite of wearing out his music disks, this was my first experience seeing him live. It was worth the wait and will become a yearly tradition! A Kurt Bestor Christmas filled me with nostalgia, peace, joy, and happiness as I listened to the musicians onstage performing. I loved hearing the classics that I’ve listened to since childhood, as well as some of his new arrangements. Bestor has been touring the western United States with his festive Christmas show for 32 years, and he doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon.
Many people are familiar with Bestor’s piano music, but he didn’t just play the piano. He also played the harmonica, the drum, and the trumpet. Most of these he played one-handed as he would also lead the other musicians on stage. Bestor performed surrounded by amazing musicians playing strings, woodwinds, percussion, and more. All were amazing and made the experience especially magical. One of the musicians, Ray Smith, even attempted to break a world record during the concert by playing 38 instruments during a song. These instruments ranged from the well-known flute and saxophone to the Oscar Mayer Wiener Whistle and nose flute. They didn’t confirm whether or not he broke the world record last night, though his effort was being reviewed by Guinness World Records judges.
The most powerful song of the night was after intermission, when Bestor invited three children from the One Voice Children’s Choir to come and sing his song“Prayer of the Children.” They sang so beautifully and transfixed the entire audience. A few tears may have also been shed by audience members, including this reviewer.
Classically-trained tenor Nathan Pacheco joined Kurt Bestor for a few of his Christmas songs. He took it in stride when Bestor realized he’d accidentally listed the songs in the wrong order. You never know what will happen during a live performance. Of the songs Pacheco sang, “O Holy Night” was my favorite. He has an amazing voice and nailed the difficult ending. It was a beautiful arrangement of the song, and even Bestor mentioned how well it complemented Pacheco’s voice.
Not all of the music heard was traditional Christmas music, Bestor also adds a lot of fun elements to his show. One of the most fun parts of the night was when he called an audience member up to the stage to read the story of ”The Night Before Christmas” while the band and orchestra played fun tunes. Bestor joked that he almost decided not to do the story because he does it every year, but now it has become tradition. For those who have not attended previous concerts, it was wonderful to hear that it was kept in the show. It leads them to feel as if they’ve been initiated into the “Kurt Bestor Christmas Club” or would if it were a real thing.
There are two more performances before this show leaves town and audiences can have a magical family evening by walking through the lights at Temple Square and finishing off their evening with the amazing Christmas melodies that fill the Eccles Theater during A Kurt Bestor Christmas. This is a show that will fill your soul with Christmas cheer, unity, and peace.
Recommended for ages 8 and up. No babes-in-arms. All patrons require a ticket regardless of age. There are many other events and concerts going on in Salt Lake City during the evenings and parking is scarce, so public transit is recommended rather than driving.
Nate Wade Subaru and Minky Couture Presents “A Kurt Bestor Christmas”
George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Theater 131 Main St, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
December 13-14, 2019, 8:00 PM, Saturday Matinee 2:00 PM
Tickets: $32 – $50
Contact: 385-468-1010
www.kurtbestor.com
Kurt Bestor Facebook Page
Kurt Bestor Christmas Facebook Event
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