TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA: GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS EVE, narrated by the late Ossie Davis, is a fantasy trip through the magic of Christmas. A runaway little girl decides to return to her family after she enters a rundown theater for shelter and encounters an old caretaker (Davis), who guides her on her journey. The caretaker brings the theater to life through various musical performances by singers Jewel, Michael Crawford and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
The program centers on the Trans-Siberian Orchestra's critically acclaimed Christmas Eve & Other Stories. It chronicles the mission of heaven's youngest angel, sent to earth by God, to bring back the one thing that represents everything good that has been done in the name of this day. His journey culminates in his helping to bring a runaway child home for Christmas.
New York City-based Trans-Siberian Orchestra, whose exhilarating and compelling performances attract fans from ages seven to 70, took the country by storm beginning in 1999, touring in support of their two holiday releases Christmas Eve & Other Stories and The Christmas Attic. Trans-Siberian Orchestra joins top talents from the hard-rock world with those from the Broadway musical and classical arenas. Their conceptual symphonic rock works, which combine the impact of a 60-pieceorchestra and a full chorus with the edge of a rock 'n' roll band, is the creation of Paul O'Neill, who with longtime collaborators Jon Oliva and Bob Kinkel, created a modern format for classic Christmas music. Their first single, "Christmas Eve Sarajevo12/24," struck a multi-format nerve, garnering phone requests on stations all across the country. The single became a perennial holiday hit and the album quickly vaulted to the top of the annual Christmas charts.
"Christmas has always evoked the most powerful emotions and passions in people," says O'Neill, adding, "It's those emotions that draw people together, and it's this sort of music that serves as a conduit for the magic and spirit of the holidays."
witf will air TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA: GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS EVE as part of our TV pledge drive on November 27 at 8:30 p.m., November 28 at 12:30 a.m. and December 11 at 9:30 p.m.
During the show, we'll be offering special Trans-Siberian Orchestra themed thank you gifts for your donation to witf. For your gift of $60, you'll receive either the “The Christmas Attic” CD or "The Christmas Eve and Other Stories" CD. For your gift of $75, you'll receive the "Ghosts of Christmas Eve" DVD. For your gift of $150, you'll receive "The Christmas Trilogy" 3 CD and DVD set.
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