“Hallelujah!”—in just one word it sums up superbly all the enthusiasm, joy, and hope of Christmas. Both an exclamation and exhortation, this declaration of faith has for millennia been accompanied by enthusiastic praise through music and song. And there’s no better time than Christmas to gather with friends and loved ones, reflect on the true message of the season, and in word, thought, and music offer up our own “Hallelujahs” to the One whose birth we celebrate. With other beloved choral and orchestral works and the Choir’s traditional finale, “Angels from the Realms of Glory,” this inspiring concert reminds us that Christmas is a time of joy and wholehearted celebration. Its redeeming message of peace and love can live in our hearts always.

This Christmas concert features Broadway star Laura Osnes (Cinderella, Anything Goes, Bonnie and Clyde) and renowned British screen actor Martin Jarvis. In this performance, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square present the story of George Frideric Handel’s life in an inspiring celebration of song. The story of Handel’s struggle to write his most famous oratorio, Messiah, celebrates freed debtors, charitable giving, rescued children, and the Messiah’s mission to save God’s children from spiritual death. The music includes some of the most beloved Christmas songs, such as “Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful,” “Do You Hear What I Hear?” and “Joy to the World.” Guest soloists from the Metropolitan Opera also thrill audiences with their rendition of “For unto Us a Child Is Born,” from Handel’s Messiah. This performance brings the listener closer to the true meaning of Christmas with a Christ-centered focus and a thrilling display of talent for the whole family to enjoy.