Where's Santa When We Need Him?

I don’t remember a Christmas season

when we were more richly blessed with

high-quality, enriching entertainment.

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

Our cultural enlightenment actually began

in October when we went to

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical presentation

“Phantom of the Opera”.

Granddaughter Brigitte was in the orchestra

or we might have missed it.

Amy saw the musical in Los Angeles

with Michael Crawford when

she was in high school.

She wasn’t a bit impressed

and wouldn’t go with us when we went

in Vegas last April.

We were astounded at the production

presented by Davis High School.

Amy wanted to go a second time

and we loved it even more.

Brigitte had a couple of solos on her cello

that were divine.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Pioneer Memorial Theater presented

A Christmas Carol, a musical

with music by Alan Menken,

lyrics by Lynn Ahrens,

based on Charles Dickens’ famous 1843 novel.

It touched my heart more this time than ever before.

I went twice.  (Read my blog.)

With “Rush” passes, you can go as many times as you like.

LINCOLN

We rarely go to movies

but we have wanted to see “Lincoln”.

It was suspenseful and absorbing

even though you know the outcome.

Superb acting.

I feel sorry for the wives of great men.

Spiteful – troubled – jealous.

Husbands of great women seem to fair better:
(At least in the movies.)
For example, 

Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria,

whose nine children married into

royal and noble families

across the continent,

earning them the nickname

“The Grandparents of Europe.”

Margaret Thatcher’s kind husband, Denis Thatcher,

a successful and wealthy divorced businessman.

She was the longest serving

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom,

and the only woman ever to hold the post.

She was nicknamed the “Iron Lady” because of her

uncompromising politics and leadership style.

After the movie,

we watched the light show at Farmington Station Park

eating the popcorn we forgot to eat during

the movie because it was so compelling;

and staying warm by the vast outdoor fireplace.

Magical.

KAYSVILLE LITERARY ART GUILD CHRISTMAS PARTY

Two brothers who play multiple string instruments,

a base guitarist and a singer

who claims the only instrument she plays is

Jingling the bells

presented a delightful Christmasey show.

Dr. Snell went up afterwards to get even with

those lawyers for telling malicious doctor jokes.

TABERNACLE CHOIR CHRISTMAS BROADCAST

Amy and I left at 7:30 AM Sunday morning

to go to the Conference Center

for the Tabernacle Choir Christmas program

with special guests Alfie Boe, an amazing tenor,

and Tom Brokaw, an award-wining NBC news broadcaster.

Touching.  Beautiful.

After the broadcast,

they did a short concert

then they introduced all their wives.

Alfie Boe is British but he says his wife

is a Salt Lake City girl so she brought him home.

He played Jean Valjean in Les Misérables

and his Bring him Home

was achingly beautiful; mesmerizing.

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing was so powerful

tears came to my eyes.

Tom Brokaw, known for celebrating

America’s “Greatest Generation”,

told the story

Christmas From Heaven:

A Gift that Changed the World”

about the "Candy Bomber"

Col. Gail "Hal" Halvorsen.

The Salt Lake City man spearheaded

an operation that dropped

23 tons of candy

during the Berlin airlift of 1948-49.

We sat rapt as the tale unfolded

amid eye-popping special effects,

then Halvorsen, an energetic man of 92,

took the stage.

For the guests, the choir sang A cappela

God Be With You Till We Meet Again.”

Meredith Brokaw, of course,

didn’t know she was doing it,

but she bravely wore pants

on Mormon Wear-Pants-to-Church Sunday.

Her birthday is on Christmas

and she told her husband

she always thought

when they sang the Hallelujah Chorus

it was just for her;

so today the Tabernacle Choir

sang the Hallelujah Chorus just for her.

They had her and Tom stand directly

in front of them while they sang.

They have been married 50 years.

Alfie Boe’s wife and Gail Halvorsen’s wife

both wore proper Sunday attire.

BROOKE’S TWO CONCERTS

Brooke has joined a professional singing group

“The Salt Lake Choral Artists” 
directed by Dr. Brady Allred.

Our next door neighbor, Dr. Jane Fjeldsted,

who conducts the Women’s Choir,

introduced he and his wife to Eddy

in front of the Assembly Hall on Temple Square

after the concert there.

Eddy wasn’t impressed but we were.

An x-choir director from North Carolina

came up to Brooke afterwards,

telling him what an excellent concert

they performed.

He says he follows Dr. Allred

and catches his concerts whenever he can.

He actually came to Salt Lake

for the Tabernacle Choir Christmas program.

“You travel this far for that?”

“I come every year.

I’d travel a lot further than this to attend.”

“How do you get tickets?”

“When Craig Jessop was here,

he’d send me tickets.

Forth row seats every year.

Since he’s gone,

I have to take my chances

with the lottery like everyone else.

I was lucky enough to get Sunday morning seats

but I still wanted to see a regular performance

so I stood in line Saturday night and got a seat.”

Amy and I got tickets because

I entered my name on Facebook and won.

I’ve never been chosen on the lottery.

The last time we went, years ago, Melissa got 10 tickets.

Free tickets are in high demand.

Another time I went to the

Sunday Morning Christmas broadcast with Brooke

and his family when someone gave him tickets.

After Brooke’s amazing concert in the Assembly Hall,

I wrote:

Brooke puts his whole heart and soul into it.

I still can’t believe our kids can sing.

Play instruments, yes;

sing, it doesn’t seem like one of ours.

Brooke was standing on the end in the Assembly Hall

and as I watched him sing,

it reminded me of the dream I had years ago.

The only dream I’ve had where I have seen Daddy vividly.

He was on the last row on the end in the Tabernacle Choir.

It seemed strange to me at the time

because Daddy never went to Salt Lake City.

Additionally, Esplins can’t sing.

Everybody in town knows that.

Tonight seeing Brooke in such a fine choir

was a little like that dream came true.

It was his grandson

instead of him

but he was up there

singing magnificently.

I think Brooke must resemble Daddy

in more ways than I have realized.

Déjà vu.
This is actually the second time
Brooke has honored Daddy.
March 21, 1997
As it happened,

Brooke was scheduled to play

with the Utah Symphony in Abravanel Hall

on Daddy’s birthday.

It seems a long ways

from the sheepherd to symphony hall;

yet I think Brooke

would be perfectly happy at the sheepherd

and I think Daddy enjoyed good music.

By coincidence,

it appeared the concert itself was in Daddy’s honor.

They played The Cowboys Overture;

the Suite from The Big Country,

and On the Trail from the Grand Canyon Suite.

Brooke second concert this season was in Gardner Hall.
"O Yule Full of Gladness"
Christmas Around the World

$20 tickets.  Professional, remember.

Amy thinks they are better

than the Tabernacle Choir because they are younger

and their voices don’t warble.

Thanks for bringing that up, Amy.

Every number was succor for the soul.

Penetrating.  Rich and full.

Sometimes fun.

Afterwards we enjoyed a delicious dinner

at our favorite Café Chang.

Even Ed ate everything without complaint.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

***********

Then we wondered

why there were no presents

under the tree

when we woke up on Christmas morning.

Not one of us stepped foot in a mall to shop

the whole season –

or more accurately,

the whole year.

*********

Wait!  There’s more.

We still have Amy’s birthday.

December 30.

DONNIE & MARIE

Amy’s only birthday present

(until Suzanne dropped by with a $20

Gift certificate to Osaka Sushi)

was a ticket to the Donnie & Marie show.

“They are icons of our time,” she said

in wanting to see them in Salt Lake City.

She had no interest in seeing them in Vegas.

It started snowing the day before Christmas

snowing intermittently

all Christmas day.

The day of the concert

the snow fell steadily the live-long day.

The roads were slick.

The snowplow hadn’t even been in our circle

or down Raymond Road, for that matter.

Heroic DeRay said he would drive us down,

As he was still trying to get the snowblower going

when it was time for us to leave,

Amy bravely headed out.

We parked in time to walk

through enchanting Temple Square

and the charming City Creek Center.

Perfect.

After hearing Alfie Boe with his rich tenor voice sing

“Bring Him Home”

I thought Donny & Marie were lacking in breath and depth,

until I caught the spirit of their energetic showmanship.

I didn’t go to sleep or even come close.

It was highly entertaining from start to finish – all 2½ hours.

And I’ll bet even Alfie Boe couldn’t dance in

dangerously high heels like Marie did all evening.

Amy said she was pleasantly surprised at how good it was.

She went to see an icon couple and got an astounding show.

Yes, it was still snowing when we came out.

Courageously, Amy navigated us safely home.

And the next morning, while it was still snowing,

we left for Bryce.

But that’s another Blog.