Colossal Christmas tunes meet hard rock originals in latest Trans-Siberian Orchestra extravaganza

Photos by Andy Argyrakis

When Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s rock opera “The Ghosts Of Christmas Eve” debuted on TV in 1999 (and DVD in 2001) boasting many of the band’s best-loved songs and a redemptive message, it was heralded as an instant classic. Oddly enough, the soundtrack to this seasonal standard didn’t release on CD and digital download until this very year, giving the massive troupe a chance to once again feature these symphonic rock selections, but with a fresh stage show that was surely its most enormous to date.

Though this act is most commonly regarded as skillful Yuletide interpreters, its kinship with the likes of Rush or Dream Theater became increasingly apparent during all of the newer selections thanks to their progressive aggression and adventurous imagery.

From “The Ghosts Of Christmas Eve” segment, cuts such as “Good King Joy,” “Christmas Canon,” “Music Box Blues” and “This Christmas Day” found Trans-Siberian Orchestra unloading a massive wall of sound on the Allstate Arena courtesy of countless world-class singers and musicians, accompanied by a local string section. Given the holiday scope of the show, the group also delivered many more familiar favorites from other albums (“A Mad Russian’s Christmas,” “Christmas Nights In Blue”) to provide a wider cross-section of unconventional rock n’ roll sounds adapted to the season.

The more than two-hour evening also gave Trans-Siberian Orchestra a chance to spread its wings with several original hard rockers, including a hearty sampling from 2015’s concept collection “Letters From The Labyrinth,” plus “The Mountain” from the equally epic “Night Castle.” Though this act is most commonly regarded as skillful Yuletide interpreters, its kinship with the likes of Rush or Dream Theater became increasingly apparent during all of the newer selections thanks to their progressive aggression and adventurous imagery.

Visually speaking, the current tour is also quite the technological marvel with virtual reality-like screens that could easily compete with any theme park, alongside an amalgamation of pyrotechnics, lasers, hydraulics and special effects capable of even dwarfing Pink Floyd at its grandest. The most obvious instance was a finale reprisal of “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24” as many band members hovered above the audience, others ran around the floor and a giant fireball at the back of the venue all enhanced the sensory spectacle behind another round of ambitious musical experiments.

Click here for more Trans-Siberian Orchestra photos from the Allstate Arena.

For additional information on Trans-Siberian Orchestra, visit Trans-Siberian.com.

For a list of upcoming shows at the Allstate Arena, visit Rosemont.com/Allstate/ and LiveNation.com.