Photos by Andy Argyrakis

The annual touring tradition of Trans-Siberian Orchestra is always known for mounting a massive spectacle, set to a riveting seasonal blend of symphonic and hard rock sounds, but following considerable time exploring “The Ghosts Of Christmas Eve” on stage, just conceptualized an entirely new show.

Rather than focusing on the wider retrospective nature of that television special turned audio collection, this installment hones specifically in on “The Lost Christmas Eve” in honor of its 20th anniversary and a remastered vinyl reissue.

The promise of a fresh approach, alongside the fact the album marks the finale to the now classic holiday trilogy, filled up the Allstate Arena twice in a single day, starting with the only matinee on earth where fireballs, explosions, lasers, levitating platforms and a literal human snowglobe were regular occurrences across almost two-and-a-half-hours

After receiving a “Welcome” from the group’s heavy metal roots in Savatage, followed by “Moonlight And Madness,” themes of loss and redemption appeared amply throughout the main narrative, which weaved loads of originals and covers in the distinctive Trans-Siberian Orchestra style.

They included “Faith Noel,” “Wizards In Winter,” “Queen Of The Winter Night,” “Christmas Jam / Siberian Sleigh Ride” and “Wish Liszt (Toy Shop Madness),” each unconventional approaches to the most wonderful time of the year that testified to their endurance two decades later.

In fact, there was a certain sense of timelessness to “For The Sake Of Our Brother,” “What Child Is This?,” “Christmas Canon Rock” and the project’s other primary selections accompanied by the larger than life atmosphere.

As the second half got underway with “King Rurik” and “Mozart And Memories,” the all ages audience remained awestruck, even over the simpler special effect of the white and fluffy flakes falling during “First Snow.”

The top-shelf singers and musicians were equally engaging as the theatrics, especially come “The Three Kings And I,” “A Mad Russian’s Christmas,” “Nutrocker,” Savatage’s “Believe” and “Requiem (The Fifth),” the latter off the more classically-minded “Beethoven’s Last Night.”

Trans-Siberian Orchestra then turned to its signatures “This Christmas Day” and “Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24),” ramping up the visual pageantry beyond anyone’s wildest dreams and making sure this updated take on the season was as mesmerizing as all the others.

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

For a list of upcoming Live Nation concerts, visit LiveNation.com.

Upcoming concerts at the Allstate Arena include Trans-Siberian Orchestra (Dec. 23); Disney On Ice: “Let’s Dance (Jan. 23-26) and Feb. 6-9); NCT127 (Mar. 7); Intocable (Mar. 22); Kylie Minogue (Apr. 2); Brooks & Dunn (Apr. 5); Los Tucanes De Tijuana (Apr. 12); Theo Von (Apr. 25); Charli XCX (Apr. 28); Ghost (Aug. 1); Disney “Descendants” & “Zombies” (Aug. 6) and Ramon Ayala (Sept. 20). For additional details, visit Rosemont.com/Allstate/.

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