A Bright(man) Start to Christmas

Sarah Brightman – A Christmas Symphony – Auditorium Theatre

Sarah Brightman–the world-renowned soprano–is currently ringing in the holidays all around the country as part of her “A Christmas Symphony” tour. Many may already be familiar with her iconic renditions of Christmas classics. Others may know her as the Christine Daaé from Phantom of the Opera. But even if you are not familiar with Sarah Brightman this is a must-see performance.

Walking into the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago provides a warm and comforting setting. Soft star-like lights, cozy velvet seats, and elaborate detailing that keeps you studying the spacious scenery up until the show starts. 

Sarah’s opening rendition of “Ave Maria” had all eyes and ears fixated on her. The cleanest, clearest vocals and the way the sound reverberated in the space was absolutely enchanting. As much as I adored the first piece, every performance after that kept me on the edge of my seat excited to hear what might come next. 

The performance lasted about 2 hours (with a 15 minute intermission) but the costume changes, special guests, and different genres of song made every section feel fresh and varied. Sarah showed her fans she is the queen of crossover, performing 70s pop (ABBA), opera (Puccini), musical theater (Phantom of the Opera), as well as many classic carols and genres in between the few I mentioned.

For anyone who has a music-loving friend or family member, taking them to this performance would be a memory that lasts a lifetime. I was truly disappointed when I realized this wouldn’t be traveling to my home-state and that I wouldn’t be able to share this gift with others. If you are one of the lucky ones who has Sarah Brightman visiting your home for the holidays: Don’t pass this up!

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Rachel Robbins

To find where to see this performance next, and how to secure your tickets, go to https://sarahbrightman.com/tours/.

To find more information about the Auditorium Theatre and upcoming productions, follow this link: https://www.auditoriumtheatre.org/

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.