Holiday Pops Starring Jodi Benson

I didn't really feel up to going out last night but a Christmas concert featuring the Utah Symphony and Broadway star Jodi Benson (the voice of Ariel in The Little Mermaid) was exactly what I needed so I am glad that I made the effort!  The orchestra, under the baton of Larry Blank, began with a medley called A Christmas Festival featuring "Joy to the World," "Deck the Halls," "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," "Up On the Housetop," "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," "Silent Night," "Jingle Bells," and "O Come All Ye Faithful."  Then Jodi Benson came to the stage to sing "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," "The Christmas Song," and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."  She has such a beautiful voice and I had goosebumps during every song.  She continued with "Grown Up Christmas List" and then took a break while the orchestra performed another beautiful medley called Christmas Scherzo which I loved because it featured "Bring a Torch Jeannette, Isabella."  Then they played "Trepak" from The Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky and the Overture to A White Christmas by Irving Berlin.  Benson returned to the stage for "Ordinary Miracles" by Marvin Hamlisch, which was beautiful, and then introduced her daughter Delaney who sang "Winter Wonderland."  I loved hearing her talk about her daughter because she is so proud of her and it was so endearing!  She concluded the first act with a rousing rendition of "Mary, Did You Know?" that just about blew the roof off Abravanel Hall!  After the intermission the orchestra played a really fun version of "Sleigh Ride" complete with the neighing of a horse (provided by a trumpet player wearing a horse mask).  Benson returned to sing "We Need a Little Christmas" and a sultry version of "Let it Snow."  Next the orchestra performed a Disney medley featuring songs from Pinocchio, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, and Aladdin.  Benson sang "When You Wish Upon a Star" from Pinocchio and her daughter Delaney returned to sing "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music.  One of my favorite moments came next when Benson sang "Part of Your World" from The Little Mermaid!  It was absolutely magical to hear Ariel sing this song and I may or may not have giggled at the end of it!  The orchestra performed another medley called Christmas Fantasy which featured "I Saw Three Ships," "We Three Kings," and "Sing We Noel."  The concert concluded with my very favorite Christmas song "O Holy Night."  I recently heard an instrumental version by Kurt Bestor but it was so lovely to hear it sung by Benson!  For the encore, she sang "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" with her daughter.  I really loved this concert and, if you are in need of a little comfort and joy this season, I definitely recommend getting a ticket for tonight's performance (go here).