Brian Stokes Mitchell Featured On New Mormon Tabernacle Choir Album

Two national icons come together as America's Choir meets Broadway's leading man in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's new release, Ring Christmas Bells (Mormon Tabernacle Choir®, $18.98). In this 16-track album, the talents of Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell -one of Broadway's brightest stars -combine with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square, along with a huge bell choir of more than 100 members. The CD is comprised of live recordings from the choir's 2008 Christmas concert from Temple Square, a musical spectacle that was seen in person by more than 80,000 last year.

In this live recording, Christmas bells animate the opening processional on a theme from "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," "I Saw Three Ships," and the stunning finale, "Angels, from the Realms of Glory." The jubilant Christmas message shines through in lively carols and holiday favorites including "Sleigh Ride," "The Christmas Song," and Handel's beloved "Hallelujah" chorus.

Brian Stokes Mitchell (Kiss Me Kate, Ragtime) brings a heartfelt intimacy to Maury Yeston's "New Words," a hint of cool jazz to Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring," and some Broadway stage savvy to Mack Wilberg's new arrangement of "The Friendly Beasts." An unexpected highlight is the fast-paced, fancy footwork virtuoso performance by Tabernacle organist Richard Elliott in his solo "Go, Tell It on the Mountain."

The Choir's annual Christmas concerts have become the preeminent U.S. Christmas musical event, bringing world-renowned guest artists together with the 360-voice choir. Millions more see these performances when broadcast nationwide on PBS each Christmas Eve.

The full concert is also available on DVD, under the same title, which includes actor Edward K. Herrmann's (Gilmore Girls) stirring narration of the dramatic story behind Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day." A children's picture book about the story, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, will be on sale in October.

The all-volunteer 360-member choir is accompanied by the 110-member Orchestra at Temple Square. With a Grammy for their famous "Battle Hymn of the Republic," an Emmy, and more than 175 recordings, the Choir has become an American icon. President Ronald Reagan dubbed them "America's Choir." The Choir's weekly Music and the Spoken Word program is the world's longest-running continuous network broadcast and airs on more than 2,000 TV, radio and cable networks across the country.

For more information about the Choir, visit mormontabernaclechoir.org