tso on tour

TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA Announces 2022 Tour, 'The Ghosts Of Christmas Eve - The Best Of TSO And More'

Multi-platinum, progressive rock group TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA ( TSO ) today announced the dates for its highly anticipated 2022 winter tour, "The Ghosts Of Christmas Eve - The Best Of TSO And More" .

After its first year off the road in more than two decades, TSO made a triumphant return to touring in 2021 with a 25th anniversary celebration of "Christmas Eve And Other Stories" . For 2022, TSO brings a completely updated presentation of the unforgettable, multi-generational holiday tradition "The Ghosts Of Christmas Eve" to 60 cities across the nation. This year's tour kicks off on Wednesday, November 16 with performances in Green Bay and Council Bluffs, and will conclude after 101 shows on Friday, December 30 (see full itinerary below).

A special BLABBERMOUTH.NET presale will begin on Thursday, September 15 at 10:00 a.m. local time and end on Thursday, September 15 at 10:00 p.m. local time. When prompted , type in the presale code "BLABBERMOUTH" to access tickets before the general public. General on-sale will be Friday, September 16 at 10 a.m. local time.

Keeping with the O'Neills ' vision (late TSO mastermind Paul O'Neill and his wife Desi ), TSO remains one of rock's most charitable bands. Once again, thankfully, TSO will give at least $1 from every ticket sold to charity. To date, approximately $18 million has been donated by the group.

Desi O'Neill said: "We want to thank the fans so much for the kindness they showed in coming out last year. It meant the world to our family. Moreover, the credit for any charitable donation is due to you not us. The only way we are able to help all is because of you."

A product of the imagination of Paul O'Neill and Desi , and based on TSO 's multi-platinum CD and TV special "The Ghosts Of Christmas Eve" , the rock opera features such enduring fan favorites as "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24" , "O' Come All Ye Faithful" , "Good King Joy" , "Christmas Canon" , "Music Box Blues" , "Promises To Keep" and "This Christmas Day" . 2022's tour will also boast a rousing second set containing more of TSO 's greatest hits and fan-pleasers, including "Wizards In Winter" , "A Mad Russian's Christmas" and many more.

TSO 's music director and lead guitarist Al Pitrelli said: "It was so special to be back playing live last year. When you love something as much as we do and it's taken away, it made us super thankful to be back. I look forward to seeing all our 'repeat offenders' and all our new friends when we hit the road.

"I love all of Paul 's stories, but 'The Ghosts Of Christmas Eve' is one of my favorites and can't wait to unveil this incredibly amazing new show for everyone.

"We know some people may be having tough times, so we worked hard with the local promoters and arenas to have a low priced $29 ticket to do our part in helping out.

"God Bless all of you and see you in November and December when we celebrate in-person once again."

Tour dates:

Nov. 16 - Green Bay, WI - Resch Center (Matinee & Evening) Nov. 16 - Council Bluffs, IA - Mid America Center (Evening) Nov. 17 - Wichita, KS - INTRUST Bank Arena (Evening) Nov. 18 - Fort Wayne, IN - Allen County War Memorial Coliseum (Evening) Nov. 19 - Denver, CO - Ball Arena (Matinee & Evening) Nov. 19 - Cincinnati, OH - Heritage Bank (Matinee & Evening) Nov. 20 - Colorado Springs, CO - World Arena (Matinee & Evening) Nov. 20 - Youngstown, OH - Covelli Centre (Matinee & Evening) Nov. 22 - Salt Lake City, UT - Vivint Arena (Matinee & Evening) Nov. 23 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena (Matinee & Evening) Nov. 25 - Spokane, WA - Spokane Arena (Evening) Nov. 25 - Manchester, NH - SNHU Arena (Matinee & Evening) Nov. 26 - Seattle, WA - Climate Pledge Arena (Matinee & Evening) Nov. 26 - Worcester, MA - DCU Center (Matinee & Evening) Nov. 27 - Eugene, OR - Matthew Knight Arena (Evening) Nov. 27 - Wilkes-Barre, PA - Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza (Matinee & Evening) Nov. 28 - Portland, OR - Moda Center (Evening) Nov. 30 - Albany, NY - MVP Arena (Evening) Dec. 01 - Fresno, CA - Save Mart Center (Evening) Dec. 01 - Rochester, NY - Blue Cross Arena (Evening) Dec. 02 - Sacramento, CA - Golden 1 Center (Matinee & Evening) Dec. 02 - Toledo, OH - Huntington Center (Matinee & Evening) Dec. 03 - Ontario, CA - Toyota Arena (Matinee & Evening) Dec. 03 - Dayton, OH - Nutter Center (Matinee & Evening) Dec. 04 - Phoenix, AZ - Footprint Center (Matinee & Evening) Dec. 04 - Grand Rapids, MI - Van Andel Arena (Matinee & Evening) Dec. 07 - Austin, TX - Moody Center (Evening) Dec. 07 - Lexington, KY - Rupp Arena (Evening) Dec. 08 - Oklahoma City, OK - Paycom Center (Evening) Dec. 08 - Knoxville, TN - Thompson-Boling Arena (Evening) Dec. 09 - Little Rock, AR - Simmons Bank Arena (Evening) Dec. 09 - Greenville, SC - Bon Secours Wellness Arena (Matinee & Evening) Dec. 10 - St Louis, MO - Enterprise Center (Matinee & Evening) Dec. 10 - Charlotte, NC - Spectrum Center (Matinee & Evening) Dec. 11 - Indianapolis, IN - Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Matinee & Evening) Dec. 11 - Atlanta, GA - Gas South Arena (Matinee & Evening) Dec. 14 - Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena (Evening) Dec. 14 - Raleigh, NC - PNC Arena (Evening) Dec. 15 - Birmingham, AL - BJCC (Evening) Dec. 15 - Charlottesville, VA - John Paul Jones Arena (Evening) Dec. 16 - Jacksonville, FL - VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena (Evening) Dec. 16 - Allentown, PA - PPL Center (Matinee & Evening) Dec. 17 - Orlando, FL - Amway Center (Matinee & Evening) Dec. 17 - Pittsburgh, PA - PPG Paints Arena (Matinee & Evening) Dec. 18 - Tampa, FL - Amalie Arena (Matinee & Evening) Dec. 18 - Philadelphia, PA - Wells Fargo Center (Matinee & Evening) Dec. 21 - Chicago, IL - Allstate Arena (Matinee & Evening) Dec. 21 - Hershey, PA - Giant Center (Matinee & Evening) Dec. 22 - Milwaukee, WI - Fiserv Forum (Matinee & Evening) Dec. 22 - Buffalo, NY - KeyBank Center (Matinee & Evening) Dec. 23 - St Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center (Matinee & Evening) Dec. 23 - Columbus, OH - Nationwide (Matinee & Evening) Dec. 26 - Kansas City, MO - T-Mobile Center (Matinee & Evening) Dec. 26 - Washington, D.C. - Capital One Arena (Matinee & Evening) Dec. 27 - Newark, NJ - Prudential Center (Matinee & Evening) Dec. 28 - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center (Matinee & Evening) Dec. 29 - Houston, TX - Toyota Center (Matinee & Evening) Dec. 29 - Detroit, MI - Little Caesars Arena (Matinee & Evening) Dec. 30 - Cleveland, OH - Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse (Matinee & Evening) Dec. 30 - San Antonio, TX - AT&T Center (Matinee & Evening)

Since its touring debut, TSO has played more than 2,000 winter tour shows to approximately 18 million fans, with tour grosses of more than $725 million, and has sold more than 12 million albums and DVDs. Year after year, TSO hits the upper reaches of the domestic and worldwide tour charts. Recently, Pollstar published its compiled touring charts for the past 40 years. TSO ranked No. 11 in tickets sold and No. 21 in top box office grosses. In June, Billboard placed TSO at No. 9 on its Mid-Year Boxscore Report, based on concerts from November 1, 2021, through April 30, 2022. Previously, TSO placed No. 31 on Billboard 's "Top Touring Artists Of The Decade (2010s)." Additionally, at the close of the aughts, the group was ranked at No. 20 on Pollstar 's "Top Tour(s) of the Decade" and No. 25 on Billboard 's "Top Touring Artists Of The Decade".

It's #TSOTime. After much anticipation, we will be back on tour with the return of The Ghosts of Christmas Eve: The Best of TSO and More! We are excited to see you live and in person, celebrating the rock holiday tradition we all know and love. Access show dates and exclusive pre-sale information: https://www.trans-siberian.com/tour Posted by Trans-Siberian Orchestra on Monday, August 29, 2022

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Trans-Siberian Orchestra reveals 2022 holiday tour dates and answers your burning questions

Rare is the juggernaut as potent as Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

The musical locomotive – a gloriously grandiose combination of classical music, hair metal and holiday feels – has  owned the road for more than two decades ( virtually in 2020) and 2,000 shows.

This year’s tour, dubbed The Ghosts of Christmas Eve – The Best of TSO and More, pulls from TSO’s “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve" album and TV special, one of the enduring holiday classics created primarily by late founder, composer and lyricist  Paul O’Neill.

The 60-city, 101-show outing runs Nov. 16 to Dec. 30; tickets go on sale Sept. 16 (10 a.m. local time) at the band's website. 

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But even with TSO’s immense popularity, questions persist from interested fans, from the meaning of the group's name to their most popular songs.

We enlisted Al Pitrelli , longtime musical director and ace TSO guitarist for the West Coast touring production, to set some records straight.    

What does TSO's name mean?

You likely know it’s Trans-Siberian Orchestra, but where did that come from? In the mid-’90s, TSO spawned from Savatage, a progressive metal band. O'Neill produced and co-wrote with the band; Pitrelli played guitar. 

Savatage scored an unlikely hit across multiple radio formats with the stirring guitar blaster “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24,” prompting O'Neill to spin off Savatage to record an album with a different band name and focus.

When he presented Trans-Siberian Orchestra to Pitrelli, the guitarist’s response was “Sure, it sounds cool, dude. Rolls off the tongue like Led Zeppelin would,” Pitrelli recalls with a laugh.

But the roots of the name are well-founded. O’Neill had traveled from Europe to Japan and was fascinated with Siberia, Pitrelli says. “And now, the name is synonymous with Christmas.”

What is Trans-Siberian Orchestra's most well-known song? 

Call it a trifecta of awesomeness.

Fans still thrill to “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24” because of its historical ties to TSO. But in 2004, “Wizards in Winter,” a kinetic marriage of orchestral rock, buzzing guitars and a memorable synth hook became an early viral hit when an electrical engineer in Ohio synchronized 16,000 Christmas lights on his house to every beat of the song. In 2005, Miller Brewing Co. turned the scene of colored lights and "Wizards" into a holiday commercial.

And  “Christmas Canon,” based on Johann Pachelbel’s “Canon in D Major,” has become so widespread, it’s often used as a wedding song. Or, in some cases, an engagement song.

“We’ll play it live and I’ll look down from the stage and see a dude on his knee,” Pitrelli says. “I’m looking down thinking, 'This is going to go one of two ways.' ”

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Are there two Trans-Siberian Orchestras? How does that work?

“People think we have transporters, like the Starship Enterprise,” Pitrelli jokes.

So, yes, there are two bands divided between the East and West coasts, an evolution from TSO’s first tour of seven cities in 1999.

The popularity of that initial outing prompted O’Neill to staff two touring bands. Since TSO’s performance window is only about seven weeks during the holidays, time is imperative.

“We’d rehearse in two separate rooms in a studio in New York and Paul would bop back and forth between, making sure the bands sounded like a mirror image,” Pitrelli says.

In recent years, the two groups – each with a crew of about 100 – have rehearsed at an arena in Council Bluffs, Iowa, swapping between the main stage for full production run-throughs and the locker rooms to work on harmonies and musical details.

“My job is to maintain the musical integrity of the shows,” Pitrelli says. “If you go to your favorite steakhouse, you want exactly what you like every time.”

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Is there a dress code for a TSO show?

Pitrelli laughs, which is an answer in itself. 

“Nooooo, wear whatever you want. Just show up and have fun.”

He does, however, recall TSO's debut as a band in 1999 at the Tower Theater in Philadelphia. “I looked out and saw a really attractive older couple in crocheted reindeer sweaters, and next to them was a dude in a Slayer hoodie.”

Does TSO ever lip sync?

“Absolutely not,” Pitrelli says with a touch of annoyance. “Some people, they’re naysayers and what, you want to discredit us? We’re just really good and practice really hard and every note is played live."

How long does a TSO show last?

The production is presented in two halves, and the first hour is one of TSO’s patented “stories.” This year will feature the 10 songs from “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve.” (The album also had a companion TV special starring Ossie Davis.)

The second hour runs down other TSO classics from albums including “Beethoven’s Last Night,” as well as the treasured “Wizards in Winter."

And, of course, “there will be more pyro, hydraulics and blowing stuff up,” Pitrelli promises.

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Which charities does TSO donate to?

Since its inception, TSO has extended a charity arm in every city the bands play. Usually, the local concert promoter or radio station will earmark an organization – food banks, arts in schools programs – and TSO gives $1 from every ticket sold to the chosen charity. More than $18 million has been donated by the group through the years.

“That’s all Paul O’Neill and the O’Neill family,” Pitrelli says. “He always wanted to give back and not just come to town, do a show and leave. That was the least we could do.”

Is a TSO show appropriate for the whole family?

Pitrelli pegs the audience demographics as “2 to 92.”

“One of my favorite things is to see grandparents with a grandkid on their lap high-fiving and enjoying as a family,” he says. “It’s those little moments that mean the most.”

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TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA Announce 2022 Winter Tour: “The Ghosts Of Christmas Eve – The Best Of TSO & More”

Multi-platinum, progressive rock group TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA ( TSO ) today announced the dates for its highly anticipated 2022 winter tour, “The Ghosts Of Christmas Eve – The Best Of TSO And More” .

After its first year off the road in more than two decades, TSO made a triumphant return to touring in 2021 with a 25th anniversary celebration of “Christmas Eve And Other Stories” . For 2022, TSO brings a completely updated presentation of the unforgettable, multi-generational holiday tradition “The Ghosts Of Christmas Eve” to 60 cities across the nation. This year’s tour kicks off on Wednesday, November 16 with performances in Green Bay and Council Bluffs, and will conclude after 101 shows on Friday, December 30 (see full itinerary below).

Pre-sales for TSO fan club members will be held on Thursday, September 8 at 10 a.m. local time and Friday, September 9 at 10 a.m. local time. The public on-sale is set to begin on Friday, September 16 at 10 a.m. local time. Beginning with the public on sale, special $29 tickets will be available for one week or while supplies last. For more details on tour dates and ticket sales, visit trans-siberian.com .

Keeping with the O’Neills ‘ vision (late TSO mastermind Paul O’Neill and his wife Desi ), TSO remains one of rock’s most charitable bands. Once again, thankfully, TSO will give at least $1 from every ticket sold to charity. To date, approximately $18 million has been donated by the group.

Desi O’Neill said: “We want to thank the fans so much for the kindness they showed in coming out last year. It meant the world to our family. Moreover, the credit for any charitable donation is due to you not us. The only way we are able to help all is because of you.”

A product of the imagination of Paul O’Neill and Desi , and based on TSO ‘s multi-platinum CD and TV special “The Ghosts Of Christmas Eve” , the rock opera features such enduring fan favorites as “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24” , “O’ Come All Ye Faithful” , “Good King Joy” , “Christmas Canon” , “Music Box Blues” , “Promises To Keep” and “This Christmas Day” . 2022’s tour will also boast a rousing second set containing more of TSO ‘s greatest hits and fan-pleasers, including “Wizards In Winter” , “A Mad Russian’s Christmas” and many more.

TSO ‘s music director and lead guitarist Al Pitrelli said: “It was so special to be back playing live last year. When you love something as much as we do and it’s taken away, it made us super thankful to be back. I look forward to seeing all our ‘repeat offenders’ and all our new friends when we hit the road. I love all of Paul ‘s stories, but ‘The Ghosts Of Christmas Eve’ is one of my favorites and can’t wait to unveil this incredibly amazing new show for everyone. We know some people may be having tough times, so we worked hard with the local promoters and arenas to have a low priced $29 ticket to do our part in helping out. God Bless all of you and see you in November and December when we celebrate in-person once again.”

“The Ghosts Of Christmas Eve – The Best Of TSO And More” Tour dates:

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Trans-Siberian Orchestra is an American rock band that has been making music together for eighteen years. They gained a reputation as one of the top ten ticket-selling bands in the first decade of the new millennium with over 10 million concert tickets sold.

Paul O’Neill, was all ready one of the biggest names in rock music, having managed and produced Aerosmith, AC/DC, Scorpions and Joan Jett. He began writing progressive rock in a band called ‘Slowburn’ in the 1970s, but instead of recording an album, he put it to one side and continued to write, produce, manage and promote. It wasn’t until 1996 that he had an offer from Atlantic Records to start his own band. He invited Jon Oliva, Robert Kinkel and Al Pitrelli to work with him on this project, combining classical and rock music. This is what became Trans-Siberian Orchestra, which of course got it’s name from O’Neill’s visit to Russia in the 1980s. He described Siberia as being incredibly beautiful but incredibly harsh and unforgiving as well. He compared it with life, and appreciated the philosophy behind it.

Their genre is an eclectic mixture of classical, orchestral, symphonic and progressive features that are then blended into rock and heavy metal music. They are in a league of their own with the conceptual ideas that they bring to life, taking their first release “Christmas Eve and Other Stories” as an example which was released on October 15th 1996. It was the first instalment of an intended Christmas Trilogy and is still to this day one of their best selling albums. It is this album that features the hit “Christmas Canon” which is a rework of Pachelbel’s “Canon in D Major” but with lyrics added.

Touring is one of the things that this band is all about with their fantastically executed light shows that match the complexity of their music. There are in fact two touring groups colloquially referred to as TSO East and TSO West in America, made up of different line-ups. They have also embarked on a European tour, including a performance on New Year’s Eve in front of over 1,000,000 fans at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, which was also daring as the band played three shows across two continents in 27 hours.

If that wasn’t enough, TSO are philanthropists, having donated over $10 million dollars to local and national charities. They also donate at least one dollar per ticket to local charities in the cities that they perform.

Live reviews

It's a family tradition for my family and I to go see the ever amazing Trans-Siberian Orchestra every year. Their Christmas tour, which was about two and a half hours long this past year, was as good as it ever has been. My parents love the album and it was a staple here, but we were totally unprepared when we saw them live the first time. It blew us away how incredible they are!

The music was from their Christmas album, telling the story of a man who coldheartly abandoned his child as a newborn, but goes to find him, narrated by the awesome Phillip Brandon. There were about 25 musicians on stage, with incredible pryotechnics, lasers and lights! There was also an incredible solo performed by the ever talented Chloe Lowery called "For the Sake of Our Brother," which was quiet and didn't have anywhere near the amount of effects as any of the other songs before or after it. The big crowd pleaser is the giant hit "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo," which was played toward the end of the show. Everyone around us loved the show, and most of us are making the trip to see them again in December!

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"The Ghosts of Christmas Past" was a truly electrifying experience at the CAPITAL ONE ARENA, in Washington, DC. The TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA captivated the audience with a spectacular laser-light show; "aerial" music performances so close that the audience could almost "touch" the performers; video-movie displays that caused mouths to gape in awe; and a resounding rock opera worthy of being performed in front of the kings of the Earth!

The musical messages sent by THE TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA were not only powerful but appropriate for "... the times We live in ...". I was especially appreciative for the orchestra's double performance of My Christmas favorite, "Carol Of The Bells" ....

"Rock On Dudes!"

My Dad has been wanting to see Tran Siberian Orchestra for so long and we finally did when they came to Houston at the Toyota Center in 2016. We had seats on the floor and were able to have a pretty good view. The concert to me seemed to be heavy on the Rock n' Roll. I thought it would have more of a Christmas vibe to it since it was only a few days before Christmas when we saw them and especially since they are famous for their Christmas songs. Well now we have seen them and will probably never see them live again. I guess I would recommend seeing them at least once, but that is it.

I must admit that this was the first time I saw TSO live and I was not disappointed. I've always liked their music and to see them live was inspirational. They truly love what they do and it comes through in their performance. There is a certain quality about the performance that bring home the Christmas spirit of faith, hope, and love. I would truly recommend seeing any performance by TSO. Take it to heart because they have sought to inspire and remind their fans what Christmas is supposed to be about.

My experience and my show i seen was very very awesome and outstanding I really really enjoyed the show and the singers and all Especially my bestest favorite # 1 was the Drummer Blas ELIAS I had an aweesome Experience and Aweesome afternoon I wish I could go to every Transiberian orchestra Show you all Perform because my experience seeing them was Aweeesome outstanding and Incredible I look forward to going to many many more shows God Bless

Phenomenal, outstanding, best show ever. I've seen some power house bands in my day, but this is big, bad, rock opera!! The ensemble cast keeps it extremely entertaining, from big, bad, Joe Cocker style vocals; to the best laser, pyrotechnic show I've ever seen indoors.

My wife hasn't been to a concert since she saw AC/DC open up for the Righteous Brother's in Fresno CA last century. She had the best time ever with your show. See you next year!!

AMAZING!!! It’s not like any other concert. It’s truly a show with laser, pyrotechnics, great background videos, and of course awesome music. The band members’ constant communication with the crowd makes the concert feel like an intimate experience. Trans-Siberian Orchestra may not be my favorite band in general, but just the form in which their concert was conducted has made them my favorite band to see in concert.

The TSO show last night in Columbia, SC was awesome! I had floor seats this year and the views were a lot better. You can really feel the heat from the pyro up close! Their music and shows are full of high energy and the light show is spectacular! The singers and musicians are incredibly talented! The ticket prices are a little high but well worth the money. And I even here they donate some of the proceeds to charity.

I LOVE TSO. This is my 5th tome seeing it and it's just as exciting and memorable every year. This year my son and his family came too. They have 3 daughters, 10,10,& 8. My granddaughters were flipping their hair and dancing like the band and the guitar player, Angus, interacted with them. Everyone around us enjoyed watching them and he gave all 3 a guitar pick. He has made fans for life. We will definitely go again!

They had an amazing stage performance! I caught the 3 pm show in Sacramento and I was not disappointed. There was pyro, lasers, risers. Everything I’ve never seen before was in this show. This is my favorite show and now KISS has a tough show to beat. I would recommend this show to anyone who is interested in going but has never actually bought tickets yet.

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‘I’d do this in a Hazmat suit’: What Trans-Siberian Orchestra means to this musician

Al pitrelli talks about tso the same way he talks about his children.

By Lottie Elizabeth Johnson

Al Pitrelli stood on the stage in a tuxedo and draped his guitar around his neck. As he waited for the house lights to go down, he couldn’t help but wonder what kind of audience would greet the Trans-Siberian Orchestra on the other side of the curtain. 

At that point, the band had released a couple of heavy metal Christmas-themed albums that people were buying. But now, a few years in, Pitrelli was about to be face-to-face with that fan base for the first time.

When the curtains rose for the sold-out show at Pennsylvania’s Tower Theater, a venue the guitarist had last played with Alice Cooper, Pitrelli played his first note and looked into the audience. 

“I almost had a heart attack,” he said. 

Pitrelli recalled seeing an older couple wearing crocheted Christmas sweaters with reindeers on them. Directly next to that couple sat a man in a Slayer hoodie. The guitarist said he did the sign of the cross and thought to himself, “This is either going to go really great or really bad.” 

He didn’t know if he should expect flowers or tomatoes. 

But all the uncertainties Pitrelli brought into the theater had completely dissipated by the end of the show.

“We got the biggest standing ovation that I’ve ever witnessed in my life,” he said.  

And that warm reception has followed him tour after tour for the past 23 years — including the band’s current “Ghosts of Christmas Eve” tour, which stops for two shows at Salt Lake City’s Vivint Arena on Tuesday before heading to the West Coast.

TSO ‘keeps growing’

When Trans-Siberian Orchestra performed that first show in Pennsylvania, the band had a pair of buses and a box truck of equipment to help pull off its signature special effects — including an arsenal of laser lights and pyrotechnics. 

Last year, Pitrelli counted 21 tractor-trailers and 12 buses. 

Pitrelli talks about TSO’s growth the same way he talks about his oldest child, who is 37 and a master chief in the Coast Guard special forces. 

“I watched him grow from infancy through adolescence to adulthood becoming a man that I couldn’t even imagine. I’m so proud of him,” Pitrelli said. “That’s what TSO is like. It’s like one of your children. I can’t believe that we’re approaching three decades —  and it keeps growing. Everybody loves this kid.” 

Over the years, Pitrelli has watched TSO become a multigenerational tradition for families — fans who started out coming to the show when they were kids are now bringing their own kids. 

“The width of the age just keeps growing and growing and growing,” said Pitrelli, who recently turned 60 but said he feels like a 16-year-old every single time he takes the stage. The guitarist said he was especially emotional when he learned that 250,000 homes streamed the band’s online concert in 2020, when the pandemic shutdown made the massive annual tour an impossible undertaking.

A major part of TSO’s fanbase are the people who come back year after year — fans Pitrelli affectionately calls the “repeat offenders.” The guitarist even noted that one fan recently celebrated his 700th TSO show. 

With an East Coast and West Coast winter tour that often sees two shows a day, TSO’s production is a well-oiled machine, what Pitrelli described as a “choreographed, almost military endeavor.” Planning the show is a year-round project, and every single move is rehearsed — down to the synchronized hair flips. 

But to keep the loyal fans guessing, Pitrelli said the band likes to mix it up a little for each tour. This year’s show sees the band performing songs they’ve never done live before, he said. 

And while you can count on the show to get bigger and brighter each year, Pitrelli said, one aspect remains untouched: The message at the center of it all, created by late TSO founder Paul O’Neill . 

Remembering TSO founder Paul O’Neill

This year, TSO is performing “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve,” a story about a runaway girl who finds refuge in an abandoned theater on Christmas Eve. With help from the theater’s resident ghosts, the girl is eventually able to reunite with her family. 

Pitrelli has gravitated more toward the story as he’s gotten older, and as he’s lost some of his own friends, including O’Neill. 

“There’s always been an empty chair at my dining room table, which seems much more apparent especially around the holiday season,” he said. “And what I realize is everybody in the audience has the same thought — everybody misses somebody. And the fact that … 15,000 people in an arena connect with the full story because everybody misses somebody, it doesn’t lessen your pain. … But you know that at least you’re not alone.”

It’s been five years since O’Neill died. Pitrelli said he thinks of his late friend “every second of every day.” Every TSO show is a manifestation of O’Neill’s artistic vision. When Pitrelli places his guitar around his neck at the start of each show, he feels gratitude for the man who has allowed him to live out his dream of being a musician night after night — a dream Pitrelli had ever since seeing The Beatles on “The Ed Sullivan Show” when he was just 2 years old. 

“Everything that I am is because of that man,” Pitrelli said. “Everything I’m able to live is because of this art that he created. That’s Paul O’Neill.” 

For a time, at the start of the pandemic, Pitrelli thought he may never perform for a live audience again. It didn’t take long for him to realize he’d been taking his career for granted — TSO was a beloved, well-established holiday tradition, and “who’s ever going to take Christmas away from us, right?” he said. 

When the band pivoted and, like most musicians, performed an online show in 2020, Pitrelli closed his eyes and let the memories from all of his years playing in front of a live audience wash over him. Now that’s he’s back on a stage performing for packed arenas, the guitarist is celebrating each show a little bit more, hanging on to the thrill of it all just a little tighter.

“I’d do this in a Hazmat suit — I don’t care,” he said. “This is who and what I am, and I love what I do.”

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Trans-Siberian Orchestra

The ghosts of christmas eve: the best of tso & more.

• Date Dec 14 , 2022
• Event Starts 7:00 PM
• Doors Open 5:30 p.m.
• Availability On Sale Now

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Multi-platinum, progressive rock group Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO)  announced the dates for its highly anticipated 2022 winter tour, The Ghosts of Christmas Eve – the Best of TSO & More presented by Hallmark Channel . After its first year off the road in more than two decades, TSO made a triumphant return to touring in 2021 with a 25 th anniversary celebration of Christmas Eve and Other Stories. For 2022 , TSO brings a completely updated presentation of the unforgettable, multi-generational holiday tradition, “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve,” to 60 cities across the nation.  This year’s tour kicks off on Wed., Nov. 16 with performances in Green Bay and Council Bluffs, and will conclude after 101 shows on Fri., Dec. 30 (see full itinerary   www.trans-siberian.com ).

Live Nation is proud to welcome TSO when they return to Nashville for one spectacular show on Wednesday, December 14 at 7:30PM at Bridgestone Arena. Tickets go on sale this Friday, September 16 th 10am at www.livenation.com with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Nashville Humane Association. Beginning with the public on sale, a limited number of specially priced $29* tickets will be available for one week or while supplies last.

Keeping with the O'Neill's vision ( Paul O’Neill , and his wife Desi ), TSO remains one of rock’s most charitable bands. Once again, thankfully, TSO will give at least $1 from every ticket sold to charity. To date, approximately $18 million has been donated by the group. Desi O’Neill said, “we want to thank the fans so much for the kindness they showed in coming out last year. It meant the world to our family. Moreover, the credit for any charitable donation is due to you not us. The only way we are able to help all is because of you.”

A product of the imagination of TSO’s late founder Paul O’Neill, and his wife Desi, and based on TSO’s multi-platinum CD and TV special, “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve,” the rock opera features such enduring fan-favorites as "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24," "O’ Come All Ye Faithful," "Good King Joy," "Christmas Canon," "Music Box Blues," "Promises To Keep," and "This Christmas Day." 2022’s tour will also boast a rousing second set containing more of TSO’s greatest hits and fan-pleasers including “Wizards In Winter,” “ A Mad Russian’s Christmas,” and many more.

“It was so special to be back playing live last year. When you love something as much as we do and it's taken away, it made us super thankful to be back. I look forward to seeing all our ‘repeat offenders’ and all our new friends when we hit the road,” said TSO’s music director and lead guitarist Al Pitrelli . “I love all of Paul’s stories, but ‘The Ghosts of Christmas Eve’ is one of my favorites and can’t wait to unveil this incredibly amazing new show for everyone. We know some people may be having tough times, so we worked hard with the local promoters and arenas to have a low priced $29 ticket to do our part in helping out. God Bless all of you and see you in November and December when we celebrate in-person once again.”

For more details on tour dates and ticket sales, visit www.trans-siberian.com .

Since its touring debut, TSO has played more than 2,000 Winter Tour shows to approximately 18 million fans, with tour grosses of more than $725 million, and has sold more than 12 million albums and DVDs.  Year-after-year TSO hits the upper reaches of the domestic and worldwide tour charts. Recently, Pollstar published its compiled touring charts for the past 40 years. TSO ranked No. 11 in Tickets Sold and No. 21 in Top Box Office Grosses. In June, Billboard placed TSO at No. 9 on its Mid-Year Boxscore Report, based on concerts from November 1, 2021, through April 30, 2022. Previously, TSO placed No. 31 on Billboard ’s “ Top Touring Artists of the Decade (2010s).” Additionally, at the close of the aughts, the group was ranked at No. 20 on Pollstar ’s “ Top Tour(s) of the Decade ” and No. 25 on Billboard ’s “ Top Touring Artists of the Decade .”

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Trans-Siberian Orchestra

The ghosts of christmas eve – the best of tso & more, event information.

Multi-platinum, progressive rock group Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) will host its highly anticipated 2022 winter tour, The Ghosts of Christmas Eve – the Best of TSO & More presented by Hallmark Channel, with two shows at Fiserv Forum on Thursday, December 22 at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are on sale now with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Hunger Task Force. Our 7:30 p.m. show is now sold out, but tickets remain for the 3 p.m. show and are moving fast! 

After its first year off the road in more than two decades, TSO made a triumphant return to touring in 2021 with a 25th anniversary celebration of Christmas Eve and Other Stories . For 2022, TSO brings a completely updated presentation of the unforgettable, multi-generational holiday tradition, “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve,” to 60 cities across the nation.

102.9 The Hog is proud to welcome TSO in Milwaukee for the two spectacular shows.

Keeping with the O'Neill's vision ( Paul O’Neill , and his wife Desi ), TSO remains one of rock’s most charitable bands. Once again, thankfully, TSO will give at least $1 from every ticket sold to charity. To date, approximately $18 million has been donated by the group. Desi O’Neill said, “we want to thank the fans so much for the kindness they showed in coming out last year. It meant the world to our family. Moreover, the credit for any charitable donation is due to you not us. The only way we are able to help all is because of you.”

A product of the imagination of TSO’s late founder Paul O’Neill, and his wife Desi, and based on TSO’s multi-platinum CD and TV special, “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve,” the rock opera features such enduring fan-favorites as "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24," "O’ Come All Ye Faithful," "Good King Joy," "Christmas Canon," "Music Box Blues," "Promises To Keep" and "This Christmas Day." 2022’s tour will also boast a rousing second set containing more of TSO’s greatest hits and fan-pleasers including “Wizards In Winter,” “A Mad Russian’s Christmas” and many more.

“It was so special to be back playing live last year. When you love something as much as we do and it's taken away, it made us super thankful to be back. I look forward to seeing all our ‘repeat offenders’ and all our new friends when we hit the road,” said TSO’s music director and lead guitarist Al Pitrelli . “I love all of Paul’s stories, but ‘The Ghosts of Christmas Eve’ is one of my favorites and can’t wait to unveil this incredibly amazing new show for everyone. We know some people may be having tough times, so we worked hard with the local promoters and arenas to have a low priced $29 ticket to do our part in helping out. God Bless all of you and see you in November and December when we celebrate in-person once again.”

For more details on tour dates and ticket sales, visit www.trans-siberian.com .

Since its touring debut, TSO has played more than 2,000 Winter Tour shows to approximately 18 million fans, with tour grosses of more than $725 million, and has sold more than 12 million albums and DVDs. Year-after-year TSO hits the upper reaches of the domestic and worldwide tour charts. Recently, Pollstar published its compiled touring charts for the past 40 years. TSO ranked No. 11 in Tickets Sold and No. 21 in Top Box Office Grosses. In June, Billboard placed TSO at No. 9 on its Mid-Year Boxscore Report, based on concerts from November 1, 2021, through April 30, 2022. Previously, TSO placed No. 31 on Billboard’s “ Top Touring Artists of the Decade (2010s).” Additionally, at the close of the aughts, the group was ranked at No. 20 on Pollstar’s “ Top Tour(s) of the Decade ” and No. 25 on Billboard’s “ Top Touring Artists of the Decade .”

* plus applicable taxes and fees.

Doors will open at 2pm for the 3pm show, and 6:30pm for the 7:30pm show. See you soon! 

Carry-In Policy

There is a no bag  policy at Fiserv Forum. Wallets  smaller than 4” x 6” x 1” are permitted . Exceptions to this policy are diaper bags and bags needed due to medical necessity, which will need to be x-rayed by security.

This show will have fog, haze, pyro, strobes, and lasers in use. You are not allowed to bring binoculars, telescopes, magnifying devices, or cameras with removeable lenses.

Mobile Ordering

Avoid the lines during the game and order food, beer and other drinks quickly right from your seat! Order through the Bucks & Fiserv Forum app and you will get a text when your items are ready for pickup. We've implemented a completely contactless ordering experience for all Fiserv Forum guests. Need just drinks? The Michelob ULTRA Express Bar lets you order both beer and cocktails right from your seat! No line at the bar, just a quick and effective way to your adult beverages‌

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Trans-Siberian Orchestra holiday concert tour is ‘biggest, best one ever’

TSO’s “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve” seasonal extravaganza will play one Southern California date in Ontario on Saturday.

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People celebrate the holidays in many different ways.

Yet, those who prefer to mark the season with face-melting electric guitar solos, symphonic rock music arrangements, laser light shows, towering special effects and an abundance of pyro are most likely very much into the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Indeed, they might even be what TSO’s Al Pitrelli calls “repeat offenders” — i.e., the die-hard fans who turn out each year to see the Orchestra’s annual over-the-top touring extravaganza.

This year’s road show, “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve — the Best of TSO & More,” is skipping its usual San Diego tour stop. But the show will be performed at Toyota Arena in Ontario on Saturday.

The Orchestra — which was founded by producer-composer-lyricist Paul O’Neill in 1996 — will be revisiting its popular TV special/album/rock opera “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve,” which follows the journey of a runaway teen on Christmas Eve. The performance will also include a second set filled with more TSO fan favorites from the imagination of O’Neill (who died in 2017).

Pitrelli, the TSO music director and outstanding lead guitarist who has been a core member of the band right from the very start, talked about this year’s tour in a recent interview.

Q: I’m looking forward to seeing you and the TSO crew in concert again this year — especially after receiving an email blast from the band promising no less than your “biggest tour ever!”

A: We pride ourselves on making the show bigger and better every year. In 1999, our first show, we had one 24-foot box truck. We rolled out of Dodge last year, I think I had 22 tractor trailers and 12 buses. So this thing has grown up like my children have grown up — like exceeded every one of my expectations.

It’s our job to make sure that the folks get a better show than last year. Because I have got a bunch of people in the audience that I consider the repeat offenders. They come back year after year and they just can’t get enough of it. They want their holiday tradition.

Q: So, we’re not just talking the regular rock ‘n’ roll marketing hyperbole. You’re saying the tour is going to top what fans have seen before.

A: I would say the biggest, best one ever — absolutely. And I say that year after year and I don’t think I have ever disappointed or let anybody down. I think what would break my heart would be if somebody came up to me after a show and said, “You know, dude? It was better last year.” That means I failed. And that’s not going to happen. Not on my watch.

Q: What do you think Paul O’Neill would’ve thought of this show?

A: I think he would be pretty happy. I think he would always go like, “Hey — more pyro.” Paul was my favorite pyromaniac ever. He just loved pyro. He loved laser. He loved big rock productions. He put everything — his heart and soul — back into the show. I would like to think we are carrying on his legacy and we are doing a good job.

Q: There is certainly no shortage of people who would agree with that assessment.

A: You’ve got everybody in the organization — management, myself and a bunch of the other people who have been there since this thing opened its eyes 28 years ago, not to mention his wife and his daughter. So, if everybody is kind of in agreement that “this is what Paul would do” or “Paul would be cool with this” — if we are all saying the same thing — I am pretty comfortable in the fact that, yeah, man, he would be proud of us.

Q: You often talk about Paul onstage. Not every organization does that — mention the founder, years after they have passed.

A: What other organizations do is none of my business. A lot of them just go out and do their thing. And good for them. Me? Over my dead body will we go through a show without acknowledging where this thing came from.

A lot of the folks — the repeat offenders in the audience — know exactly who Paul O’Neill is. But maybe there are 40 or 50 percent of the folks in the arena who don’t know — they are just enjoying the show. And rightfully so. They are there to enjoy a great show. But I want to kind of put the breaks on the momentum for a moment and bring to their attention the gentleman behind the scenes.

Without him, none of this is a possibility. So, I won’t ever do a show without acknowledging him and what he created and how he changed so many lives.

Q: Talk to me about “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve,” the 1999 TV movie that TSO is choosing to once again spotlight on tour.

A: We do this movie and PBS picks it up and it’s an overnight sensation. It becomes this thing that everybody just starts watching and enjoying — like when I was kid and I was watching “Miracle on 34th Street” or “It’s a Wonderful Life.” And that’s become part of people’s holiday tradition — watching that movie during the holidays.

And it’s fantastic. It’s a great story. It’s got a great message. Of course, at the end — very Paul O’Neill — it’s got a happy ending. So, we are going to bring that to life this year.

Q: Why do you think “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve” remains so popular with fans?

A: A lot of people love the story. A lot of people relate to the story.

Everybody misses somebody around the holidays. That’s how life goes. And I’ve said a thousand times that I would rather miss somebody terribly than never have had them in my life.

That’s what the story is kind of about. I think what bonds everybody in the audience together is knowing that everybody is going through this now.

And that’s an important part of this — to kind of come together and celebrate the people that we can miss. To hold them in reverence and celebrate their life and their memory, like we do every time I put a guitar around my neck with Paul O’Neill.

I miss that brother every second of every day. But I would rather miss him than to never have had him.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra: ‘The Ghosts of Christmas Eve’

When: 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Toyota Arena, 4000 Ontario Center, Ontario

Tickets: $59-$196

Online: Ticketmaster.com

Harrington writes for the Southern California News Group.

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Trans-Siberian Orchestra

The ghosts of christmas eve.

• Date Dec 30 , 2023
• Availability On Sale Now

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Music + concerts, music + concerts | trans-siberian orchestra holiday concert tour is ‘biggest, best one ever’, tso's "the ghosts of christmas eve" seasonal extravaganza comes to toyota arena in ontario for two shows on saturday, dec. 2..

Yet, those who prefer to mark the season with face-melting electric guitar solos, symphonic rock music arrangements, laser light shows, towering special effects and an abundance of pyro are most likely very much into the Trans-Siberian Orchestra .

Indeed, they might even be what TSO’s Al Pitrelli calls “repeat offenders” — i.e., the die-hard fans who turn out each year to see the Orchestra’s annual over-the-top touring extravaganza.

This year’s road show, “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve — the Best of TSO & More,” will be performed at Toyota Arena in Ontario on Saturday, Dec. 2.

The Orchestra — which was founded by the visionary producer-composer-lyricist Paul O’Neill in 1996 — will be revisiting its popular TV special/album/rock opera “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve,” which follows the journey of a runaway teen on Christmas Eve. The performance will also include a second set filled with more TSO fan favorites from the imagination of O’Neill (who died in 2017).

I recently had the chance to catch up with Pitrelli, the TSO music director and outstanding lead guitarist who has been a core member of the band right from the very start.

Q: Good to talk with you, Al. I’m looking forward to seeing you and the TSO crew in concert again this year — especially after receiving an email blast from the band promising no less than your “biggest tour ever!”

A: We pride ourselves on making the show bigger and better every year. In 1999, our first show, we had one 24-foot box truck. We rolled out of Dodge last year, I think I had 22 tractor trailers and 12 buses. So this thing has grown up like my children have grown up — like exceeded every one of my expectations.

It’s our job to make sure that the folks get a better show than last year. Because I have got a bunch of people in the audience that I consider the repeat offenders. They come back year after year and they just can’t get enough of it. They want their holiday tradition.

Q: So, we’re not just talking the regular rock ‘n’ roll marketing hyperbole. You’re saying the tour is going to top what fans have seen before.

A: I would say the biggest, best one ever — absolutely. And I say that year after year and I don’t think I have ever disappointed or let anybody down. I think what would break my heart would be if somebody came up to me after a show and said, “You know, dude? It was better last year.” That means I failed. And that’s not going to happen. Not on my watch.

Q: What do you think Paul O’Neill would’ve thought of this show?

A: I think he would be pretty happy. I think he would always go like, “Hey — more pyro.” Paul was my favorite pyromaniac ever. He just loved pyro. He loved laser. He loved big rock productions. He put everything — his heart and soul — back into the show. I would like to think we are carrying on his legacy and we are doing a good job.

Q: There is certainly no shortage of people who would agree with that assessment.

A: You’ve got everybody in the organization — management, myself and a bunch of the other people who have been there since this thing opened its eyes 28 years ago, not to mention his wife and his daughter. So, if everybody is kind of in agreement that “this is what Paul would do” or “Paul would be cool with this” — if we are all saying the same thing — I am pretty comfortable in the fact that, yeah, man, he would be proud of us.

Q: You often talk about Paul onstage. Not every organization does that — mention the founder, years after they have passed.

A: What other organizations do is none of my business. A lot of them just go out and do their thing. And good for them. Me? Over my dead body will we go through a show without acknowledging where this thing came from.

A lot of the folks — the repeat offenders in the audience — know exactly who Paul O’Neill is. But maybe there are 40 or 50 percent of the folks in the arena who don’t know — they are just enjoying the show. And rightfully so. They are there to enjoy a great show. But I want to kind of put the breaks on the momentum for a moment and bring to their attention the gentleman behind the scenes.

Without him, none of this is a possibility. So, I won’t ever do a show without acknowledging him and what he created and how he changed so many lives.

Q: Talk to me about “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve,” the 1999 TV movie that TSO is choosing to once again spotlight on tour.

A: We do this movie and PBS picks it up and it’s an overnight sensation. It becomes this thing that everybody just starts watching and enjoying — like when I was kid and I was watching “Miracle on 34th Street” or “It’s a Wonderful Life.” And that’s become part of people’s holiday tradition — watching that movie during the holidays.

And it’s fantastic. It’s a great story. It’s got a great message. Of course, at the end — very Paul O’Neill — it’s got a happy ending. So, we are going to bring that to life this year.

Q: Why do you think “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve” remains so popular with fans?

A: A lot of people love the story. A lot of people relate to the story.

Everybody misses somebody around the holidays. That’s how life goes. And I’ve said a thousand times that I would rather miss somebody terribly than never have had them in my life.

That’s what the story is kind of about. I think what bonds everybody in the audience together is knowing that everybody is going through this now.

And that’s an important part of this — to kind of come together and celebrate the people that we can miss. To hold them in reverence and celebrate their life and their memory, like we do every time I put a guitar around my neck with Paul O’Neill.

I miss that brother every second of every day. But I would rather miss him than to never have had him.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra: “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve”

When: 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2

Where: Toyota Arena, 4000 Ontario Center, Ontario

Tickets: $59-$196 at Ticketmaster.com

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• Discography

21 February, 2024

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our dear friend and bandmate, Vitalij Kuprij.

10 January, 2024

TSO is thrilled to share that during their recently concluded 2023 Winter Tour, they were able to give a total of $1 million in donations to local charities across the country!

08 November, 2023

Listen to the entire Christmas trilogy catalog and more on the new Trans-Siberian Orchestra Radio on SiriusXM – the best place to hear TSO all day and all night – starting November 8th and running all season long!

29 September, 2023

Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of The Christmas Attic with us with an all-new special edition vinyl - in traditional black OR galaxy blue (with a special pop-up)!

28 August, 2023

Rock out this holiday season with TSO as we bring back ‘The Ghosts of Christmas Eve: The Best of TSO and More’! We’re pulling out all the stops to make sure this winter tour is our best show in years.

Once again we are working with Ticketmaster to make sure our Fan Club Members get the BEST tickets at the BEST price. Read this news item for important 2023 Fan Club Pre-Sale details.

07 December, 2022

Sign in or join our free TSO Fan Club to watch the holiday classic, "The Ghosts of Christmas Eve"

29 August, 2022

It’s #TSOTIME

We’re excited to announce we’ll be back for 2022 with the return of The Ghosts of Christmas Eve: The Best of TSO and More and we want to see you there! 

30 August, 2021

After a long year off the road, we mean it when we say... we've missed you. And that's why we're psyched to say we're BACK and coming to see YOU live and in person as we celebrate 25 years of Trans-Siberian Orchestra with the show, Christmas Eve and Other Stories.  

21 December, 2020

We want to thank everyone who joined us for Trans-Siberian Orchestra's first ever streaming event this past Friday. Between the band, crew, management, film production and many others, an enormous amount of time and passion went into keeping our Rock Holiday going during a remarkably challenging  2020. We never could - and would never want to - have done this without each and every one of you.

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November 30

Trans siberian orchestra: the ghost of christmas eve, thu / nov 30, 7:00 pm est.

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Event Information

Trans-Siberian Orchestra Announces “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve – The Best of TSO & More” Winter Tour Beginning Nov. 15

PUBLIC TICKETS ON SALE FRI., SEPT. 15

SPECIALLY PRICED $48.95 TICKETS OFFERED FOR ONE WEEK ONLY DURING BLUE CROSS ARENA PRESALE THURS., SEPT. 14

“It’s easy to see why audience members would choose to make TSO part of their holiday traditions year after year. Even more than the ’wow’ factor of the videos, the light shows, and the bursts of flame frequent enough to warm the arena, the show neatly balances new elements with old favorites, and offers a quirky charm as warm as its flames.” — The Columbus Dispatch

“If you wanna take the family (no matter what age) to a show that is worth every penny and more, put it on your calendar now for 2023 to attend the Trans-Siberian Orchestra holiday rock/metal/orchestral super-show!” - KISW-FM

Los Angeles, CA (August 28, 2023) – Prepare for a musical journey like no other this winter as Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) is set to spread rock vibes throughout its spectacular annual holiday tour. Trans-Siberian Orchestra will perform at Blue Cross Arena on Thursday, November 30 at 7 p.m. Today, the multi-platinum rock group, which has consistently hit the upper-reaches of the touring charts for the past 15 years, unveiled the exciting details of their highly anticipated 2023 winter tour, titled " The Ghosts of Christmas Eve – the Best of TSO & More ." This year's tour promises a new and larger presentation of the beloved holiday tradition, "The Ghosts of Christmas Eve," which has captured the hearts of multiple generations. The tour kick-starts on November 15 with captivating performances in Green Bay, WI, and Council Bluffs, IA. Over the course of the tour, TSO will visit 62 cities, delivering an impressive 104 performances before concluding on December 30 (view the complete itinerary below and on www.trans-siberian.com ).

A Blue Cross Arena presale will be held Sept. 14 from 10 a.m. through 11:59 p.m. Beginning with the Blue Cross Arena presale on Sept. 14, special $48.95 tickets (fees included) will be available through Sept. 22 or while supplies last. The public on-sale is set to begin on Friday, Sept. 15 at 10 a.m. For more details on tour dates and ticket sales, visit www.trans-siberian.com .

A product of the imagination of TSO’s late founder Paul O’Neill , and based on TSO’s multi-platinum CD and TV special, “ The Ghosts of Christmas Eve ,” follows the journey of a runaway who breaks into an abandoned vaudeville theater on December 24th. While seeking shelter from the cold, the teen is discovered by the theater’s caretaker who uses the ghosts and spirits from the building’s past to turn her life around. Following the performance of the rock opera, 2023’s tour also boasts a rocking, blazing, and laser-lit second set containing more of TSO’s greatest hits, fan-favorites, and surprises. In addition to experiencing the story at TSO’s live concerts this year, fans at home can watch a digitally restored “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve” on their local PBS station.

“For 27 years you have helped make Paul O’Neill’s TSO stories a part of your holiday tradition.  And, for 27 years, our tradition has been to make every year’s tour better than the last for you. 2023 is no exception as this year’s tour will be the best ever. I can’t wait to see our ‘repeat offenders’ out at the shows and look forward to seeing the new faces as well,” said TSO’s music director and lead guitarist Al Pitrelli .

TSO, which has sold more than 12 million albums and DVDs, will release music in several formats this fall, including a 25th anniversary edition of The Christmas Attic on vinyl, in deluxe and standard packaging, on Sept. 29; a clear vinyl pressing of Christmas Eve and Other Stories on Nov. 3; plus, a digital release of The Ghosts of Christmas Eve in Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio and hi-fidelity stereo mixes, including both the songs and narration, titled The Ghosts Of Christmas Eve – The Complete Narrated Version on Nov. 10.

Since its touring debut, TSO has played more than 2,000 Winter Tour shows to more than 18 million fans. In just the past 10 years (encompassing nine tours), TSO has performed for more than 8 million fans. Keeping with O'Neill's vision, TSO remains one of rock’s most charitable bands. Once again, TSO will give at least $1 from every ticket sold to charity. To date, more than $18 million has been donated by the group.

Nov 30, 2023

Event starts, 5:30 pm est.