Dec 18, 2025 By Stephanie Kalina-Metzger 4 min read

Creating holiday traditions is part of what makes the season so memorable. For many families, seeing the Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) is a treasured tradition that kicks off the holiday season. This year, the multi-platinum group is returning to the PPG Paints Arena on Saturday with performances at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.

TSO’s winter tour includes a reimagined and expanded presentation of “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve,” a product of the imagination of TSO’s late founder Paul O’ Neill. The show also includes a special second set featuring fan favorites and a 25th anniversary salute to “Beethoven’s Last Night,” one of TSO’s albums.

Musical director and guitarist Al Pitrelli said that the quarter-century milestone is hard to believe.

“When I go back and listen to our songs, I am always amazed at how quickly the time has gone by,” Pitrelli said. “It’s been 25 years since we recorded ‘Beethoven’s Last Night’ and it seems like yesterday.”

He also said that the band is excited to play pieces from the album and pay respects to O’Neill’s legacy.

Drumming from the beginning

Jeff Plate has been with TSO from the very beginning-before they grew big enough to launch both East and West Coast tours.

“I worked with Savatage and (O’Neill) was managing and producing with them,” he said of the veteran Florida hard rock band. “His aspirations came out in those Savatage albums, and if you listen, you’ll hear early hints of TSO.”

Plate said that TSO has remained true to O’Neill’s vision of a supergroup blending rock, metal, blues and classical music. A drummer since age 13, Plate said that audiences return year after year because TSO has become a beloved way to kick off the holidays.

Plate explains that each year the show changes, so those who return will always experience something new.

“The creativity of the management and production team is exceptional, so that every year is different, from video content, to lighting and staging,” he said, noting that this year is particularly special. “They’ve taken an extra couple of steps forward.”

And it’s not all instrumental music. Those who’ve seen the show are familiar with the power of narrator Bryan Hicks, who commands attention. “He stands on that stage in arenas that are sometimes filled with 10,000 people and has them in the palm of his hand. You can practically hear a pin drop,” Plate said.

As a performer, Plate said that staying in top condition is key to the team effort. “We work with 10 vocalists, a narrator, an eight-piece band and we hire seven string players,” he said, adding that they’re just shy of 100 people on the tour and that it’s important to not let each other down. “Every performance takes focus, concentration and discipline,” he said.

Fans will also be happy to hear that the signing line-absent since 2019-has returned.

“Each fan who attends an evening performance will have the opportunity to have one item signed by members of the group, free of charge,” Plate said.

A fan speaks

Sydney Durieux is a fan who has seen TSO in New York, New Jersey and Paris. “Rock, orchestra and holiday is a fun combination,” she said, adding that the light show is spectacular. “It is really as much theater as it is music and it wouldn’t be the holidays without them,” she said.

A family tradition

Plate said that he remembers the moment when he knew the show had staying power.

“From our first performance in 1999, we knew it connected with people,” he recalled. “I remember walking out there and seeing entire families.”

What began as a holiday concert has since become a multi-generation tradition. “People are bringing their kids now,” Plate said, noting that TSO has become part of the holiday fabric of America.

“I don’t see it as slowing down, or fading. If anything, it may get bigger and stronger as generation after generation makes it part of their holiday traditions,” he explained.

For information, go online to www.trans-siberian.com.