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Trans-Siberian Orchestra brings spectacle of sound and light to the PPG Paints Arena

By Stephanie Kalina-Metzger 4 min read
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Some could argue that the holiday season isn’t complete without the electrifying, majestic sounds of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO), which will be coming to Pittsburgh’s PPG Paints Arena on Saturday, Dec. 16 for a matinee and an evening showing.

The acclaimed band takes the audience on a magical musical journey each holiday season with their annual holiday tour. This year’s show, “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve–the Best of TSO & More,” offers a new and larger presentation of “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve,” which has entertained audiences of all ages. This year TSO will visit 62 cities, starting on Nov. 15 and continuing through Dec. 30.

TSO’s late founder, Paul O’Neill, who was known for producing rock bands like Aerosmith, Humble Pie, AC/DC and Joan Jett, offered up an explanation for the interesting moniker years ago:

“In the 1980s, I was fortunate enough to have visited Russia and if anyone has ever seen Siberia, it is incredibly beautiful, but harsh and unforgiving as well. The one thing that everyone who lives there has in common that runs across it in relative safety is the Trans-Siberian Railway. Life too, can be incredibly beautiful, but also incredibly harsh and unforgiving and the one thing we all have in common that runs across it in relative safety is music,” said O’Neill.

Today’s TSO has grown so popular that they have both an East Coast and a West Coast band.

A Drummer’s Journey

“Music is a universal language,” said Jeff Plate, drummer, who was with O’Neill since his days with heavy metal rock band Savatage, starting in 1994.

Plate explained that O’Neill was greatly upset about the war in Bosnia at the time, so the band recorded an instrumental Christmas song called “Sarajevo” on an album titled “Dead Winter Dead.”

“When we released the record in 1995, that song took on a life of its own, inspiring O’Neill to create TSO,” he said.

Plate’s interest in music began when he was around the age of 13, and was sidelined from sports due to a hip injury.

“I saw KISS on television and that’s when I made up my mind to pursue music, so I took drum lessons and got a very good teacher,” he said during a recent interview.

Plate also performs in a progressive rock band he calls Alta Reign, which will be releasing an additional album this year. He remarked on the band’s first album, “Mother’s Day,” released in 2021 and said it was very well received.

“The new release will be very melodic and a combination of everything I’ve played — a bucket list project,” he said.

According to Plate, TSO on both coasts begin rehearsing in early November for the holiday shows.

“We all know the drill and the rehearsals run smoothly,” said Plate of the band that has sold 10 million albums and continues to perform extravagant shows in sold-out stadiums. “The band is eight pieces with upwards of 10-12 vocalists and seven string players in every city, along with 20 tractor trailers of lighting and sound.”

He explained that the show, based on the 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 Dec. 24. The runaway is discovered by the theater’s caretaker who uses ghosts and sprits from the building’s past to turn her life around.

If there are any challenges these seasoned performers face, it’s topping the previous year’s performance, according to Plate. The captivating extravaganza, which features eye-popping light shows and flame bursts that have been described as “frequent enough to warm the arena,” often leaves fans wondering how the band will return with an even bigger, better show. And yet, they do.

Tom and Darlene Bashore of Dillsburg are just two of the many fans who can attest to it. The couple makes it a point to kick off their holiday season with a TSO concert.

“We’ve seen them five or six times and we love it — it gets you in the Christmas Mood,” said Tom, adding that what draws them to the performances is the over-the-top production that is fun for all ages. “My parents went and enjoyed it and they aren’t into rock, or loud music,” agreed Darlene.

Dave said that each year presents a fresh new show that continues to amaze and entertain. “I don’t know how they’re going to manage that this year, but they always surprise us by doing something impressive,” he said.

For details on how to purchase tickets for the Dec. 16 matinee at 2:30, or the evening show at 7:30 at the PPG Paints Arena, visit https://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/780815?venueId=180938.

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