Trans-Siberian Orchestra: Ghosts of Christmas Eve on WXXI-TV

Credit: Courtesy of Alan Dockery

Narrated by the late Ossie Davis, this is a fantasy trip through the magic of Christmas.

A runaway little girl decides to return to her family after she enters a rundown theater for shelter and encounters an old caretaker (Davis), who guides her onher journey. The caretaker brings the theater to life throughvarious musical performances by singers Jewel, Michael Crawford andthe Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Trans-Siberian Orchestra: Ghosts of Christmas Eve airs Saturday, December 24 at 11:15 p.m. on WXXI-TV (DT21.1/cable 11/cable 1011).

The program centers on the Trans-Siberian Orchestra's criticallyacclaimed Christmas Eve & Other Stories. It chroniclesthe mission of heaven's youngest angel, sent to earth by God, tobring back the one thing that represents everything good that hasbeen done in the name of this day. His journey culminates in hishelping to bring a runaway child home for Christmas.

New York City-based Trans-Siberian Orchestra, whose exhilaratingand compelling performances attract fans from ages seven to 70,took the country by storm beginning in 1999, touring in support oftheir two holiday releases Christmas Eve & Other Stories and The Christmas Attic. Trans-Siberian Orchestra joins top talents from the hard-rock world with thosefrom the Broadway musical and classical arenas. Their conceptual symphonic rock works, which combine the impact of a 60-pieceorchestra and a full chorus with the edge of a rock 'n' roll band,is the creation of Paul O'Neill, who with longtime collaborators Jon Oliva and Bob Kinkel, created a modern format for classicChristmas music. Their first single, "Christmas Eve Sarajevo12/24," struck a multi-format nerve, garnering phone requests on stations all across the country. The single became a perennial holiday hit and the album quickly vaulted to the top of the annualChristmas charts.

"Christmas has always evoked the most powerful emotions and passions in people," says O'Neill, adding, "It's those emotions that draw people together, and it's this sort of music that serves as a conduit for the magic and spirit of the holidays."