With Australian charm, good looks and gorgeous voices, The Ten Tenors lift the spirits and take them "Home for the Holidays" on Friday, Dec. 21, at the Perot Theatre, start time 7:30 p.m.
For more than two decades, The Ten Tenors have thrilled audiences looking for something special to hear, and the power of their voices has been enjoyed all over the world. Now, the singing sensations are stateside on tour. In Texarkana, they will share the Christmas spirit with a selection of holiday standards and more contemporary fare.
Michael Edwards is one of the fellows singing with the group, a job he's held since joining in 2014. This Melbourne Conservatorium of Music grad and his colleagues will sing a wildly eclectic array of songs, from "Ave Maria" to "Bohemian Rhapsody," "Sleigh Ride" to "Never Tear Us Apart" and "Winter Wonderland" to "O Holy Night" and "The Boxer."
"This is our Christmas show 'Home for the Holidays,'" Edwards said, noting they combine everything from traditional Christmas tunes to the type of selections they're known for singing, such as Queen, for the evening's entertainment.
"It's a bit of a mixed bad of songs in a holiday show," Edwards said, noting the group has been known to bring operatic music to a wider audience but also share contemporary rock numbers.
In the Ten Tenors group, 10 exciting tenor voices storm the stage, making memorable music together. "We try to showcase them in the best way we can," Edwards said of this chorus of fine tenors, who to translate their positive energy back to the audience.
"We really have a fun time on stage. We get a lot of energy from each other," Edwards said, noting it's the kind of concert where everyone can find an aspect of the performance to enjoy. One of the tenors also choreographs and directs, so the singers do dance. There's also the light show.
"It really is a full spectacle and a visual presentation as well," Edwards said.
The group has toured the U.S. since Halloween, first touring with a different show ("Wish You Were Here") and then adopting the Christmas theme since Thanksgiving. They'll share "Home for the Holidays" until right before Christmas, and then they return to Australia on Christmas Eve, just in time to see family and friends.
For Edwards, being a Ten Tenors member has opened his eyes to a whole new world of music. His prior background focused on classical music. Now, out on the road with his fellow tenors, he's enjoying the unusual road life.
"Life on the road is pretty different we live in very close quarters. I'm currently sitting on a tour bus," Edwards said earlier this week, adding, "It's really exciting in some ways because we're always on the go and always seeing new places."
He promises a fun time for all who see "Home for the Holidays." They also have a Christmas album out, "Our Christmas Wish." Net proceeds in the U.S. are donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
The Ten Tenors gentlemen have performed with some of the greats on stage, ranging from Andrea Bocelli to Rod Stewart, Sarah Brightman to Willie Nelson. They've appeared with Oprah Winfrey and on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon. Millions of TV viewers have seen them perform, and they've sold out venues again and again.
To hear them share the holiday spirit at Texarkana's very own Perot Theatre, make sure to attend "Home for the Holidays."
The concert is presented as part of the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council's Perot Theatre Season.
(Tickets: $60, $48, $38; $21 with student ID. Purchase tickets at TRAHC.org or call 903-792-4992.)