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By Jackie Moe
There is talent. And then there is Marie Osmond.
In the third stop of her “A Symphonic Christmas” tour, the entertainment icon kicked off the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts’ season with holiday glitz, glamour, nostalgia, fun, and jaw-dropping vocals that were sure to have left her large audience with an unforgettable evening.
Although the night was full of memorable highlights, here are standout moments that deserve a special shoutout:
Marie’s opera vocals are flawless and her stage presence is unmatched. Her personable nature, storytelling abilities, and warm wit make even a large theater feel intimate. The stage was full of lit-up Christmas trees, an award-winning orchestra, and the talented Cal State Fullerton chorus. Her dazzling fashion alone is a sight to see.
As promised in her Backstage SoCal interview, she performed Christmas favorites, songs from her new album (out Dec. 10) “Unexpected,” and of course, her classics, including the hit single “Paper Roses” which launched her country career in 1973. She sang the iconic song with her younger self in past videos playing on a screen behind her.
While performing a fun rendition of “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” in a captain cap, the backdrop screen displayed historical images and videos of Marie performing and meeting U.S.S. servicemen over the past six decades.
Singer David Osmond, Marie’s nephew and son of older brother Alan, joined her on stage for a holiday medley and a few solos. Before singing “Mary Did You Know?” he shared that his father who has Multiple Sclerosis always says, “I have M.S., but M.S. doesn’t have me.” Then he shared that he, too, has the disease but it doesn’t stop him from performing, proving that to the audience with impressive dance moves and vocals.
Also joining her on stage was multilingual/classical singer Daniel Emmet, a finalist on Season 13 of NBC’s America’s Got Talent, whose powerful opera vocals boomed over the theater in duets and solos. The three sang a couple of fun holiday medleys together, and finished with a powerful “Silent Night.”
In a poignant moment, she gently sang “Let There Be Peace On Earth,” with commentary recognizing the pandemic hardships the world has endured over the past year-and-a-half. There was plenty of fun as well, including bringing an audience member on stage with her, placing a Santa hat with a shield on their face, and having them sing “Blue Christmas.”
As a dedication to her late son Michael, who passed away in 2010, Marie sang a beautiful rendition of “How Great Thou Art,” leaving not a dry eye in the house. Her own tears shed as she thanked her fans for six successful decades, and dedicated an emotional Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Unexpected Song” (from her new album) to her adoring fanbase.
For more information and tour dates, visit marieosmond.com
