Lea Salonga Photo courtesy of Lea Salonga / Arizona Musicfest

The evening featured more than a dozen vibrant holiday songs in a range of styles, with the night starting off with a cover of a song the Jonas Brothers recorded, "Like It's Christmas," which perfectly set the upbeat, fun, holiday tone for what was to come. This was followed by a bright and bouncy "Sleigh Ride." Other classic holiday songs in the concert included, "I'll Be Home for Christmas," and a lovely pairing of "Christmas Time Is Here" with "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year." A soaring pairing of two traditional Christmas songs, "What Child Is This?" and "Silent Night," ended the first half of the concert on an emotional high.

The Darlene Love hit "Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)" got the second act off on a high note. There were also slowed down takes on Mariah Carey's Christmas classic "All I Want for Christmas Is You" and Wham's "Last Christmas" that were gorgeous, as well as a fun and driving version of Donny Hathaway's "This Christmas."

Two original songs were included, "Christmas on Broadway" and "Love Is Our Christmas Star," that featured succinct lyrics and refined melodies. While they aren't Christmas songs, three of the highlights of the evening were a fantastic version of "Let It Go" from Frozen and beautiful versions of both John Lennon's "Imagine" and "River," the classic Joni Mitchell pop song. Those songs, like the rest in the evening, continually showed off Salonga's clear diction, vibrant vocal delivery, and connection with the lyrics.

Salonga delivered a romantic and lush version of Frank Loesser's "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?," and a soaring "O Holy Night" ended the evening followed by two encores including a lovely take on "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and a beautiful version of David Foster's "Grown-Up Christmas List." Salonga's storytelling between songs added a personal touch, sharing anecdotes about the inspiration behind her music and her journey in selecting the songs for her album and the concert and how she connected with them.

As great as hearing Salonga singing a wide range of Christmas songs was, some of her fans may have been disappointed that the only time she sang songs from her Broadway and Disney film credits was in a greatest hits medley in the first half of the concert. That medley included Salonga delighting her fans by revisiting some of her iconic stage and film hits, including a portion of "I'd Give My Life for You" from Miss Saigon, a heartfelt performance of "Reflection" from Mulan, stirring renditions of "On My Own" and "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Misérables, a charming "A Whole New World" from Aladdin, and a solid and meaningful take on "The Human Heart" from Once on this Island. These songs served as a brief reminder of her celebrated past but I wish she'd at least give us a solo of one or two of them instead of wrapping them all up into one single medley where only small portions of each song were heard.

A standout feature of the concert was the impressive seven-piece band that accompanied the singer. Led by skilled musical director Larry Yurman, they brought her music to life with dynamic arrangements and polished execution. Each musician contributed to the rich, layered sound, from the soulful strings to the energetic percussion. Two back-up singers provided lovely harmonies, though only for about half of the songs.

With impeccable vocals, warmth, and a genuine connection to her audience, Lea Salonga made her concert at Arizona Musicfest a bright and joyful holiday treat. Supported by a stellar band, the concert celebrated both her legacy and her vibrant new holiday album.

Lea Salonga performed at the Arizona Musicfest on December 8, 2024. Information for upcoming Arizona Musicfest concerts can be found at www.azmusicfest.org. For more information on the Lea Salonga's upcoming concerts, visit leasalonga.com.