=Notes=
This event will be televised nationally on NBC,  25 December 2002, 4.00PM-6.00PM. In addition Charlotte was interviewed at this event regarding the tour and recent press, you can view this here.

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=Photos=

=Fan Review=
Thanks to long time viewer David Enlow of Atlanta, Georgia USA

The Capitol One "Holiday Celebration on Ice"
Starring Charlotte Church

Thursday evening, following a hectic day of classes, I left to partake of "my Christmas present to me"…a trip from my home in Atlanta to Greenville, S.C.'s Bi-Lo Center to hear Charlotte Church sing Live for my 4th time in two years. The weather was doing its best to cooperate and allow the 3 and 1/2 hour drive to take place, despite the fact that the Carolinas had just been hit by an ice storm that claimed the lives of 22 individuals. As I approached Greenville from the south on I-85, I heard via radio that the Greenville schools would all be closed for a second day the following morning. This brought on some anxiousness on my part until word came on the radio that the Ice Show would indeed take place that evening despite power outages all over the city.

As I drove with my wife and 10-year-old son, we reminisced about Charlotte's appearance with the Atlanta Symphony two year's previous. Fourteen year old Charlotte had won all our hearts that September and we had anxiously awaited her singing of "O Holy Night" last Thursday on Thanksgiving as Atlanta Richs' Great Christmas Tree would be lit up at the song's crescendo. Alas that was not to be, as word came Wednesday before the lighting that Charlotte wouldn't be appearing due to an ear infection. As we continued up I-85, we were just praying that she was better and neither her health nor the storm would disallow her from taking part in this event, titled "Holiday Celebration on Ice".

As we entered the Bi-Lo Center, we found it to be one of the quaintest venues that we'd ever seen. It was perfect for this event that we learned was to be staged by NBC Sports. The Center was home to a minor league Hockey team and had been decorated in a festive manner. From our mid-ice seats, the stage was on the right side of the rink and was adorned with a winter snow scene. Andy Williams mood-setting background music played in the dimly lit arena. The stage was set up as a Christmas tree forest with 12 seven-foot-tall trees equally spaced apart. Also, six 14-foot-tall "leafless" trees were added that had artificial ice on the boughs to complement the setting. A three-foot-high white, snow-covered fence made its way across the stage through this forest that contained about 5 inches of fake snow on its surface. An array of soft yellow lights lit up this set and the trees tended to come to life during the show with bright white Christmas lights on the trees being dimmed and made intense during differing points of the show. The TV cameras recording the event were at mid-ice, near our location, and were prepared for their role in taping the 4 o'clock Christmas Day ice spectacular. All was at the ready.

The lights began to pulsate as "Joy to the World" played and out came all the featured skaters onto the ice, performing as a unit as each was introduced. The list included current former and reigning Olympic Gold medalists as well as reigning World Champions: Kristi Yamaguchi, Ilia Kulik, Ekatarina Gordeeva, Alexei Yagudin, Todd Eldredge, Nicole Bobek, Rosalyn Sumners, and the pairs of Yuka Sato & Jason Dungjen and Jenni Meno & Todd Sand. Also, Brian Orser, the 8-time Canadian champion made an appearance. It was a Who's Who of famous figure skaters like I'd never scene before. 

Finally, Charlotte appeared in a mid-length black gown with see-through sleeves and high heels and came to the center of the pictuesque stage. She had accentuating curls weaving down each side of her face, and her hair was much golder than I'd remembered. Without comment, she casually acknowledged the audience's subdued applause and began singing "When a Child is Born" from her Dream a Dream album while U.S. figure skating Olympian Nicole Bobek skated. The combination of Charlotte's beautiful voice and the poetry of Nicole's moves was mesmerizing. I noticed that Charlotte seemed tired during the whole show and was nowhere near as "bubbly" as she'd been two years prior. Of course, she was 16 now (not 14) and this ice show was being staged by NBC Sports, so she obviously knew it was not her place to try and upstage the featured figure skating champions with her tremendous stage charisma so often demonstrated when she has the chance to talk to audiences. Those chances for audience interaction never appeared in this show. For those who'd never heard Charlotte in person in a show where she was truly the featured performer, I felt they'd really missed out in getting to know the personality of this truly special artist. Her voice was deeper and more pronounced than it had been the last time I heard her, but it seemed that she was having to really strive to breath "easily" during the song. I could tell that she was still somewhat weak from the flu-like infection and fever that had caused her to cancel her Atlanta appearance the previous week. She still, though, performed with so much feeling...far more than she had developed as a 14 year old just getting use to concert performances when I saw her in Atlanta. As the song continued, Charlotte's voice appeared to "warm up" and her breathing became less labored. That was good to see. After Charlotte introduced reigning Olympic Gold Medalist Alexei Yugadin, she left went backstage, waiting for her next cue. Alexei performed, and then Rosalyn Sumners of the US came and did an adorable rendition of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" that involved some audience participation. Kristi Yamaguchi came out and did a rare "pairs" performance (for her) with Ilia Kulik, and then Todd Eldredge came out and brought down the house. During the evening, it became obvious that his were the best overall technical and artistic performances of the night.

At last, it was time for some more LIVE music, and again Charlotte took the stage. She had not changed costume nor would she the entire show. She sang "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire"(The Christmas Song) as Jenni Meno and Todd Sand, U.S. pairs champions, performed a flawless routine. Again, the skating took center stage, but all of Charlotte's fans preferred to watch her as she gave a magnificent performance of her own from the stage. One thing I noticed all evening long was Charlotte's attempt to showcase her new singing style, one that contains some semblance of the blues and vocal runs that aren't in the original pieces themselves. She is obviously trying to capture a larger audience by singing in a more contemporary way. Throughout the night as she performed, there was little evidence of her "classical" style and the technique that had been the impetus for her original stardom. 

After Charlotte introduced the "next act", she again left and didn't reappear until the show's second half. 

Following a 20-minute intermission (that really was 35 minutes), the pair's skaters Jenni Meno & Todd Sand, along with Yuka Sato & Jason Dungjen, all came on the ice and performed a wonderful number to the song "White Christmas". This was one of the skating highlights of the evening, as were the solo performances of Todd Eldredge and Olympic Gold Medalist Kristi Yamaguchi. After two more acts, Charlotte again came out and sang "What Child is This?" while Rosalyn Sumners performed. Charlotte's voice was flawless and I remember saying to my wife how truly enjoyable it was to listen to a trained voice that never flatted or sharped even a single note. I hope all of you get to watch this Holiday Celebration on Ice Christmas Day, for you will not be disappointed by the tremendous performances of these incredible athletes nor with Charlotte's singing! She still has the "voice of an angel", but now she has the emotion, richness, power, and expression to go with it. 

Following Brian Orser's special appearance and amazing "backflip" during his part of the show, Charlotte came out again for her final number, and thenumber that would conclude the event. For the first verse at least, she had the arena audience's attention all for herself as she sang "Silent Night". It was so beautiful that it brought chills to my spine and applause from the appreciative crowd of about 4000 that attended. As Charlotte continued with the second stanza, the ensemble of skaters, all dressed in holiday maroon,came out and performed an encore as a unit. Their technical brilliance shown and the farewell number was heartwarming. The choreographed finale ended with all the skaters in a "V" at the front of the stage and each pointing up at Charlotte onstage, acknowledging her performance and showing her their personal appreciation. The audience, too, stood and showed THEIR appreciation, and another truly memorable evening concluded. Charlotte's Tour continues this weekend and on through the holiday season as she joins forces with Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer in a special Yuletide show, much like this one. I encourage all of you who are in regions where this show will be staged to go hear our "angel" and be amazed by God's gift to her, a voice like no other. - David Enlow

More Coverage from David

Dream a Dream Launch / Concert with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Aired: 16 September 2000
[Launch Feature]

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