Monday, December 01, 2008

Kurt Bestor wants to put the "mas" back in Christmas.

"Mas" as in more, more, more.

The attitude is appropriate because the Utah composer and musician is celebrating the 20th anniversary of his beloved Christmas concerts this December with five shows at Abravanel Hall, and he wants this year's shows to have more than the previous 19 years' shows.

"I started preparing for this in June," Bestor said as he tested a $250,000 Fazioli piano -- he called it the Lamborghini of pianos -- he will use for his shows. "It's a bit daunting."

The Christmas concerts Bestor performs every December have become a tradition in Utah and Idaho. The tradition began two decades ago when Bestor had recorded a Christmas CD he wanted to promote, and he booked Abravanel Hall, showing a bit of grandiosity, he said.

It was successful, so in the show's third year, he added a second show. The concerts now have expanded to five at Abravanel, with others performed from Idaho Falls, Idaho, to St. George.
Bestor, who produces the shows himself, has longtime collaborators helping him prep the platinum anniversary shows.

"I can't discuss too much," said Gary Justesen, owner of Oasis Stage Werks, which is lighting the show at a cost Bestor estimated as $75,000. "He wants to make the 20th anniversary notable . . . I know he spent more time on it this year. He put in a little extra effort -- not that in the others he hasn't -- but this year there's icing on the cake. There's an extra effort."

Rick Baldassin, owner of Baldassin Pianos and the piano Bestor will use in the concerts, said he's heard Bestor talk about this year's shows more than usual. "It's a milestone for him," he said. "I know it's on his mind more."

Bestor was loath to reveal too many details about the show this year, but said crowds expect changes every year. Balancing traditional favorites -- such as composing a new Christmas carol every year -- while keeping the show fresh is a challenge, he said, but one he relishes.

"Every year 40 percent of the show is fresh," he said. "I think people wonder, 'What's he going to do this year?' " he said. But he did reveal a little: In addition to a new carol he spent extra time composing this year, he is working on a "jazzical" version of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman" that his orchestra will play during the show.

"There are a couple of 'gasping' moments in the show," Bestor said.

Another way he keeps every year different is by bringing in guest performers. This year, Utah native Jenny Oaks Baker, the first violinist in the National Symphony Orchestra for seven years, will perform. Before attending the Curtis School of Music in Philadelphia (Bestor's alma mater) and then receiving a master's degree from the Julliard, Baker as a high school student was a violinist in Bestor's Christmas shows.

"No one does Christmas like Kurt," said Baker, who now lives in Washington, D.C. with her family. "He is Mr. Christmas."

One tradition that won't change is that the Race family of Salt Lake City will again be in the audience. Bestor looks forward to seeing the family every year.

"The reason we go to his concert every year is because he is just an important part in our Christmas holiday," said Ashlee Race, 20.

Ashlee's older sister, Aymee, called to order tickets for last year's Bestor show while she was in the hospital following lung surgery. "I love his show now more as an adult because it truly sets the tone for Christmas," Aymee Race said. "I feel like I can't start the holiday season 'til I go to the Kurt Bestor show, no joke."

"We are loyal fans from Kurt's first concert to this season," said Ashlee and Aymee's father, Rob Race. "The first concert of Kurt's we were in the first row watching four or five musicians, no back drop, a bare stage and [we were] having the time of our lives."

This year, the Races can expect much more -- or mas -- staging than that.

"A Kurt Bestor Christmas" celebrates its 20th anniversary with five Salt Lake City performances. When » Dec. 10, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 11 at 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 12 at 8 p.m.; Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. and Dec. 13 at 8 p.m. Where » Abravanel Hall, 123 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City Tickets » $17.50 to $37.50 at Arttix (355-ARTS) Info » Bestor also performs in St. George on Dec. 6, Orem on Dec. 8, Ogden on Dec. 16, Pocatello on Dec. 18 and Idaho Falls on Dec. 19. Go to www.kurtbestor.com for details