St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

“The big difference this year was the vocal soloist. Usually it’s someone from the world of musical theatre like Doug LaBrecque, Nicole Parker, or Whitney Claire Kaufman. This year it was the captivating Spanish soprano Camille Zamora, who has a substantial classical and operatic background. Her powerful voice added to the impact of Jeff Tyzik’s inventive arrangements of traditional carols like “Silent Night” and “We Three Kings” (with its lively percussion line), as well as less familiar songs like “Tu scendi dalle stelle,” written in 1732 by Alphonsus Liguori… There was even a Rodgers and Hammerstein number I’d never heard before: “Happy Christmas, Little Friend,” performed with great warmth by Ms. Zamora.”

– Chuck Lavazzi, KDHX