Lindsey Sterling Was Magical Saturday in St. Louis

Sean Derrick December 3, 2024 0 Comments dance, Lidsey Stirling, Saint Louis concert review and photos, violin

Lindsey Stirling Performing at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis Saturday. Photo by Sean Derrick/ Thyrd Eye Photography.

–by Randy Thompson

–Photos by Sean Derrick/ Thyrd Eye Photography

Despite a cold and snowy evening hampering the traffic outside, there was a festive, joyful atmosphere inside the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis on Saturday night as fans of all ages packed the house to experience Lindsey Stirling’s third annual magical holiday show; Snow Waltz Tour III.

The stage (the biggest ever constructed at Chaifetz) was beautifully decorated while fans of all ages were decked out in sparkling dresses with an amazing holiday flare.

At this point, the stage was plugged in, amped up, and when the house lights went dark, a jolt of excitement was sent throughout the crowd.

The dancers whirled and twirled, while playing traditional Christmas tunes like “Angels We Have Heard on High” and “O Holy Night” (newly arranged by Stirling), along with a few of her own compositions such as “Crystallize”.

It was an amazing display of skill and talent, as Lindsey demonstrated her incredible ballet skills, and ability as an extraordinary violinist. The energy on stage was palpable, and the level of physical endurance was quite a thing to behold. She was supported by two band members: her drummer, Drew Steen, and talented multi-instrumentalist, Ryan Riveros.

Her voice was in full strength, and the music itself was intense and powerful, with the amazing lighting setting the mood and ambience to match the intensity of the entire production.

Her fellow dancers are extremely talented, and the choreography was tight and innovative. Lindsey displayed awesome and inspiring ballet moves, somehow arching herself backwards while flawlessly playing the violin. She and the other dancers also attached themselves to giant hoops and trapeze to twirl through the air above the stage, while never missing a beat.

Judging by the gasps from the audience, everyone was surprised as Lindsey was lifted into the air with her violin. It was hard to imagine playing that instrument so exquisitely while upside down, flipping through the air and spinning like a top.

During the show, Lindsey shared her message of faith, love, and family. She also took a moment to highlight her sister, Brooke, who was in the crowd, having her hold up signs for another fabulous TikTok moment, and she included the audience to be in cahoots with her. She shared how her sister had always been her biggest fan, supporting her from the very beginning when she would perform for audiences of just a handful of people. There were also tearful moments when she would discuss how her late father had always offered her support and guidance once through a neighbor at a moment when she needed that message of hope the most, and how small events in her life had helped relive his message miraculously.

She talked earnestly to her fans about how she believes angels are a part of our lives who watch over us when we need them the most. She also discussed how she loves the holidays and has put out several holiday albums, and has presented seven holiday tours (including this one).

After these moments of sharing her thoughts, the band returned to the stage in full force, providing intense arrangements of classic Christmas carols, with incredibly choreographed dancing, powerful support from the backing band, and her angelic voice, which stayed strong throughout the evening.

We were even treated to moments of light-hearted comedy as Erich Jackson, tour manager, stumbled across the stage dressed as a put-upon Christmas tree with packages for feet. He kept the audience laughing throughout the show, as he would appear on the stage in different segments, to the amusement of the entire crowd, and in my favorite moment, he made a half-hearted effort to present a trapeze act of his own.

Another entertaining variation in the evening was a Christmas medley that began with “Joy to the World” moved to “I Saw Three Ships” in a presentation of a boat race with pirate dancers and then merged into “The Curse of the Black Pearl” from Pirates of the Caribbean.

There were plenty of musical highlights as well, and we particularly enjoyed a cheerful and more upbeat version of “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” with everyone dressed in green, and a jazzy, light-hearted version of “Santa Baby”.

The audience was thoroughly entertained throughout the show with uncurbed enthusiasm, judging from the group of fans around us. This was a wonderful way to get into the holiday mood, and it was exhilarating to say the least to witness this diverse performer work so hard with her crew to bring their joy and talent to the audience, who so happily accepted it with open arms, laughter, and cheers.

Check out more photos from the evening in the interactive photo gallery after the setlist below.

Lidsey Stirling Setlist:

Sleigh Ride (Leroy Anderson cover)

Christmas C’mon

Jingle Bell Rock (Bobby Helms cover)

Warmer in the Winter

Let It Snow

Joy to the World/I Saw Three Ships/Curse of the Black Pearl

Yuletide Regale

Pop Song Christmas Medley/game

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

O Holy Night