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A Very Special
Guest
by
Robb Cundick
Meridian's Voice from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Angela Lansbury rehearses with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra
at Temple Square. (Picture by Betsy Stevens)
As members of
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we enjoy so many
extraordinary spiritual benefits. Our loving community of families
and friends sustains and nourishes us. But we can become so accustomed
to it that we forget how truly fortunate we are. That is why it
is refreshing and invigorating to encounter someone who has just
“discovered” us; someone who can enthusiastically remind us how
wonderful it is to belong to the Church of Jesus Christ. Angela
Lansbury, our special guest for this year’s Mormon Tabernacle Choir/Orchestra
at Temple Square Christmas Concerts, turned out to be just such
a person.
When Choir member
Ron Gunnell contacted her October 1st about the possibility
of joining us, she, like the rest of the world was still reeling
from the effects of September 11th. Yet, ironically,
it was that very event that made it possible for her to accept.
The national tour she was committed to had been scaled back. As
Ron put it, “she responded to some gentle persuasion” and agreed.
But although she was excited and honored to combine her talents
with the Choir, she later told Ron she had no idea she would be
so emotionally moved by the experience.
Luminaries, reflecting Christmas greetings in many different languages,
line the Church Office Building Plaza.
The Choir and
Orchestra met her for the first time at a rehearsal in the Conference
Center on December 4th. She greeted us, saying, “I can’t
tell you what a thrill it is to see you all in the flesh.” Wow
she must have read our minds, for we were thinking exactly the same
thing! Brother Jessop told us afterwards that she had met with the
First Presidency earlier that day and emerged to say, “I could have
spent all day talking to President Hinckley!” Hmm… that’s what 11
million Mormons would say, too!
What a delight
it was to work with this elegant and graceful lady. Her air of dignity
is such that I remarked she must have taken lessons to be a queen.
(Perhaps some of that comes from her Grandfather, who was leader
of the Labor Party in Ireland when she was growing up). When she
first appeared in our concert, she strode onto the stage wearing
a beautiful red velvet dress and her first selection got right to
the point: “We Need a Little Christmas,” (which she originally sang
on Broadway in “Mame”). This number helped to bring the season’s
messages of love and peace and much-needed respite to the world.
The new Main Street Plaza offers a spectacular view of the Salt
Lake Temple bordered by Christmas lights.
Miss Lansbury
told the audience she had been concerned about what she could add
to this occasion (“Miss” is a stage designation only she and husband
Peter Shaw have been happily married for 53 years). She thought
about her career on Broadway, on television, and in film, then stopped
when she came to her role in Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” (she
was the voice of the teapot, “Mrs. Potts”). “Thinking about that,”
she said, “it struck me what it was that I could bring to this event.
It was the voice that many of the children of our country have learned
to recognize. The attacks of September 11th have had
an immeasurable impact on the minds and, indeed, the lives of millions
of children throughout America. Their little fears and often-secret
terrors …need to be addressed so very carefully. And all of us
grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles …have to try to do everything
we possibly can to reassure these little ones that they are safe
and loved, and that good will triumph over evil and right will prevail.”
Few people could
have greater understanding of how the September events have affected
our children than Angela Lansbury. As a sixteen-year-old she came
to America to escape the horrors of the London bombings during World
War II. And what better way for her to express her empathy than
with her next number, “Nothin’s Gonna Harm You,” from Sweeny Todd?
Here once again were words that have new meaning in light of current
events: “Nothing’s gonna harm you, not while I’m around. Nothing’s
gonna harm you, no, sir, not while I’m around. Demons are prowling
ev’rywhere nowadays. I’ll send ‘em howling, I don’t care. I’ve got
ways.” Oh yes, she does indeed have ways ways of helping both
young and old feel comfort and hope that all will indeed be well.
Christmas lights from Temple Square frame the Conference Center,
where the Christmas Concerts now are held.
But there is
a funny incident to relate about “Nothin’s Gonna Harm You.” During
the first rehearsal, somebody rushed in to turn off Miss Lansbury’s
wireless mike. It seems it was transmitting into the adjacent Little
Theater, where the Church’s production of “Savior of the World”
was being presented. We can only hope it broke in at an appropriate
time, such as while Mary rocked the newborn baby Jesus.
Another segment
sure to appeal to children was Miss Lansbury’s narration of the
touching story, “Trouble at the Inn,” by Dina Donahue. It tells
of the earnest Wally Purling, who acting as innkeeper in the annual
nativity play improvises a surprise ending by compassionately
offering Joseph and Mary his own room at the inn.
Beautiful decorations adorn the Conference Center for the Christmas
Season.
The highlight
of the program for me was her beautiful reading of the Christmas
story from Luke, with the orchestra softly playing, “Jesu, Joy of
Man’s Desiring,” in the background. Her cultured English accent
was ideal for those sacred verses, which after all are written
in “The King’s English”. She spoke them with great conviction, making
it clear that they mean as much to her as they do to me.
But although
the concerts were fantastic, I have only described a small portion
of what occurred, because it is Angela Lansbury’s reaction to the
experience that I most wanted to share with you. She told us before
Music and the Spoken Word on Sunday morning that this had
been, “the most singular, exciting, beautiful experience of [her]
career.” Then, as the morning’s events concluded, she and her accompanist,
Todd Schroeder, stood in front of us while we sang, “God Be With
You ‘Til We Meet Again” especially for them. It didn’t take more
than a couple of bars for her to melt into tears and nod in agreement.
She, Todd, and most of the Choir wept throughout the remainder of
the hymn. The feeling of the Spirit was very strong; there was a
palpable bond of love between us.
Angela Lansbury signs autographs for military guests following the
final concert.
Afterwards I
joined several Choir members backstage to present her a card. Above
my signature I had written, “This has been a total joy. You are
‘our kind of person!’” I truly feel that she is. As Choir Conductor
Craig Jessop said, “She is someone who spans the generations, beloved
by toddlers and senior citizens alike.” She is a shining example
of goodness and high moral character in a profession where the opposite
is too often the case.
I stood within
earshot as Church News Editor Gerry Avant asked her, “Do you feel
this choir belongs to you?” She paused and then answered, “No
I feel I belong to them.” Oh how that thrilled the hearts of those
of us who heard it!
Just because the concerts have been moved to the Conference Center
doesn't mean the Tabernacle is left barren. Most of the Music and
the Spoken Word Broadcasts still take place here.
But there is
yet one more remarkable quote to share. It appeared later in Sister
Avant’s beautiful article in The Church News. Miss Lansbury
said, “The spirit of this place is so evident. It is all enveloping.
It’s all around me. I feel buoyed up by it. This has been one of
the things I felt very strongly about being here. I didn’t realize
that I was going to be hit by this extraordinary spirit. I haven’t
experienced this before. It’s quite unique, people doing something
for the love of it, not for the almighty [dollar], but just for
the love of doing it, of joining together, expressing their sense
of feelings about life and all of the qualities that are inherent
to the Mormon Church. This is something that is all totally new
to me. I had never been exposed to it, and I didn’t understand what
it was about. But I am really fascinated by it.”
Let’s
just review the essentials of that quote once more: "The spirit
of this place so evident …all enveloping …buoyed up by
it …people doing something for the love of it." How well
she expresses what we feel and experience in the Church. And come
to think of it, what am I doing here late at night finishing up
this article? Just for the love of it, of course! For the joy of
sharing this choice experience with you, dear Meridian Readers;
and I know you’d do the same for me. We members of the Church
are so fortunate! Thank you, Angela Lansbury, for reminding us how
richly blessed we are. Let’s hope we can one-day share such
a beautiful experience again!
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