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 1^st about the possibility of joining us, she, like the rest of the world was still reeling from the effects of September 11^th. 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 4^th. 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 11^th 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!