Written by: Jay Heilman (12/15/2025)

Date: December 13, 2025 Venue: Kia Center – Orlando, FL

For my fourth time seeing the Trans-Siberian Orchestra (and my third consecutive year), the “repeat offender”—as guitarist Al Pitrelli affectionately calls us—was back in action. While my previous shows were in Tampa, this was my first time attending the tour stop in Orlando, and TSO proved once again why they are the kings of the holiday rock opera.

The Atmosphere: Electric & Unparalleled

From the moment the curtains went down, the energy was absolutely electric. TSO is famous for its dazzling display of heavy guitars and lush orchestration, but seeing it synced perfectly to a massive visual production of lasers, smoke, and pyrotechnics is something that never gets old.

This year, we were blessed with seats I can only describe as a once-in-a-lifetime score: front-row, center section. In over 30 years of attending concerts (and tallying 225+ shows), I have never sat front row on a major tour. The view was unparalleled, and for those wondering—yes, the fire is real! You can feel the heat radiating from the stage, adding a visceral intensity to the performance that you just don’t get further back.

Musical Mastery: Hits & Highlights

Musically, the night was a showcase of precision and power. It was incredible to hear my favorite instrumentals cut through the arena air, including the frantic energy of “Wizards in Winter,” the majesty of “O Come All Ye Faithful / O Holy Night,” the playful “A Mad Russian’s Christmas,” and of course, the song that started it all, “Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24).”

The talent on stage this year was staggering. Vocal highlights included the powerhouse Chloe Lowery and the legendary Jeff Scott Soto, both of whom commanded the stage. A special nod goes to Nate Amor, who delivered a soulful, gritty rendition of “Music Box Blues” that brought the house down. And, of course, the amazing Asha Mevlana on electric violin—she always kills it, bringing a ferocity to the instrument that rivals any lead guitarist.

The Return of Beethoven

One element of the show I absolutely loved was the band revisiting their 2000 record Beethoven’s Last Night for a good part of the set—something they haven’t done in over a decade.

During this segment, guitarists Al Pitrelli and Angus Clark walked down into the crowd. At one point, Al sat down nonchalantly next to a fan about 10 rows back, playing guitar as if he were in his living room. He eventually made his way to the back of the arena to meet Angus on a riser for an epic guitar duel.

Personal Moments: A Tribute to the Architect

Beyond the spectacle, the night was special for the company we kept. My wife Shannon and I were joined by my colleague and part of the leadership team at TCE, Mike Laxton, along with his son Anthony, who was experiencing his very first TSO show. We also spotted rock royalty in the house: Savatage founder Jon Oliva (the “Mountain King”) was watching from the soundboard.

A particularly emotional moment came when Al Pitrelli sat down for an acoustic tribute to the late TSO founder Paul O’Neill. This hit close to home for me. When I was 18, I was loitering at Mars Music in Tampa, trying to learn guitar. The store manager at the time was none other than Savatage drummer Steve “Doc” Wacholz. Doc introduced me to a visitor who had stopped by to chat: Paul O’Neill.

I vaguely remember Paul telling me about this new spectacle he had cooked up called “Trans-Siberian Orchestra.” Though it would be nearly another 20 years before I witnessed my first show, it was cool to reflect back on meeting the incredible mind that brought this experience to life while watching his vision unfold from the front row.

Backstage & The Verdict

We were blessed to go backstage after the show to meet the entire band, including Al, Jeff, and Angus. A personal highlight for me was that Al remembered me from the interview we conducted prior to the tour. He was gracious and expressed his gratitude for TCE’s promotion of the tour, appreciating that we continue to be “repeat offenders.”

You can watch that interview with Al Pitrelli and Kayla Reeves below:

I am also excited to share pictures and videos from the show in this post. I was able to take these on my newly acquired iPhone 17 Pro Max, which enabled me to get some pretty breathtaking and amazing shots of the spectacle. The camera on this phone is incredible and really allowed me to capture the vibrant colors and fast-paced action of the lights and lasers.

To anyone reading this: check www.trans-siberian.com to see if the tour is coming near you. Like the spectacle of Niagara Falls, pictures and videos don’t do it justice. It is not only a concert, but a total experience that one must add to their bucket list during the Christmas season. TSO has yet to disappoint; it is unlike any other show I have ever been to and is sure to impress regardless of your musical taste.

Check out the full setlist from the night here:

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/transsiberian-orchestra/2025/kia-center-orlando-fl-7b417240.html

Big “Thank You” to the TSO tour for having us out, it was an incredible night that we will not soon forget!