Utahns who snapped up tens of thousands of free tickets to the 2006 Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert in mid-December will hear a Norwegian-born soloist as the guest artist, but the guest narrator for the event has yet to be announced.

Sissel is a "national institution in Norway," according to a press release announcing her appearance for the concert series, which runs Dec. 13-16 at the Conference Center. Audiences unfamiliar with her name may know her voice from the vocal tracks for the movie "Titanic."

Some 80,000 tickets for the popular event were gone within hours after Internet ticket distribution opened on Nov. 11. The program has featured world-renowned guest performers and narrators, including Frederica von Stade, Renee Fleming, Audra McDonald, Walter Cronkite and Angela Lansbury.

A child star since age 11, Sissel has sung all over the world, selling 6 million solo albums since her recording debut. "Her unique voice is well-suited to any style of music, from operatic arias and centuries-old classical melodies to traditional folk, modern jazz, pop, punk and hip-hop," according to the press release.

She has performed with a variety of artists, including former Christmas concert guest artist Bryn Terfel, as well as Josh Groban and Placido Domingo. In addition to a previous appearance with the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square in May 2005, she has performed for audiences at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer and the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.

Officials with LDS Public Affairs said Tuesday that a guest narrator has yet to be named.

Although all tickets have been distributed, a stand-by line will form 90 minutes before each concert at the North Gate of Temple Square. The concert is scheduled for broadcast nationwide on PBS later this season.

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