Soprano praises 'best choir'

Sissel's arrangements were written out for the choir by her personal arranger, Kjetil Bjerkestrand, who has worked with her for six years. "When I write music for her, I think of ways she can sing freely," Bjerkestrand told the Deseret Morning News. "I feel with her, the less I write the more it becomes.

"We usually work with bands and orchestras, but working with 500 voices is amazing. Hearing the voices work together is like a match made in heaven."

Jessop said there are five notes that comprise a soprano solo in the selection "Lux aurumque" by Eric Whitacre, and which highlights Sissel's voice. "The notes are ethereal and beautiful," he said. "And it was like it was written just for her."

Still, Sissel says one of her favorite songs she'll sing during the concert is "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing."

"It is majestic, powerful and beautiful," she said. "It is so full of joy, and tells the world that Christmas is here."

Sissel will perform with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the Conference Center. Free tickets have been distributed, but stand-by lines will begin to form at 6:30 p.m.

Sissel will also join the choir Sunday morning for the "Music and the Spoken Word" broadcast.

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E-mail: scott@desnews.com