So much of Christmas is about the blending of old and new traditions, which makes neoclassical ensemble Manheim Steamroller, founded in 1974 by composer Chip Davis, an ideal soundtrack to the holidays. It turns out that a lot of people have felt that way over the past four decades; Davis and his musicians have found enormous success with about a dozen Christmas albums, the first released in 1984.

Their holiday music is so popular that for their 2025 Christmas Tour, two ensembles are crisscrossing the country simultaneously to bring dynamic performances to as many cities as possible. For example, while the Red Tour Band was at the Benedum Center in Downtown Pittsburgh on Thursday night, the Green Tour Band was spreading holiday cheer in Ottumwa, Iowa.

The musicians mostly stayed mum for the two-hour-long show, but drummer Tom Sharpe did step up to the (slightly glitchy) microphone after the first two songs to talk to the audience.

“It’s an honor for this group to present to you these remarkable, timeless compositions of the incredible Chip Davis,” Sharpe said. “There are certain albums that you know exactly what you were doing the first time you heard them. When Chip Davis released the first Manheim Steamroller Christmas album in 1984, it was so unique … that it created and inspired a whole genre of music.”

The program was a fascinating blend of classical sensibilities — including heavy use of harpsichord and violin — and rock arrangements. But one of the really cool things about Manheim Steamroller is that many of these now-Christmas classics were originally arranged and recorded in the 1980s, giving them a decidedly retro feel for today’s audiences. The use of keyboard synth and the kind of all-out drumming from Sharpe that one would expect from a late-20th-century metal band adds a sense of time to the timeless tunes that improves, not diminishes, their quality.

For example, early on, “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” sparkled with violin and an ever-present harpsichord from Jackson Tower. “Rudolph the Ren-Nosed Reindeer” gained a bit more punch in the orchestra’s able hands, with a zoomy ’80s flair and, of course, glowing red stage lights.

Later in the first act, they delivered a duo of great performances with “Faeries” from “The Nutcracker” and “Little Drummer Boy,” both omnipresent holiday classics given new life through heavy percussion and an infusion of “new age” instruments. Logan Mitchell’s recorder lent its warble to “Drummer Boy,” and cozy projections on the screens behind the musicians gave visual dimension to the music.

As the first half of the show ended, the stage shimmered with blue lights for a bouncy rendition of “Winter Wonderland” that felt just like a spirited jaunt through freshly fallen snow.

Second-act opener “Harvest Dance” was probably more seasonal when this tour began in early November, but golden-hued nature scenes in the projections and the irresistible up-tempo beat brought the audience back with delight.

The second act also included bombastic versions of carols including “Good King Wenceslas” and “Feliz Navidad.” But the evening wasn’t all rock and roll. Their sharp-but-beautiful “Do You Hear What I Hear?” was a hit with the crowd. And softer selections such as “Traditions of Christmas” and “Christmas Lullaby” were fit for a music box.

When “Carol of the Bells” began, an audible murmur of expectation bubbled up from the crowd — and the orchestra didn’t disappoint, proving themselves a well-oiled machine with the super-precise piece. Once again, Sharpe dropped jaws with a showstopping drum solo.

They stunned with a pair of encore songs, starting with “Silent Night,” which put Anna Lackaff’s gorgeous piano in the spotlight, lulling the audience with a sense of nostalgic tranquility. They closed with the chug and roll of their biggest Christmas radio staple, an exuberant “Deck the Halls” that earned the musicians a standing ovation.

Chip Davis and Manheim Steamroller show no signs of slowing down anytime soon, and as long as they can put such talented musicians, complementary visuals and fresh-but-familiar arrangements onstage, this is one holiday tradition that will continue to stand the test of time.

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