Trans-Siberian Orchestra

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra delivers its annual holiday performances with the subtlety of Meat Loaf squeezing into a Santa outfit. The 10-year-old project, conceived by '80s metal singer Jon Oliva, former Scorpions manager Robert Kinkel, and composer Paul O'Neill, transforms Christmas classics into full-blown heavy metal symphonies. Guitar acrobatics, Yuletide synths, and triumphant string arrangements zing about the arena, while fake snow and lasers dazzle the eyes.

And while there's no denying that the delight of TSO's spectacle lies in its tacky and often stomach-churning marriage of wintry folklore, big-hair guitar balladry, and Tolkien-on-ice stage show, it's the perfect complement to the season it celebrates.