The most remarkable story ever told enjoyed a magisterial musical tribute at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. “The Birth of a King: Live in Concert,” from pianist and producer Tommee Profitt, offers elevated sound and worship with powerful performances by 21 vocalists backed up by a 60-piece orchestra, 100-member choir and entire band.
Profitt told Fox News Digital, “It’s the story of angels greeting this King who is being born to save the entire world. It’s a story so epic it needed this epic music to go along with it.” Profitt is best known for high-energy, thunderous compositions found in television and Hollywood productions. His music even appears in one of the hottest Christmas gifts of the season, “Madden NFL ’24.” He described “The Birth of a King” as a “cinematic production” worthy of an event that changed world history and filled billions of hearts with hope and joy, including his own.
He said, “The powerful message is found in what I believe is the true Christmas story. It’s not about hot chocolate, fireplaces and cold weather. There are romantic Christmas songs, there are cozy Christmas songs, and Santa Christmas songs. And then there are the Christmas songs that really matter. And, to me, those are the songs about the birth of a King.” Khloe Kardashian gushed on Instagram after watching Evvie McKinney’s meteoric performance of “What Child is This?” from the debut live performance in 2022, “Wow! Wow! Wow!”
The Grand Ole Opry performance here in 2023 is a larger, elevated version of last year’s event. That 2022 debut was followed in 2023 by the release of a “The Birth of a King: Live in Concert” companion film and album. The production features a grandiosity that opposes the humble story of a poor boy born in a barn. But the songs themselves are those devoted to the traditional nativity narrative found in the Books of Luke and Matthew. The releases include “awe-inspiring re-imagined renditions of popular Christmas songs, each featuring an aggressive modern orchestra combined with some of the best vocalists on the planet,” Profitt said in a release.
Profitt first conceived of his epic retelling of the birth of Christ in 2005. He assembled his favorite performers to record “The Birth of a King” as a studio album in 2020. The live performance followed that in 2022, the release of the film and live album this year, and now the live show at the Grand Ole Opry. He hopes it will lead to future live versions of the ensemble performance of “The Birth of a King” and bring the story of the birth of Christ to people who already believe the story and those who only know it.
He said, “My faith is very important to me. It informs everything that I do. This is a performance I believe that Christians will love, and maybe those who aren’t Christians will love. This is a powerful story. I’m hoping it connects with anyone who appreciates powerful storytelling.”