Tabernacle Choir delays launch of ‘Music and the Spoken Word’ in Spanish and cancels live performance Sunday
The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square’s program will look a little different this Sunday as the live performance is canceled due to several members of the choir being sick with COVID-19 and other illnesses following the group’s recent tour to Mexico.
The debut of the Spanish version of Music and the Spoken Words — “Música y Palabras de Inspiració” — was originally planned for this Sunday too, but was previously delayed on June 21 until further notice.
Kelly Smoot, a choir spokesperson, said that the delay of “Música y Palabras de Inspiració” is not related to Sunday’s cancellation of the live weekly English performance due to COVID-19 that some members contracted in Mexico.
Smoot said it’s still uncertain when the official launch of the Spanish version will premiere, but the launch is promised to be a “historic moment” that marks the beginning of a weekly performance for Spanish-speaking audiences worldwide.
From June 13-19, the choir toured and performed several concerts in Mexico City, which thousands could attend in person or watch online.
Soon after arriving in the country, some members tested positive for COVID-19 but were isolated and treated by medical staff that travels with the group, said Smoot. She didn’t have more information on how many choir members contracted the illness. Other choir members suffered from travel-related gastrointestinal illnesses.
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“To allow the choir the opportunity to rest and recover, and to prevent the further spread of any illness, the Choir has canceled this week’s rehearsal and Sunday’s live taping of ‘Music and the Spoken Word,’” Smoot said. “This week’s television and radio broadcast was recorded in Mexico and will be aired as planned.”
The recording made in Mexico will be in English and be broadcast online Sunday at 9:30 a.m. MDT on the choir’s YouTube channel. The public is invited to the Tabernacle to watch the broadcast. More ways to watch and listen can be found on the choir’s website.
What Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square concerts are coming up?
The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square will perform in two summer concerts on July 14 and 15 at 7 p.m. MDT at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City. The concerts will include songs from the tour in Mexico and “unite people from diverse cultures and backgrounds.” Guest artists will include Alex Melecio, a well-known Mexican singer, and Adassa, from the movie “Encanto,” who both toured with the choir to Mexico.
The choir released a video in preparation for the Mexico tour which features the sound and experience that will be displayed at the summer concerts.
Tickets to attend in person are free and available online. The concerts will also be streamed on Saturday, July 15, at 7:30 p.m. on the choir’s YouTube channel and BYUtv.
Correction: A previous version of this article said that the premiere of “Música y Palabras de Inspiració” was delayed due to the choir contracting COVID-19 when it had nothing to do with COVID-19.
