Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Rockers, think you don't like classical music? Classical buffs, can't stand rock 'n' roll? Think again. Composer/producer Paul O'Neill took his skills as guitarist, manager, promoter, and producer and applied them to a boundary-smashing project called Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Along with composer/keyboardist Robert Kinkel and Savatage lead singer Jon Oliva, O'Neill fused the electricity of a heavy metal arena show with the spectacle of a classical superstar extravaganza, building a holiday juggernaut that not only sells millions of albums, but also plays to capacity crowds across the U.S. for two solid months every winter. While their "Requiem (The Fifth)" sounds like Beethoven partnered with Ozzy Osbourne, the Siberians are not all flame and fury, as can be heard on their "Christmas Canon," an exquisitely lush treatment of Pachelbel's biggest hit. As their decade-plus success proves, Trans-Siberian Orchestra bridges not only genres, but also generations.