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Thursday night, singer Natalie Cole and author/historian David McCullough had their final dress rehearsal with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square for “The Wondrous Gift of Christmas” at the LDS Conference Center — in front of 21,000 people.

For both artists, it was an experience to remember.

Cole, McCullough, choir director Mack Wilberg and choir president Mac Christensen spoke at a press gathering at the Conference Center Friday morning.

“They are great,” the Grammy Award-winning Cole said of the choir and orchestra. “One of the things that I was really impressed to discover was that these are all volunteers. I’ve worked with a lot of people through the years, a lot of choirs and churches, as well. I tell you this is as professional as it can be. Their willingness to do well ran throughout the performance.”

“I think Natalie said it perfectly,” McCullough said. “(It) is so gratifying to be your guest. I am not accustomed to being in front of 21,000 people. And I’m not accustomed to a big orchestra and chorus behind me. When I stood out here last night on the edge of the stage, all of a sudden this sound started behind me and I almost fell off the stage.

“I thought that would be a perfect entrance to my experience here.”

Cole has had some rough times this year. She underwent a kidney transplant, and while she was on the operating table, her sister, Carole “Cookie” Cole, died from lung cancer.

“This year has been a very emotional year for me,” she said. “So to close it out working with these wonderful people is just such a feeling of goodness.

“I really think we are here to honor our Lord Jesus Christ. He will be definitely honored, and I’m sure he’s pleased. It’s so nice to take the I out of it and make it a team effort.”

McCullough, the two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, emphasized how impressed he was with the production as a whole.

“History should not just be perceived as just politics and the military,” he said. “It involves the whole realm of human expression and human experience. And to leave out music, art, literature, architecture, dance, poetry, drama, is to leave out not just color and flavor and sound, but a lot of the soul of a culture. Many civilizations are known only for their art.

“That’s all as much as part of the American reality and the American story as our expected protagonists of history,” he said.

“In this one performance we have musicians, dancers, people speaking great literature, singing, architecture, all working at once. And we should never ever take if for granted.”

McCullough and Wilberg initially met and talked about the Christmas concert last May.