OTTAWA — Move over Stephen Harper; Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff shows he can warble a tune too.

Ignatieff kept his debut as a soloist short and sweet: one chorus of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" at the opening of his party's annual Christmas bash.

Liberals joined in for the last few bars and gave the leader a rousing ovation for his effort.

If there was a Parliament's Got Talent contest, however, the prime minister would probably win for his rock star turn last week at the Tory Christmas party.

Backed by a local band, Harper played keyboards and belted out tunes by The Rolling Stones, The Who and The Proclaimers, among others.

The performance left many wondering what Ignatieff could possibly do to top the PM. His aides put out the word early that he wouldn't even try.

But Ignatieff evidently decided expectations were too high to ignore. So, after a brief speech in which he audaciously predicted "2011 will belong to the Liberal Party of Canada," he wrapped up with: "And now, the moment you've all been waiting for, the moment my wife dreads" and burst into song.

Having shown he can carry a tune, Ignatieff may now want to challenge Harper to a sing-off -- especially now that Liberal MP Bob Rae may have to beg off the piano duel to which he's challenged the prime minister.

Rae slipped on the ice on his way into Wednesday's Christmas party, injuring his shoulder. He was taken to hospital with a suspected dislocated or broken shoulder.