St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Celebrates the Holidays with a Range of Concerts Nov. 24-Dec. 31

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Celebrates the Holidays with a Range of Concerts Nov. 24-Dec. 31

On Thanksgiving weekend, SLSO strings perform Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons and Astor Piazzolla’s The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires at three locations throughout the region, featuring Concertmaster David Halen and Associate Concertmaster Erin Schreiber 

On December 1, conductor David Danzmayr leads the orchestra in Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2, along with Jessie Montgomery’s Strum and Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Oboe Concerto featuring SLSO Principal Oboist Jelena Dirks

The second of five Live at The Sheldon concerts, curated by SLSO violinist Angie Smart and SLSO cellist Bjorn Ranheim, features SLSO strings players in music by Jessie Montgomery, Christian Quiñones, and Franz Schubert, plus the world premiere of a new work by University of Missouri student Harry González, December 6

On December 8, Kevin McBeth leads the SLSO and the SLSO IN UNISON Chorus in the annual Gospel Christmas concert, featuring baritone Wintley Phipps

The SLSO performs the scores to two films while the movies play on the Stifel Theatre big screen: Home Alone (December 9-10) and Back to the Future (December 28-29)

On December 12-17, the SLSO performs its traditional Mercy Holiday Celebration with a selection of holiday tunes, led by Stuart Malina and featuring vocalist Scarlett Strallen in her SLSO debut, in St. Charles and downtown St. Louis

The surprise-filled New Year’s Eve Celebration rings in 2024 with conductor Norman Huynh and vocalist Jimmie Herrod in his SLSO debut

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra has announced details of its holiday concerts—a wide range of symphonic concerts performed across six venues throughout the region. Concerts include classical favorites, chamber music, films with scores performed live, and concerts that celebrate the holiday season. Two vocalists will make their SLSO debuts: musical theater veteran Scarlett Strallen and America’s Got Talent finalist Jimmie Herrod.

Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at slso.org or by calling the Box Office at 314-534-1700. A full concert calendar is available at slso.org or on the SLSO’s mobile app available for iOS or Android. A broadcast of the December 1 classical concert will be aired on December 2 on 90.7 FM KWMU St. Louis Public Radio, Classic 107.3, and online. Audiences can attend a Pre-Concert Conversation, an engaging discussion about the music and artists on the program, one hour prior to each classical concert.

While the expansion and renovation of Powell Hall continues, the SLSO will perform holiday concerts at several venues throughout the region: St. Joseph Catholic Church Cottleville (November 24), Manchester United Methodist Church in Manchester (November 25), The Sheldon in Grand Center (November 26 and December 6), the Touhill Performing Arts Center at the University of Missouri–St. Louis (December 1), Stifel Theatre in downtown St. Louis (December 8-10, 16-17, 28-29, 31), and the J. Scheidegger Center for Performing Arts at Lindenwood University (December 12-13). Shuttle service will be available for concerts at the Touhill at UMSL and Stifel Theatre starting at $15 per seat. There will be two shuttle pick-up locations for performances at Stifel Theatre: Plaza Frontenac and St. Louis Community College–Forest Park. Shuttles for performances at the Touhill Performing Arts Center at UMSL will depart from Plaza Frontenac, and free parking is available on the UMSL campus.

The Eight Seasons of Vivaldi and Piazzolla 

Friday, November 24, 7:30pm 
St. Joseph Catholic Church Cottleville 
1355 Motherhead Road, Cottleville, MO 63304 

Saturday, November 25, 7:30pm 
Manchester United Methodist Church 
129 Woods Mill Road, Manchester, MO 63011 

Sunday, November 26, 3:00pm 
The Sheldon 
3648 Washington Ave, St. Louis, MO 63108   

David Halen, violin 
Erin Schreiber, violin 

Antonio Vivaldi                                      The Four Seasons 

Astor Piazzolla (arr. Desyatnikov) The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires 

The SLSO brings the melodies of the changing seasons to life in three performances on Thanksgiving weekend. The timeless charm of Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons transports listeners to the northern Italian countryside, brilliantly contrasting with the passionate soundscape of Argentina in Astor Piazzolla’s The Four Season of Buenos Aires. From Vivaldi’s iconic Spring to Piazzolla’s intense Winter, the SLSO’s own gifted violinists, Concertmaster David Halen and Associate Concertmaster Erin Schreiber, weave a seasonal musical tapestry.  Tickets for general admission are $30.

David Danzmayr

Beethoven’s Second Symphony

Friday, December 1, 10:30am CST*
Friday, December 1, 7:30pm CST
Touhill Performing Arts Center at the University of Missouri–St. Louis 
1 Touhill Circle, St. Louis, Missouri, 63121 

David Danzmayr, conductor
Jelena Dirks, oboe

Jessie Montgomery                             Strum

Ralph Vaughan Williams                   Oboe Concerto (First SLSO performances)

Ludwig van Beethoven                      Symphony No. 2

Presented by the Thomas A. Kooyumjian Family Foundation.

*Refreshments courtesy of Kaldi’s Coffee and Eddie’s Southtown Donuts.

Conductor David Danzmayr returns to the SLSO for two concerts on December 1 that pair the familiar with the new. Danzmayr pushes Ludwig van Beethoven’s Second Symphony close to the edge, revealing the magic behind one of the composer’s lesser-known symphonies. SLSO Principal Oboist Jelena Dirks’ goal is to sing through her instrument. She has every opportunity in the songful, break-your-heart musical world of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Oboe Concerto, performed by the SLSO for the first time in these concerts. Strum by Jessie Montgomery, the in-demand American composer of this moment, salutes American folk music.   

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra: Live at The Sheldon
Wednesday, December 6, 7:30pm CST  
The Sheldon Concert Hall
3648 Washington Ave., St. Louis, Missouri, 63108

Angie Smart, curator and violin

Bjorn Ranheim, curator and cello

Andrea Jarrett, violin

Shannon Farrell Williams, viola

Aleck Belcher, double bass
   
Jessie Montgomery                             Strum

Harry González                                     New Work (World premiere)

Christian Quiñones                               Pasemisí, Pasemisá

Franz Schubert                                       String Quintet in C major

Curated by Angie Smart (SLSO violin) and Bjorn Ranheim (SLSO cello).

The performance of Harry González’s work is presented in partnership with the Mizzou New Music Initiative.

Sponsored by the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation.

The second in a five-concert chamber series in partnership with the SLSO’s Grand Center neighbor, The Sheldon, celebrates the virtuosity of SLSO string players on December 6. Curated and led by violinist Angie Smart and cellist Bjorn Ranheim, a quintet of SLSO string players performs a rich array of music by Jessie Montgomery and Christian Quiñones, as well as Franz Schubert’s Quintet in C major. In a unique partnership with the Mizzou New Music Initiative at the University of Missouri, the musicians also give the world premiere of new music by Harry González, a student composer. The St. Louis American called this new series “the hottest ticket in town.”

A Gospel Christmas

Friday, December 8, 7:30pm CST
Stifel Theatre
1400 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri, 63103

Kevin McBeth, conductor

Wintley Phipps, vocals

St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus | Kevin McBeth, director

Leroy Anderson                                                    A Christmas Festival

Jeffrey Ames (orch. Dunsmoor)                     A Festive Praise

Traditional                                                              “Walk Together Children”

Traditional (arr. Wilberg)                                  “The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy”

Traditional (arr. Lawrence)                               “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”

G.F. Handel (arr. Warren/Jackson/Kibble/Hey/Chinn) “Hallelujah” from Handel’s Messiah: A Soulful Celebration

Traditional (arr. Smith)                                      “Go Tell It On the Mountain”

Traditional (arr. Stoddart/Turner)                                 “Here’s One”

Alfred Burt (arr. Smith)                                     “Some Children See Him”

Jill Jackson (arr. Clydesdale)                            “Let There Be Peace On Earth”

Traditional (arr. Davis)                                       Deck the Halls

Brandon A. Boyd (orch. Joubert)                   “Sign Me Up”

Traditional (arr. Johnson/Davis)                    “Children, Go Where I Send Thee”

Franz Gruber (arr. Tyzik)                                   “Silent Night”

Cliff Duren                                                              Star of Wonder Medley

Traditional (arr. Clydesdale)                            “Kum Ba Yah”

Adolph-Charles Adam (arr. Smith)                                “O Holy Night”

Traditional (arr. Keveren)                                 “Amazing Grace”

Supported by Bayer Fund.

The SLSO IN UNISON Chorus returns for a beloved tradition on December 8, the Gospel Christmas concert with the SLSO, led by Chorus Director Kevin McBeth at Stifel Theatre. Joining the IN UNISON Chorus is baritone Wintley Phipps, whose silky-smooth voice highlights the soulful stylings of holiday music. Supported by Bayer Fund since 1994, the IN UNISON Chorus performs and preserves music from the African diaspora. 

Jason Seber

Home Alone in Concert

Saturday, December 9, 7:00pm CST
Sunday, December 10, 2:00pm CST
Stifel Theatre
1400 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri, 63103

Jason Seber, conductor

Webster University Chorale | Trent Patterson, director

John Williams                                        Home Alone

Back by popular demand, the SLSO performs John Williams’ iconic score to Home Alone live to the hilarious and heartwarming holiday classic at Stifel Theatre on December 9-10. When the McCallisters leave for vacation, they forgot one thing: Kevin! Discover an experience the whole family can share. Limited tickets are available for this holiday favorite.

Mercy Holiday Celebration

Tuesday, December 12, 7:30pm CST
Wednesday, December 13, 7:30pm CST
J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts at Lindenwood University
2300 W. Clay St., St. Charles, Missouri, 63301

Saturday, December 16, 2:00pm & 7:30pm CST
Sunday, December 17, 2:00pm CST
Stifel Theatre
1400 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri, 63103

Stuart Malina, conductor

Scarlett Strallen, vocals (SLSO debut)

Cally Banham, English horn

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (arr. Baynes)        Christmas Overture

George Wyle (arr. Clydesdale)                        “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”

James Pierpont (arr. Waldin)                          “Jingle Bells”

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (arr. Ellington/Strayhorn; orch. Tyzik) Selection from The Nutcracker Suite

Irving Berlin (arr. Maness)                                               “White Christmas”

Richard Rodgers (arr. Bennett)                       “My Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music

Adolphe Adam (arr. Clydesdale)                    “O Holy Night”

Various (arr. Stephenson)                                                 A Charleston Christmas

Traditional (arr. Tyzik)                                        Chanukah Suite

Tom Lehrer (arr. Malina)                                   “Chanukah in Santa Monica”

J. Fred Coots (arr. Holcombe)                         “Santa Claus in Coming to Town”

Sergei Prokofiev                                                   “Troika” from Lieutenant Kijé Suite

Leroy Anderson                                                    Sleigh Ride

Felix Bernard (arr. Harper; orch. Blank)      “Winter Wonderland”

Various (arr. Waldin)                                          “The Christmas Song/Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”

Various (arr. Stephenson)                                 A Holly and Jolly Sing-Along!

Presented by Mercy.

The SLSO and conductor Stuart Malina bring the music of the holiday season to the stage at Stifel Theatre and Lindenwood University in St. Charles for a cherished holiday tradition—the Mercy Holiday Celebration. Full of favorite carols and sounds of the season, this year the orchestra will be joined by special guests, Broadway and West End veteran vocalist Scarlett Strallen and SLSO English horn player Cally Banham. Even Santa makes time for these festive concerts December 12-13 (Lindenwood) and December 16-17 (three concert at Stifel Theatre)! 

Back to the Future in Concert

Thursday, December 28, 7:00pm CST
Friday, December 29, 7:00pm CST
Stifel Theatre
1400 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri, 63103

Norman Huynh, conductor

Alan Silvestri                                          Back to the Future

Recharge your flux capacitor…and get ready to celebrate the unforgettable 1985 classic, Back to the Future, with the SLSO performing Alan Silvestri’s score live as the film plays on Stifel Theatre’s big screen on December 28-29. Back to the Future topped the box office chart, spawned two wildly successful sequels, and stamped an enduring imprint on pop culture. Join Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox), Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd), and a time traveling DeLorean for the adventure of a lifetime.

Jimmie Herrod

New Year’s Eve Celebration

Sunday, December 31, 7:30pm CST
Stifel Theatre
1400 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri, 63103

Norman Huynh, conductor

Jimmie Herrod, vocals (SLSO debut)

Repertoire announced from the stage.

Send 2023 off in style at the SLSO’s annual bash—the New Year’s Eve Celebration concert. Frequent guest conductor Norman Huynh leads this musical party filled with surprises. Although the repertoire is a secret, it’s sure to be a fun-filled evening with the SLSO and guest vocalist Jimmie Herrod, a Pink Martini and America’s Got Talent alumnus. This one-night-only concert takes place at the stylish Stifel Theatre on December 31.

About the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

Celebrated as one of today’s most exciting and enduring orchestras, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is the second-oldest orchestra in the country, marking its 144th year with the 2023/2024 season and its fifth with Stéphane Denève, The Joseph and Emily Rauh Pulitzer Music Director. Widely considered one of the leading American orchestras, the Grammy® Award-winning SLSO maintains its commitment to artistic excellence, educational impact, and community collaborations—all in service to its mission of enriching lives through the power of music. 

The transformational expansion and renovation of its historic home, Powell Hall, slated to be completed in 2025, builds on the institution’s momentum as a civic leader in convening individuals, creators, and ideas, while fostering a culture welcoming to all. Committed to building community through compelling and inclusive musical experiences, the SLSO continues its longstanding focus on equity, diversity, inclusion, and access, embracing its strengths as a responsive, nimble organization, while investing in partnerships locally and elevating its presence globally. For more information, visit slso.org. 

Jelena Dirks, oboe

About the University of Missouri–St. Louis Touhill Performing Arts Center

Designed by the renowned architectural firm I.M. Pei, Cobb, Freed and Partners, the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center is a landmark performance facility on the campus of the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL). The Center hosts an average of 120 events, 200 performances, and 90,000 visitors per year.

The Touhill staff manages several collaborative relationships and programs that, along with campus and community partners, bring together a diverse season of dance, theatre, music, festivals, and special events.

About Stifel Theatre

Stifel Theatre is a historic, 3,100 seat theatre in the heart of downtown St. Louis. Originally opened in 1934, Stifel Theatre’s stage has welcomed some of entertainment’s greatest performers and was the primary venue for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra from 1934-1968. Following a $78.7 million restoration, this historical gem has been restored to its original splendor and undergone state-of-the-art upgrades.

Stifel Theatre plays host to a wide variety of events, including concerts, comedies, theatricals, family shows, holiday productions, and more.

Norman Huynh, conductor

St Louis Symphony Free Community Concert in Forest Park Sept. 21

St Louis Symphony Free Community Concert in Forest Park Sept. 21

Music Director Stephane Denève leads the SLSO and members of the St. Louis Symphony Chorus and St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus in its annual concert for the community in works by Leonard Bernstein, Georges Bizet, George Gershwin, Pietro Mascagni, Florence Price, John Philip Sousa, Johann Strauss, Jr., Sergei Prokofiev, Samuel Ward, and John Williams

Celebratory opening of SLSO’s 144th season includes food trucks on Art Hill and concludes with fireworks display over Forest Park’s Grand Basin

Led by Music Director Stéphane Denève, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra marks the beginning of its 2023/2024 season with the return of its free concert in Forest Park at 7:00pm CDT, Thursday, September 21, on Art Hill. Since its inaugural Forest Park concert more than 50 years ago, the SLSO has performed for more than 15,000 people each year as a community celebration of music and the kick-off of the SLSO’s season.

The program serves as preview for the orchestra’s 144th season and Denève’s fifth as Music Director. Selections include favorites by Johann Strauss, Jr.’s, On the Beautiful Blue Danube and Radetzky March, along with selections from Georges Bizet’s opera Carmen. Music by Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin, and Florence Price brings an American flavor to the program.

The orchestra will be joined by singers in the St. Louis Symphony Chorus and St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus in performances of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and “America the Beautiful.” A close collaborator of the inimitable film composer John Williams, Denève programmed selections of Williams’ scores from Raiders of the Lost Ark and Amistad. The festivities end with a show-stopping fireworks display following John Philip Sousa’s patriotic anthem The Stars and Stripes Forever.

Stephane Deneve

Performed in memory of longtime SLSO supporter Mary Ann Lee, this concert marks the 55th anniversary of the first Forest Park concert in 1968. Attendees are encouraged to come early, bring chairs and blankets, and enjoy food trucks at the top of Art Hill. New this year, the SLSO’s education and community teams will host a family fun zone at the top of Art Hill, encouraging families to engage with music through activities including music creation, conducting musicians of the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra, and a scavenger hunt.

Local vendors at the concert will include Angie Burger, ByJack, Cajun Seduction, Cha Cha Chow, Delicious Delights by Uniqly D’zynd, Doggie Mac’s Food Truck, Fire and Ice Cream Truck, Five Aces Bar-B-Que, Go Gyro Go, Grace Meat +3, Holy Crepe, NY Tom’s Food Truck, Picture Perfect Panini, Soul Burgers, STL BarKeep, Takozz Real Mexican Food, The Popcorn Bar, and Urban Chestnut Brewing Company. Food and drink vendors will be available starting at 5:00pm.

Following the concert in Forest Park, Denève leads the orchestra in its first classical concerts of the season, September 23-24, featuring renowned violinist Hilary Hahn—notable for her emphasis on accessibility to music, social media presence, and performances on film scores—in her first SLSO concerts in more than 20 years. Concerts take place at the Stifel Theatre in downtown St. Louis and include Richard Strauss’ Don Juan and Till Eulenspigel’s Merry Pranks, Felix Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto with Hahn, W.A. Mozart’s The Magic Flute Overture, and Paul Dukas’ The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.

Tickets for all 23/24 season concerts are on sale now and can be purchased at slso.org or by calling the SLSO Box Office at 314-534-1700.

Calendar listing:

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Stéphane Denève open its 2023/2024 season with a free community concert on Forest Park’s Art Hill at 7:00pm Thursday, September 21. The annual concert—featuring classical music, film music, and patriotic tunes—concludes with a festive fireworks display.

Thursday, September 21, 2022, 7:00pm CDT
Art Hill at Forest Park, 1 Fine Arts Drive, St. Louis, Missouri, 63110

Stéphane Denève, conductor
Members of the St. Louis Symphony Chorus
Members of the St. Louis Symphony 
IN UNISON Chorus | Kevin McBeth, director

John Stafford Smith (arr. Sousa/Damrosch) The Star-Spangled Banner

J. Rosamund Johnson                           “Lift Every Voice and Sing”

Johann Strauss, Jr.                                 On the Beautiful Blue Danube

Johann Strauss, Jr.                                 Radetzky March

Sergei Prokofiev                                     March and Scherzo from The Love for Three Oranges

Leonard Bernstein                                 Candide Overture

Georges Bizet                                         Selections from Carmen Suite No. 1 & 2

Pietro Mascagni                                     Intermezzo from Cavalleria rusticana

Florence Price                                         “Juba” from Symphony No. 3

George Gershwin                                  Girl Crazy Overture

John Williams                                         “The Raiders March” from Raiders of the Lost Ark

John Williams                                         Dry Your Tears, Afrika from Amistad

Samuel Ward                                          “America the Beautiful”

John Philip Sousa                                  The Stars and Stripes Forever

This concert is performed in memory of Mary Ann Lee.

2022 concert photo by Virginia Harold

About the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

Celebrated as one of today’s most exciting and enduring orchestras, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is the second-oldest orchestra in the country, marking its 144th year with the 2023/2024 season and its fifth with Music Director Stéphane Denève. Widely considered one of the leading American orchestras, the Grammy® Award-winning SLSO maintains its commitment to artistic excellence, educational impact, and community collaborations—all in service to its mission of enriching lives through the power of music. 

The transformational expansion and renovation of its historic home, Powell Hall, slated to be completed in 2025, builds on the institution’s momentum as a civic leader in convening individuals, creators, and ideas, while fostering a culture welcoming to all. Committed to building community through compelling and inclusive musical experiences, the SLSO continues its longstanding focus on equity, diversity, inclusion, and access, embracing its strengths as a responsive, nimble organization, while investing in partnerships locally and elevating its presence globally. For more information, visit slso.org. 

Photo by Caitlin Custer.

Beethoven Piano Concerto Cycle Part of St Louis Symphony’s 144th Season

Beethoven Piano Concerto Cycle Part of St Louis Symphony’s 144th Season

HILARY HAHN RETURNS TO OPEN THE ST. LOUIS SYMPHONY ORCHESRTA’S 144TH SEASON WITH MUSIC DIRECTOR STÉPHANE DENÈVE; SEASON-LONG BEETHOVEN PIANO CONCERTO CYCLE BEGINS, SEPTEMBER 23-30

Season-opening classical concerts at Stifel Theatre September 23-24, led by Denève, feature violinist Hilary Hahn in Felix Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto; concerts also include Richard Strauss’ Don Juan and Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks, W.A. Mozart’s The Magic Flute Overture, and Paul Dukas’ The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

In September 29-30 concerts at the UMSL Touhill Performing Arts Center, Denève conducts Robert Schumann’s Symphony No. 4, Ludwig van Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture, and first SLSO performances of Unsuk Chin’s subito con forza; pianist Jonathan Biss performs Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto to begin the season’s complete cycle of Beethoven Piano Concertos

(August 24, 2023, St. Louis, MO) – Today, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra announced details of its September classical concerts to open its 144th season, led by Stéphane Denève in his fifth season as Music Director. Concerts feature superstar violinist Hilary Hahn and pianist Jonathan Biss, both of whom return to the SLSO for the first time in more than a decade to perform monumental concertos by Felix Mendelssohn and Ludwig van Beethoven. These opening concerts follow the SLSO’s ceremonial opening of the season, the free community concert in Forest Park on Thursday, September 21.

Tickets start at $15 and are on sale now. Tickets may be purchased at slso.org or by calling the Box Office at 314-534-1700. A full concert calendar is available at slso.org or on the SLSO’s mobile app available for iOS or Android.  The Saturday, September 30, concert will be broadcast live on 90.7 FM KWMU St. Louis Public Radio, Classic 107.3, and online. Audiences can attend a Pre-Concert Conversation, an engaging discussion about the music and artists on the program, one hour prior to each concert. 

While the expansion and renovation of Powell Hall continues, the SLSO will perform classical concerts at two landmark performance venues: Stifel Theatre in downtown St. Louis (September 23-24) and the Touhill Performing Arts Center at the University of Missouri–St. Louis (September 29-30). Shuttle service will be available for all classical concerts starting at $15/seat. There will be two shuttle pick-up locations for performances at Stifel Theatre: Plaza Frontenac and St. Louis Community College–Forest Park. Shuttles for performances at the Touhill Performing Arts Center at UMSL will depart from Plaza Frontenac and free parking is available on UMSL campus.

Conductor Stephane Deneve, now in his fifth year

Opening Weekend with Hilary Hahn

Saturday, September 23, 2022, 7:30pm CDT
Sunday, September 24, 2022, 3:00pm CDT
Stifel Theatre
1400 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri, 63103

Stéphane Denève, conductor
Hilary Hahn, violin

Richard Strauss                                      Don Juan
Felix Mendelssohn                                Violin Concerto
W.A. Mozart                                           The Magic Flute Overture
Paul Dukas                                               The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Richard Strass                                         Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks

Presented by the Thomas A. Kooyumjian Family Foundation.

The SLSO’s season-opening concerts led by Denève meld grandeur, enchantment, and jollity. The program begins with Richard Strauss’ symphonic poem Don Juan, which tells the adventures of the legendary character Don Juan. Violinist Hilary Hahn delivers the heart of the concert with performances of Felix Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto. The concerto is famous for its lyrical melodies and is one of the most beloved concertos in the violin repertoire. Hahn’s most recent performance with the SLSO was 21 years ago. She is a three-time Grammy winner and one of the foremost violinists of our time, known for her exceptional musicianship and her commitment to expanding the accessibility of classical music through her educational partnerships and through her social media engagement.

The program continues with a trio of playful works including W.A. Mozart’s The Magic Flute Overture, Paul Dukas’ The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, and Richard Strauss’ Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks. The Magic Flute, considered one of Mozart’s most famous works, overflows with dynamic and captivating melodies. Dukas’ piecetells the story of an enchanted broomstick, a piece made famous for its inclusion is Disney’s Fantasia. The excitement continues through to the final work, Strauss’ Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks which is based on a trickster from German folklore.

Beethoven’s Piano Cycle: Jonathan Biss Plays the First
Friday, September 29, 10:30am CDT*
Saturday, September 30, 7:30pm CDT
Touhill Performing Arts Center at the University of Missouri–St. Louis 
1 Touhill Circle, St. Louis, Missouri, 63121 

Stéphane Denève, conductor
Jonathan Biss, piano

Ludwig van Beethoven                        Coriolan Overture
Unsuk Chin                                              subito con forza (First SLSO performances)
Ludwig van Beethoven                        Piano Concerto No. 1
Robert Schumann                                 Symphony No. 4

*Refreshments courtesy of Kaldi’s Coffee and Eddie’s Southtown Donuts.

September 29-30 concerts honor the composer Ludwig van Beethoven. The program opens with Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture, inspired by Heinrich Joseph von Collin’s play “Coriolan,” which tells the story of the Roman general Gaius Marcius Coriolanus who seeks revenge against Rome. Korean composer Unsuk Chin’s subito con forza was composed in 2020, the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth. Inspired by the Coriolan Overture, the piece references some of Beethoven’s most well-known music, his Symphony No. 5 and Piano Concerto No. 5, which the SLSO will perform later this season.

Pianist Jonathan Biss collaborates with the SLSO for the first time in 15 years in Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1, the first of all five Beethoven piano concertos performed by the SLSO this season. One of today’s foremost Beethoven experts, Biss recorded an audio book, Unquiet: My Life with Beethoven, in 2020 where he details his complex relationship with the composer. Like Biss and Chin, the composer Robert Schumann took inspiration from Beethoven. In his Fourth Symphony, Schumann develops a motif throughout the four movements in a similar cyclic form to Beethoven’s works, and dramatic shifts in mood and dark orchestral textures reveal Beethoven’s influence.

SLSO at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 
Sunday, October 1, 3:00pm CDT
Krannert Center for Performing Arts at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 
500 S Goodwin Ave, Urbana, Illinois, 61801 

Denève, Biss, and the SLSO take the September 29-30 program to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Krannert Center for Performing Arts—the SLSO’s third visit to the university since Denève became Music Director.

The SLSO’s 144th season runs through May 2024. For more information, visit slso.org.

About the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

Celebrated as one of today’s most exciting and enduring orchestras, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is the second-oldest orchestra in the country, marking its 144th year with the 2023/2024 season and its fifth with Music Director Stéphane Denève. Widely considered one of the leading American orchestras, the Grammy® Award-winning SLSO maintains its commitment to artistic excellence, educational impact, and community collaborations—all in service to its mission of enriching lives through the power of music. 

The transformational expansion and renovation of its historic home, Powell Hall, slated to be completed in 2025, builds on the institution’s momentum as a civic leader in convening individuals, creators, and ideas, while fostering a culture welcoming to all. Committed to building community through compelling and inclusive musical experiences, the SLSO continues its longstanding focus on equity, diversity, inclusion, and access, embracing its strengths as a responsive, nimble organization, while investing in partnerships locally and elevating its presence globally. For more information, visit slso.org. 

About the University of Missouri–St. Louis Touhill Performing Arts Center

Designed by the renowned architectural firm I.M. Pei, Cobb, Freed and Partners, the Touhill Performing Arts Center is a landmark performance facility on the campus of the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL). The Touhill at UMSL hosts an average of 120 events, 200 performances, and 90,000 visitors per year.

The Touhill at UMSL staff manages several collaborative relationships and programs that, along with campus and community partners, to bring together a diverse season of dance, theatre, music, festivals, and special events.

Stifel Theatre interior

About Stifel Theatre

Stifel Theatre is a historic, 3,100 seat theatre in the heart of downtown St. Louis. Originally opened in 1934, Stifel Theatre’s stage has welcomed some of entertainment’s greatest performers and was the primary venue for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra from 1934-1968. Following a $78.7 million restoration, this historical gem has been restored to its original splendor and undergone state-of-the-art upgrades.

Stifel Theatre plays host to a wide variety of events, including concerts, comedies, theatricals, family shows, holiday productions and more.

Opera Theatre’s ‘Treemonisha’ Is A Transformative Triumph

Opera Theatre’s ‘Treemonisha’ Is A Transformative Triumph

By CB Adams

Opera Theatre of St. Louis’ season opener of a reimagined-yet-respectful version of Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha by composer Damien Sneed and librettist Karen Chilton is a transformative experience that beautifully balances theatrical spirit with artistic integrity.

It is an example of the power of art in general and opera in particular to serve as a  “moral instrument” (borrowing from Constantin Stanislavski) that ennobles the mind and spirit. My top take-away: It deserves sold-out status audiences for its entire run – no seat left behind.

This production of Treemonisha, occurs at a pitch-perfect moment in the St. Louis zeitgeist. The citywide triennial exhibit, Counterpublic, is weaving contemporary art into the life of St. Louis for three months to “reimagine civic infrastructures towards generational change.” In his introduction to the 285-page Counterpublic catalog, James McAnally (executive and artistic director and founder of St. Louis-based artist space The Luminary) explains that he envisions an exhibit that allies “itself with generational, cultural, economic, and civic change; a post-pandemic, post-uprising exhibition demanding that we, as arts workers and artists, do more to repair our broken world.”

Justin Austin as Scott Joplin in “Treemonisha.” Photo © Eric Woolsey

Counterpublic seeks to help initiate “concrete change” of the sort that Joplin was exploring more than a century ago in his original Treemonisha, a hybridized classical/ragtime opera that reveals a Wagnerian influence while also presaging  George Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess.” But Treemonisha, especially with this new version, proves the old Latin phrase true: “Art is long, life is short.” Joplin died too young at age 48 in 1917.

Treemonisha did not receive a real premiere until a 1972 production by the Afro-American Music Workshop of Morehouse College (though a New York Times piece states that it was performed at a theater in Bayonne, N.J. in 1913. Either way, it was a tragedy that Joplin didn’t get to see his magnum opus, his hoped-for recognition of ragtime as a new, American form of classical music.

Opera Theatre staged a successful production of this opera  23 years ago. I didn’t see that production, but this current iteration of Treemonisha stands as an engaging, exuberant example of what opera can achieve when all of its elements – direction, staging, casting, acting, singing passion – align. Such alignment is a rarity.

It’s the bane of my reviewing existence: why can’t it all be this good?  The obvious answer makes this production all the sweeter. It brings to mind something the novelist Julian Barnes wrote in “Levels of Life,” his memoir: “Opera cuts to the chase—as death does . . . [it is] an art which seeks, more obviously than any other form, to break your heart.”

KS. Tichina Vaughn as Monisha in “Treemonisha” Photo © Eric Woolsey

 My heart was broken, especially during Act V, during which the aging Scott Joplin character, sung with naked, wrenching emotion by baritone Justin Austin (who also plays Remus), reveals his frustration about his artistic legacy. Austin’s inspired performance proves how difficult it is to both sing with perfection while acting with authenticity – and how marvelous when achieved. To best describe Austin’s artistic feat, I rely on a quote by Marina Abramović in “Last Days of the Opera” by the Viennese critic Karl Kraus: “You can go so deep into a performance that you become one with the character and create a charismatic state of unity with the public.”

Austin’s so-deep achievement is matched nearly across the board by the rest of the cast, and especially by soprano Brandie Inez Sutton (making her Opera Theatre debut) as both Freddie Alexander Joplin and Tremonisha (look for the moment when the origin of her name is revealed). As Act II (and the original opera itself) begins, it’s clear that this is really the eponymous Treemonisha’s story about an educated Black woman who guides her fellow small-town citizens, (persecuted by endemic racism and poverty) away from ignorance and superstition and toward an enlightened self-worth and self-reliance. With considerable stage presence, Sutton reveals her heroic character as sweet but strong, simple but literate, and humble but exalted – all while proving she can sing!

Balancing the deep characters of Remus and Treemonisha, are the conjurer Zodzetrick, played imposingly and malevolently by Phillip Bullock (making his OTSL debut), and Parson Alltalk, played by entertainingly by Markel Reed. Zodzetrick and Alltalk are not as three-dimensional (they can’t all be) as Remus and Treemonisha, but as performed with the adroitness of Bullock and Reed, they are nonetheless essential to Joplin’s story and his use of many musical styles.

Deserving equal bill are the performances by Amani Cole-Felder as Lovie Alexander and Lucy, KS. Tichina Vaughn as Monisha and Normal Garrett as Ned – the latter two also making their OTSL debuts.

Maestro George Manahan directs the orchestra, composed of members of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, and delivers a deft, lively musical underpinning that adheres to the spirit of Joplin’s unique, profoundly expressive score. As serious as Treemonisha may seem in terms of story and subject matter, it beautifully and seamlessly integrates an appealing group of influences ranging from ragtime to spirituals, fiddle tunes and hymns, among others. The appeal of these influences is like what comedian Steve Martin has observed about banjo playing: “The banjo is such a happy instrument–you can’t play a sad song on the banjo – it always comes out so cheerful.” The same can be said for ragtime, and Treemonisha is the better for it.

The set design by Marsha Ginsberg is also noteworthy. It’s common for an opera to begin with a musical overture, but this production improves upon that with a visual overture. Against a gauzy scrim backdrop, there’s a shadow play that’s a visual highlight reel for the upcoming performance – and it’s brilliant. It established the right tone while setting a high bar for the rest of the performance.

Justin Austin as Remus and Brandie Inez Sutton as Treemonisha (center) and Jeremiah Tyson as Andy and Amani Cole-Felder as Lucy (right) in “Treemonisha.” Photo © Eric Woolsey

I also admired the Ginsberg’s use of black-painted barren tree trunks that bookend the performance, suspended above the stage. During intermission, the trees are lowered onto the stage. This “black forest” of trunks serves as a clever, subtle and effective scorched-earth metaphor for the post-Civil War, Reconstruction-era South in which this opera is set (and as written by an African American man who lived through it). 

There’s so much going for Treemonisha, and that includes the choreography (blending traditional and modern dance) by Maleek Washington. The dance elements are woven into the scenes and, though noteworthy, never overtly call attention to themselves, with the exception of a perplexing, show-offy “frolic of the bears” in Act II , which pulled me out of the scene.

An opera, no matter how passionately conceived, is like a discarded memory, an empty platform, merely marks on a manuscript. To bring it to life – or to give it continued life – requires production. With a commission by OTSL, Sneed, Chilton, stage director Rajendra Ramoon-Maharaj, the cast and all the other talents have taken Joplin’s platform (wrapping ragtime’s irresistible catchiness around his rage against time), extended it beyond a fine performance and ascended to theatrical art. 

Can an opera change the world? Let this production of Treemonisha inspire you to walk out of the Loretto Hilton Theater and begin to try, even if only in the “backyard” of St. Louis.

Opera Theatre’s Treemonisha continues at the Loretto-Hilton Center through June 24. For ticket information, visit opera-stl.org. For more information about Counterpublic 2023 civic exhibition, visit counterpublic.org

This review also appears on the KDHX website by mutual agreement.

Photo by Eric Woolsey

Subscription Tickets On Sale May 16 for Sheldon’s 2023-2024 Season

Subscription Tickets On Sale May 16 for Sheldon’s 2023-2024 Season

Line-Up Includes Rising Stars and Returning Favorites, Plus New Partnership with St. Louis Symphony – 

ST. LOUIS, MO – New subscription tickets for The Sheldon’s exciting 2023-2024 concert season go on sale Tuesday, May 16 at 10 a.m. through The Sheldon at 314-533-9900 or at TheSheldon.org. Concert packages start at $85 and offer an eclectic mix of artists and genres set in the acoustically-perfect and intimate Sheldon Concert Hall.  Signature series including The Sheldon Rhythm & Jazz, Sheldon Folk, Coffee Concerts and the Whitaker World Music Concerts return, along with an expanded classical music series – St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO): Live at The Sheldon – debuting in partnership with the SLSO.  

Highlights for the season include modern jazz great Christian McBride and Inside Straight featuring St. Louis favorite, Peter Martin; alt-country originators The Jayhawks; mandolin wizard Sam Bush; dynamic Afro-Cuban percussionist Pedrito Martinez; bluegrass and world music superstars Béla Fleck, Zakir Hussain, Edgar Meyer and Rakesh Chaurasia; Eliades Ochoa, an original member of the famed Buena Vista Social Club; rising bluegrass star Sierra Hull; and many more. The series also showcases local favorites including jazz vocalist Denise Thimes, swing band Sweetie and the Toothaches anda Christmas concert withsaxophonist Kendrick Smith. 

Bela Fleck

The Friends of The Sheldon fall benefit will see the return of Grammy-winning roots artist Rhiannon Giddens, 2023 Pulitzer Prize winner, co-founder of the Carolina Chocolate Drops and McArthur Genius Grant recipient.

The Sheldon is also pleased to announce an expanded classical music series in partnership with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Curated and performed by SLSO musicians, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra: Live at The Sheldon series will give classical music fans a rare chance to see their favorite SLSO musicians in an intimate setting, performing new and beloved chamber works in The Sheldon’s perfect acoustics.  

Sheldon Rhythm & Jazz series tickets are $180 orchestra / $164 balcony; Sheldon Folk series tickets are $210 orchestra /  

$190 balcony; St. Louis Symphony: Live at The Sheldon series tickets are $175 orchestra/$153.75 balcony 1 / $132.50 balcony 2, and Coffee Concerts are $85 orchestra / $70 balcony.  

Single tickets go on sale Friday, August 4 at 10 a.m. through MetroTix at 314-534-1111 or at TheSheldon.org.     

SHELDON RHYTHM & JAZZ 


Subscription Price: $180 orchestra/$164 balcony (Best Value!) 

Pedrito Martinez                                                                                                             Saturday, October 14, 2023 at 8 p.m. 

$50 orchestra / $45 balcony 1 / $40 balcony 2 / $15 student 

Brad Mehldau Trio                                                                                                          Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at 8 p.m. 

$50 orchestra / $45 balcony 1 / $40 balcony 2 / $15 student  

John Pizzarelli and Catherine Russell                                                                      Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 8 p.m. 

Two Legendary Singers Share the Stage 

$50 orchestra / $45 balcony 1 / $40 balcony 2 / $15 student 

Christian McBride and Inside Straight                                                                     Friday, May 24, 2024 at 8 p.m. 

$50 orchestra / $45 balcony 1 / $40 balcony 2 / $15 student 

Rhythm & Jazz is sponsored by Steward Family Foundation  |  Welcomed by 88.7 The Sound 

SHELDON FOLK 

Subscription Price: $210 orchestra/$190 balcony (Best Value!)

The Black Opry Revue                                                                                                   Friday, October 6, 2023 at 8 p.m. 

$45 orchestra / $40 balcony 1 / $35 balcony 2  

Hasta La Muerte: A Day Of The Dead Show by Las Cafeteras                       Wednesday, November 8, 2023 at 8 p.m. 

$45 orchestra / $40 balcony 1 / $35 balcony 2 

Sam Bush Band                                                                                                                 Friday, February 9, 2024 at 8 p.m. 

$50 orchestra / $45 balcony 1 / $40 balcony 2  

Sierra Hull                                                                                                                          Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 8 p.m. 

$45 orchestra / $40 balcony 1 / $35 balcony 2 

The Jayhawks                                                                                                                    Friday, April 19, 2024 at 8 p.m. 

$50 orchestra / $45 balcony 1 / $40 balcony 2 

WHITAKER WORLD MUSIC CONCERTS 

Béla Fleck, Zakir Hussain, Edgar Meyer and Rakesh Chaurasia                    Friday, November 3, 2023 at 8 p.m. 

$55 orchestra / $50 balcony 1 / $45 balcony 2 / $15 student 

Eliades Ochoa                                                                                                                    Saturday, March 9, 2024 at 8 p.m. 

$45 orchestra / $40 balcony 1 / $35 balcony 2 / $15 student 

Oumou Sangaré                                                                                                               Saturday, April 13, 2024 at 8 p.m. 

 $45 orchestra / $40 balcony 1 / $35 balcony 2 / $15 student 

Made possible by the W H I T A K E R F O U N D A T I O N

St Louis Symphony Orchestra

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra: Live at The Sheldon 

Subscription Price: $175 orchestra/$153.75 balcony 1/$132.50 balcony 2 (Best Value!) 


Valerie Coleman and Louis Spohr: Winds with Strings                            Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 7:30 p.m.  

$41 orchestra / $36 balcony 1 / $31 balcony 2 / $10 student 

Schubert, Jessie Montgomery, Christian Quiñones: Strings                    Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at 7:30 p.m.  

 $41 orchestra / $36 balcony 1 / $31 balcony 2 / $10 student 

Ravel and Dvořák: Strings with Piano                                                    Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. 

$41 orchestra / $36 balcony 1 / $31 balcony 2 / $10 student 

Stravinsky, Martinů, and Shannon Wood: Percussion Spotlight              Wednesday, March 6, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. 

 $41 orchestra / $36 balcony 1 / $31 balcony 2 / $10 student 

Beethoven and Hindemith: Horns with Strings                                      Sunday, April  7, 2024 at 3 p.m. 

 $41 orchestra / $36 balcony 1 / $31 balcony 2 / $10 student 

Sheldon Classics is sponsored by the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation  |  Welcomed by Classic 107.3 

COFFEE CONCERTS 

Subscription Price: $85 orchestra/$70 balcony (Tuesday mornings only) (Best Value!)  

Denise Thimes                                                                                                                  Tues. & Wed., October 10 & 11, 2023 

$23 orchestra / $20 balcony 

Christmas with Kendrick Smith                                                                                  Tues. & Wed., December 12 & 13, 2023 

$23 orchestra / $20 balcony 

Eleanor & Dario:                                                                                                               Tues. & Wed., February 20 & 21, 2024 

A Trip Around the World  

$23 orchestra / $20 balcony 

Steve Neale & Ben Nordstrom: We’re Not Cool                                                 Tues.** & Wed., March 12 & 13, 2024 

$23 orchestra / $20 balcony  

Sweetie and The Toothaches                                                                                      Tues.** & Wed., April 16 & 17, 2024 

$23 orchestra / $20 balcony 

SPECIAL CONCERTS 

Friends of The Sheldon benefit featuring
Rhiannon Giddens                                                                                                          Thursday, September 14, 2023 at 8 p.m. 

Patron tickets: $175 Patron  |  Concert-only tickets: $66 orchestra / $56 balcony 1 / $46 balcony 2 

All prices include a $1 per ticket historic preservation fee. 

SLSO and In Unison Chorus to Celebrate Robert Ray in Concert May 1

SLSO and In Unison Chorus to Celebrate Robert Ray in Concert May 1

THE ST. LOUIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND IN UNISON CHORUS CELEBRATE THE LEGACY OF FOUNDING IUC DIRECTOR DR. ROBERT RAY AT TRIBUTE CONCERT, MAY 1, AT POWELL HALL

The IN UNISON Chorus and SLSO musicians will be joined by ensembles connected to Ray, including IN UNISON Chorus alumni, The Legend Singers, the UMSL Community Choir, and the choirs of Manchester United Methodist Church and Webster Groves Presbyterian Church, led by IN UNISON Chorus Director Kevin McBeth and guest conductor Dr. Brandon Boyd

This community concert is free, tickets are required

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and its IN UNISON Chorus will pay tribute to the life and legacy of Dr. Robert Ray in a free community concert at Powell Hall on Monday, May 1, 2023. Ray was the founding director of the IN UNISON Chorus, a resident SLSO chorus that specializes in the performance and preservation of music from the African diaspora. He passed away in December 2022 at age 76.

The concert celebrates Ray’s many contributions to the country’s arts and music landscape, featuring the IN UNISON Chorus, SLSO musicians, vocalists Denise Thimes and Jermaine Smith, and singers from ensembles impacted by Ray’s signature musicianship, led by current chorus director Kevin McBeth and guest conductor Dr. Brandon Boyd.

The concert is Monday, May 1, at 7:30pm. Free tickets can be reserved by visiting slso.org.

Dr Robert Ray

Marie-Hélène Bernard, President and CEO of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, said, “Dr. Robert Ray was a trailblazer—a brilliant musician and educator with a heart for the St. Louis community. His formation and leadership of the IN UNISON Chorus, and his devotion to its evolution as an essential choral group in the region, is one of countless legacies he leaves. We are honored to pay tribute to his legacy with the IN UNISON Chorus and Director Kevin McBeth.”

With unwavering dedication, Ray led the ensemble from its formation in 1994 through 2010, shaping its distinct sound and deep artistic profile. In addition to his wholehearted leadership of the IN UNISON Chorus for 16 years, Ray was a gifted composer and teacher, guiding many young musicians into their careers as a professor first at the University of Illinois, and most recently at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. His music filled many spaces, from local churches all the way to Carnegie Hall. Many of his compositions blended elements of music from the African diaspora with traditional classical forms, resulting in pieces with a singular voice. The SLSO and IN UNISON Chorus have performed selections from Ray’s Gospel Mass many times since its SLSO premiere in December 1996.

The free community concert highlights Ray’s career as a composer, director, and educator. More than 200 singers from various ensembles impacted by Ray will collaborate on the concert, including the IN UNISON Chorus and IUC alumni, The Legend Singers, the UMSL Community Choir, and the choirs of Manchester United Methodist Church and Webster Groves Presbyterian Church. Current IN UNISON Chorus Director Kevin McBeth will lead the concert alongside Dr. Brandon Boyd, a protégé of Ray’s and the Assistant Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education at the University of Missouri. Boyd’s I’ll Fly Away and Sign Me Up will be performed. The concert includes music by John Rutter, whose music Ray championed during his career. The performance includes selections from Ray’s own Gospel Mass—a landmark work that has been performed in Carnegie Hall—with well-known local vocalists Denise Thimes and Jermaine Smith, as well as Ray’s He Never Failed Me Yet. Throughout the concert, family, friends, and past and present IN UNISON Chorus members will remember Ray through song, poetry, and spoken word.

John RUTTER                                           Selections from Suite Antique

Brandon BOYD                                       I’ll Fly Away

Evelyn SIMPSON-CURENTON            O Glory

Jeffrey AMES                                          In Remembrance

Isaac CATES                                             It’s Working

Brandon BOYD                                       Sign Me Up

Robert RAY                                              Selections from Gospel Mass

Robert RAY                                              He Never Failed Me Yet

About the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

Celebrated as a leading American orchestra, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is the second-oldest orchestra in the country, marking its 143rd year with the 2022/2023 season and its fourth with Music Director Stéphane Denève. The SLSO maintains its commitment to artistic excellence, educational impact, and community collaborations, honoring its mission of enriching lives through the power of music.

The SLSO serves as a convener of individuals, creators, and ideas, and is committed to building community through compelling and inclusive musical experiences. As it continues its longstanding focus on equity, diversity, inclusion, and access, the SLSO embraces its strengths as a responsive, nimble organization, while investing in partnerships locally and elevating its presence globally. For more information, visit slso.org.

About the St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus

The St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus is an auditioned ensemble of 100+ volunteer singers that performs a variety of musical styles, with a focus on the interpretation, performance, and preservation of music from the African diaspora.

Founded in 1994 by Dr. Robert Ray as an extension of the SLSO’s IN UNISON community outreach initiative, the IN UNISON Chorus performs several times each year with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and throughout the community. Chorus members often come from IN UNISON Program partner churches. Many chorus members sing in other vocal ensembles or church choirs. All share a love of music and of singing.

Bayer Fund has supported the Chorus since its inception. The Chorus has been led by Kevin McBeth since 2011. Learn more about the IN UNISON Chorus at slso.org.

IN UNISON CHORUS

St Louis Symphony Orchestra Announces Changes for Feb 10-11, Feb 18-19

St Louis Symphony Orchestra Announces Changes for Feb 10-11, Feb 18-19

Grammy Award-nominated violinist Tessa Lark makes her SLSO debut on short notice in February 18-19 program, performing works by Ernest Chausson and Maurice Ravel

(February 8, 2023, St. Louis, MO) – Today, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra announced artist and repertoire changes to its February 10-11 and February 18-19 concerts at Powell Hall. Due to illness, violinist Nicola Benedetti is unable to perform with the SLSO over the next two weeks. Benedetti was originally scheduled to perform James MacMillan’s Second Violin Concerto on February 10-11, and the Wynton Marsalis’ Violin Concerto on February 18-19.

With Benedetti’s withdrawal, the February 10-11 concerts, conducted by Sir James MacMillan, will now open with Felix Mendelssohn’s The Hebrides (Fingal’s Cave). The remainder of the previously announced program will still be performed: the SLSO premiere of MacMillan’s The World’s Ransoming featuring SLSO English horn player Cally Banham; Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s Russian Easter Overture; and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Francesca da Rimini.

In the February 18-19 program, Grammy Award-nominated violinist Tessa Lark makes her SLSO debut, stepping in for Benedetti on short notice, with concerts led by SLSO Music Director Stéphane Denève. An Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient, Lark will perform Ernest Chausson’s Poème and Maurice Ravel’s Tzigane, transforming the concerts into an all-French program. The program also includes Claude Debussy’s Scottish March on a Popular Theme and Ibéria from Images and Maurice Ravel’s La Valse. Lark was nominated for a 2020 Grammy Award for her performance of Michael Torke’s violin concerto, Sky, with the Albany Symphony Orchestra.

Both Saturday night concerts will be broadcast live on 90.7 FM KWMU St. Louis Public Radio, Classic 107.3, or online (stlpr.org). Audiences can attend a Pre-Concert Conversation, an engaging discussion about the music and artists on the program, one hour prior to each classical concert in the auditorium. 

Tickets start at $15 and are on sale now at slso.org or by calling the Box Office at 314-534-1700.

Calendar listings:

Friday, February 10, 2023, 7:30pm CST

Saturday, February 11, 2023, 8:00pm CST

Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO


Sir James MacMillan, conductor (SLSO debut)

Cally Banham, English horn


Felix MENDELSSOHN                            The Hebrides (Fingal’s Cave)

James MacMILLAN                               The World’s Ransoming (First SLSO performances)

Nikolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV               Russian Easter Overture

Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY                  Francesca da Rimini

Saturday, February 18, 2023, 10:30am CST 

Sunday, February 19, 2023, 3:00pm CST 

Stéphane Denève, conductor 

Tessa Lark, violin (SLSO debut)

Claude DEBUSSY                                    Scottish March on a Popular Theme  
Ernest CHAUSSON                                 Poème

Maurice RAVEL                                       Tzigane 
Claude DEBUSSY                          Ibéria  
Maurice RAVEL                                La Valse  

About the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

Celebrated as a leading American orchestra, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is the second-oldest orchestra in the country, marking its 143rd year with the 2022/2023 season and its fourth with Music Director Stéphane Denève. The SLSO maintains its commitment to artistic excellence, educational impact, and community collaborations, honoring its mission of enriching lives through the power of music.

The SLSO serves as a convener of individuals, creators, and ideas, and is committed to building community through compelling and inclusive musical experiences. As it continues its longstanding focus on equity, diversity, inclusion, and access, the SLSO embraces its strengths as a responsive, nimble organization, while investing in partnerships locally and elevating its presence globally. For more information, visit slso.org.

Symphony, Shelea and IN UNISON Chorus Deliver a Spirited and Spiritual Gospel Concert

Symphony, Shelea and IN UNISON Chorus Deliver a Spirited and Spiritual Gospel Concert

By CB Adams

On the 1988 U2 album “Rattle and Hum,” singer Bono introduced the band’s cover of “Helter Skelter” by saying, “This is a song Charles Manson stole from the Beatles. We’re stealing it back.” Although “Helter Skelter” may seem a strange way to begin a review of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s Dec. 15 performance of A Gospel Christmas, it’s actually an apt comparison. The tsunami of seasonal carols and jingles that retailers start blasting in early fall threatens to steal our attention from the hymns and ecclesiastical music that examines – if not downright proclaims – the “reason for the season.”

A show like A Gospel Christmas aims to steal back holiday music – at least for one performance a year. The songs, like Michael Lawrence’s “Carol of Christmas,” Camille Saint-Saens’ “Praise Ye, the Lord of Hosts,” and the traditional “The First Noel” resonate more fully than songs about flying reindeer, mommy kissing Santa Claus or little fir trees who cry so much.

To borrow a quote from Stephen Hill, the host of the long-running radio program Hearts of Space, hymns “engage us on a deeper, more internal level when we simply open ourselves to the sound and listen with the heart.”

Kevin McBeth

There’s an unmatched power and vibrancy of human voices raised en masse, and the St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus transformed Powell Hall into a sanctuary of soulful celebration. Conducted by Kevin McBeth, A Gospel Christmas was really three concerts woven into one. The IN UNISON Chorus provided the lion’s share of performances with songs that included the “Hallelujah” from Handel’s Messiah: A Soulful Celebration,” the traditional “Beautiful City” and Kirk Franklin’s “Silver and Gold.”

Among all the excellent voices contributing to IN UNISON, the program included outstanding solos by several members, including soprano De-Rance Blaylock who performed “God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman” and countertenor Tai Oney who performed “Mary Had A Baby.” “Praise Ye, The Lord of Hosts” from Saint-Saëns’ “Christmas Oratorio” received a rousing performance from IN UNISON’s Men’s Glee Club.

Early in the show, McBeth announced that IN UNISON’s founding director, Dr. Robert Ray, had passed away that day. Ray led the ensemble from its formation in 1994 through 2010 and shaped its distinct sound as it evolved into an essential choral group in the region. The evening was dedicated to Ray and celebrated his vision for the chorus, many members of which come from the IN UNISON Program partner churches.

Shelea

The second concert within a concert was a sprinkling of songs by American singer, songwriter and pianist Sheléa Frazier, known professionally by the single moniker Sheléa. With a reputation as a “singer’s singer,” Sheléa has also portrayed gospel singer Dorinda Clark Cole in the 2020 Lifetime biopic, “The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel.”

Both the IN UNISON Chorus and Sheléa could have carried the show singly, the combination, along with the SLSO, provided a lively cadence and welcome variety of material. Sheléa sauntered easily through chestnuts like Mel Torme’s “The Christmas Song” and Vince Guaraldi’s “Christmas Time Is Here” as well as one of her own compositions, the delightful “Don’t Wanna Wait ‘Til Christmas.”

Balancing out the program was the SLSO, which swelled Powell with wordless wonders such as the traditional “Overture of Joy (A Christmas Melody)” and Hugh Martin’s “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.”

In this season of aural plentitude, A Gospel Christmas provided a welcome respite from the jingle-jangle of more commercial holiday music – made all the more precious by both its impressive quality and one-night-only scarcity. I was reminded of an Elton John quote, “When in doubt, write a hymn.” To which I would add, “And then sing it out loud.” By the end of A Gospel Christmas, I felt that I had been satisfyingly “churched” and yearned to shout out, “Say amen, somebody!”

Popster Picks for Weekend Oct 28-30

Popster Picks for Weekend Oct 28-30

By Lynn Venhaus

What a weekend ahead – especially all the festivities to celebrate Halloween. Here’ s a round-up of events, movies, music, TV and more.

Local Spotlight: Our National Landmark

Our Gateway Arch was completed on Oct. 28 in 1965. America’s tallest monument, The Gateway to the West, the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, is the grand symbol of our region and riverfront.

I was 10 when they put the final link in place. Now it’s 57! I remember coming home from college, and as soon as I saw the Arch, I knew I was home.

Here’s more from the History Channel about this day in history: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history


Movies: Slashfest at the Skyview Drive-In

Belleville Oct. 28 and 29, box office opens at 6 p.m.

Screen 1 – Family Slashfest – Hotel Transylvania PG 8:00 and Gremlins 2 PG13 9:40              Midnight – Rocky Horror Picture Show

Screen 2 – Hardcore Slashfest – Texas Chainsaw Massacre R 7:15, Friday the 13th 7: New Blood R 8:50, The Fog R 10:25 and Killer Klowns from Outer Space R 12:00

They will start the Hardcore Slashfest at 7:15 and the Family Slashfest will start at 8:00.  This is so they can play four movies on the Hardcore side. At midnight, you can choose to stay on screen 2 or move up to screen 1 to see RHPS.


Live and Local: Saint Charles Legends & Lanterns® is taking over Main Street this weekend – Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.  

More info: https://www.discoverstcharles.com/events/legends-lanterns/

Local Content: Broken Strings

The first episode of a planned local series on artists’ journeys as they search for harmony will be screened at The .ZACK, 3224 Locust Avenue, at 7 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday.

Created as a part of the Kranzberg Artist in Residency program, writer/director Catherine Dudley-Rose has gathered multiple local artists and activists. First one features Dr. Marty K. Casey, Don McClendon, Sydney Russell, and Chrissie Watkins along with supporting cast. Crew: cinematography by Mallory Ingles, edited by Abbey Heise, sound by Bailey Hilmes and assisted by Once Films, and the Regional Arts Commission. Find out more about the development of this community series and how you can participate. Tickets are $15.

More info: https://www.kranzbergartsfoundation.org/events/broken-strings-preview-screenings/

Live: St. Louis Symphony Orchestra “Psycho”

Oct. 30, 7 p.m., Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd.

SLSO is checking into the Bates Motel as Alfred Hitchcock’s classic psychological thriller “Psycho” will be on the big screen, and they will play Bernard Herrmann’s suspenseful score – with its shrieking strings and slashing chords – live.

Beforehand, a costume contest will take place in the foyer, with prizes for best overall, scariest and most creative.

Tickets: https://shop.slso.org/7612

Streaming: “Stars at Noon” on Hulu

Here’s PopLifeSTL film critic Alex McPherson’s review of “Stars at Noon,” currently streaming on Hulu.

‘Stars at Noon’ Is A Provocative, Challenging Love Story

TV Movies: Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas

Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night, there is a new Christmas film to view. Here’s this weekend’s line-up:

Friday – A Cozy Christmas Inn
Saturday – Jolly Good Christmas
Sunday – Ghost of Christmas Always

Movie: “Decision to Leave”

Now playing at Plaza Frontenac, writer-director Park Chan-wook’s mystery-thriller uses his distinct visual style to weave a love story and murder case, with flashes of Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” and using nature as a character. The official South Korean selection for the Oscar’s Best International Feature, this will indeed be in the awards conversation at year’s end. Park won best director for this at the Cannes Film Festival in May.

Here’s my review in the Webster-Kirkwood Times:

https://www.timesnewspapers.com/webster-kirkwoodtimes/arts_and_entertainment/reel_world/decision-to-leave/article_d7231646-56e5-11ed-b004-9be9c42616d1.html


TV Mini-Series: “The White Lotus,” season 2

Sunday, 8 p.m., HBO

We move on to Sicily this time, for a take on the staff at an upscale resort and the wealthy guests who stay there. Cast includes Aubrey Plaza, F. Murray Abraham, Michael Imperioli, and Haley Lu Richardson, with Jennifer Coolidge reprising her role as the ditzy socialite Tanya McQuoid.

Playlist: Million Dollar Quartet

With the death of Jerry Lee Lewis Friday, one of the pioneers of rock ‘n roll, I am reminded of the one historic night where Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, and Lewis gathered at Sun Studios in Memphis for one heckuva recording session on Dec. 4, 1956.

The basis for a 20120 jukebox musical

It has played at the Fox Theatre (2013) and at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (, and will be part of Stages St. Louis’ 37th season next summer. Here is the Broadway cast performing at the 2010 Tony Awards. Levi Kreis, who played Jerry Lee Lewis, won the Tony for best featured actor in a musical.

Word: Stephen King

“We make up horrors to help us cope with the real ones.”

Symphony and Chorus Deliver Emotional, Cathartic Performance of Poulenc and Others

Symphony and Chorus Deliver Emotional, Cathartic Performance of Poulenc and Others

By CB Adams

It goes against form to start a symphony review (or any review for that matter) by pointing out the limits of words to describe a performance. Even the inestimable writer Virginia Woolf, when attempting to describe paintings in a 1920s essay, wrote, “But words, words! How inadequate you are! How weary one gets of you.” If words can fail the masterful Woolf, there’s not much hope for the rest of us – though she more than adequately spent the rest of the essay brilliantly describing the art, anyway.

Still, words are our medium. Thus, perhaps the best that can be said for the Friday, Oct. 21 performance of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, directed by Stéphane Denève, is: You had to be there. The same could no doubt be said for the Oct. 22 performance, too.

If you were there, you know how the orchestra, along with the SLSO Chorus, performed a powerfully emotional quadtych of complementary compositions (two by Francis Poulenc, and one each by Florent Schmitt and Reena Esmail). Denève has an avowed passion for Poulenc, a sentiment he reinforced in his introduction to the evening’s performance. “I looooove Poulenc!” he proclaimed from the podium.

Poulenc comprised the second half of the evening’s bill, and Denève avoided giving the Schmitt and Esmail compositions short shrift by describing the interconnected themes of love, faith, dedication and sacrifice. The well-considered choices to explore these themes added up to an entirely fulfilling and engaging experience while locally premiering Esmail’s “Testament” (From “Vishwas”) and the 12-movement “Stabat Mater” by Poulenc.

Jeanine De Bique

The strength of this concert was, at a macro level, the focus on love, faith, dedication and sacrifice. That focus was often filtered through a religious perspective. “Testament,” the final movement of a three-part composition for classical Indian dancer and orchestra, illuminates the fervent belief and hunger strike of a 15th-century poet.

Schmitt’s “The Tragedy of Salome,” is a symphonic suite that presents the sacrifice of virginal innocence, exemplified by its femme fatale protagonist, Salome of Biblical fame. The piece climaxes with a Stravinskian crash in the “Dance of Fear” movement.

Poulenc’s “Stabat Mater” uses the setting of a 13th-century hymn in Latin to the Blessed Virgin Mary’s reaction to the crucifixion of Jesus. The final scene from his opera “Dialogues of the Carmelites” presents a cast of nuns conversing about “anguish, fear, and the human condition.” It ends with their systematic beheadings, complete with guillotine sound effect.

Heavy stuff – indeed. But words fall short of the ultimately cathartic and uplifting nature of the SLSO’s performance. It was akin to attending a Greek tragedy. As Friedrich Nietzsche has observed: experiencing tragedy through art can lead to a meaningful affirmation of our own existence.

The success of this slate of compositions relies on the pieces themselves, the interplay of styles, themes and influences, and the performance by the SLSO and chorus. The sequence of pieces began with a religious person’s hunger strike, continued with the decapitation of John the Baptist, focused on the intense loss of Jesus’ crucifixion and concluded with the execution of 16 nuns. Although this description might sound unappealingly grisly, it was anything but. In sum, it was a satisfying, cerebral experience.

The orchestra, under Denève’s direction, was clean, confident and balanced – as usual. The “exotic” elements in the Esmail and Schmitt compositions were not exaggerated. Neither were the 16 uses of the guillotine sound effect during the “Dialogues of the Carmelites.” The effect was quite similar to the one used during The Muny’s production of “Sweeney Todd” this past summer.  

The addition of the chorus, guest directed by Scott Allen Jarrett, for the Poulenc pieces was a welcome addition and filled the stage with an aural presence that only a large choir can bring.

Reena Esmail

The highlight of the performance was certainly the SLSO debut of soprano Jeanine De Bique. Clad in blood red gown among the more soberly black dress of the rest of the musicians, De Bique delivered a beautiful and commanding performance, especially during the “Stabat Mater.”

The choice of works was innovative and balanced, and it certainly fits within this season’s overarching goal of journeying the world through music – compositions and musicians.

Through the fervency expressed in the works individually stood on their own, it was the cohesive ways the fit together to create a whole experience that proved most successful.