ST. LOUIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ANNOUNCES TWO-WEEK CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL AT POWELL HALL, OCTOBER 28-NOVEMBER 8; ONE-NIGHT-ONLY SCREENING OF
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
[October 20, 2020]
Contacts: St. Louis Symphony Orchestra: Eric Dundon ericd@slso.org, 314-286-4134
National/International: Nikki Scandalios nikki@scandaliospr.com, 704-340-4094
ST. LOUIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ANNOUNCES TWO-WEEK CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
AT POWELL HALL, OCTOBER 28-NOVEMBER 8; ONE-NIGHT-ONLY SCREENING OF
BEETLEJUICE ON NOVEMBER 6; PLUS RETURN OF CHAMBER ORCHESTRA CONCERTS WITH
MUSIC DIRECTOR STÉPHANE DENÈVE, NOVEMBER 13-21
Tickets now on sale for the two-week, 12-concert festival that spotlights SLSO musicians in small
ensembles, with works by Barber, Valerie Coleman, Debussy, Gabriela Lena Frank, Katherine
Hoover, Ibert, Ligeti, Missy Mazzoli, Mendelssohn, Jessie Montgomery, Ravel, Schoenberg,
Schubert, Caroline Shaw, Richard Strauss, Tailleferre, Tchaikovsky, and Shelley Washington
Powell Hall returns to its movie theatre roots for a screening of Beetlejuice, with tickets only $16
(October 20, 2020, St. Louis, MO) – Today, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra announced more live
concerts at Powell Hall as part of its fall season: two weeks of chamber music performances (October
28 through November 8), a movie screening of Beetlejuice (November 6), and two more weeks of
chamber orchestra concerts with Music Director Stéphane Denève (November 13-21). The
announcement comes on the heels of the successful return of live concerts at the 141-year-old
orchestra’s home in Grand Center, led by Denève, and spotlights the virtuosity and versatility of SLSO
musicians through these intimate, small-scale concerts.
Tickets are on sale now for the chamber music concerts at $25 and $45 and for the film at $16 and
may be purchased by calling the SLSO Box Office at 314-534-1700. Tickets for the chamber orchestra
concerts go on sale October 28.
The two-week chamber music festival includes 12 performances held on Wednesdays through
Sundays by a variety of small ensembles, including strings and winds, of up to eight SLSO musicians.
Programs—with works suggested by SLSO musicians—reflect Denève’s original vision for the season
of sparking dialogue, elevating voices, and celebrating equality, with repertoire that spans genre and
time. Performances showcase works by composers including Barber, Debussy, Ibert, Ligeti, Missy
Mazzoli, Mendelssohn, Ravel, Schoenberg, Schubert, Caroline Shaw, Richard Strauss, Tchaikovsky,
Shelley Washington, and Jessie Montgomery, whose Starburst was the first piece performed live by
the SLSO in its return to Powell Hall October 15-18, led by Denève. Chamber music concerts also
feature several composers whose works are being performed by the SLSO for the first time:
composer/flutist Valerie Coleman, composer/pianist Gabriela Lena Frank, composer/flutist Katherine
Hoover, and the noted 20th-century French composer Germaine Tailleferre.
1Capacity has been increased slightly since the hall reopened to 150 people per concert. Additionally,
the SLSO plans to make selections from these performances accessible to patrons via on-demand
streaming later this fall. Program notes for these concerts will be available on SLSO Stories.
On November 6, Powell Hall returns to its roots as a movie theatre for a one-night-only showing of
the 1988 cult fantasy-comedy film, Beetlejuice, with Danny Elfman’s celebrated score. This
presentation does not feature the SLSO.
Additional in-person events are being planned for later this fall. These include chamber orchestra
concerts at Powell Hall from November 13 through November 21, led by Denève. Details about those
events will be announced as they are confirmed. The SLSO’s 20/21 Classical season is sponsored by
the Steward Family Foundation.
The SLSO has worked with a team of infectious disease specialists led by Drs. Stephen Liang and
Abigail Carlson of the Washington University School of Medicine to develop concert protocols that
adhere to the highest standards of health and safety for patrons, musicians, and staff. This plan,
approved by St. Louis City, includes a socially distanced seat map, and requires audience members,
staff, and string players of the orchestra to wear masks at all times. Based on current guidance from
the city and the SLSO medical team, Powell Hall has been approved for a 300-person capacity per
concert. Out of an abundance of caution, the SLSO has capped each concert at 150 people per
concert. Learn more about the SLSO’s health and safety protocols for concerts here.
These concerts and events are the latest way the SLSO is connecting with the St. Louis community this
fall. The orchestra resumed concerts in Powell Hall, led by Music Director Stéphane Denève, on
October 15. Previously, musicians gave almost 50 small outdoor concerts through SLSO On the Go
throughout the St. Louis region. Performances shared online include Songs of America, a series of
performances celebrating American voices in collaboration with St. Louis landmarks, and a
collaboration with the Pulitzer Arts Foundation, a video continuation of the popular St. Louis
Symphony: Live at the Pulitzer series. Broadcasts of SLSO concerts continue on St. Louis Public Radio
(Saturday nights at 8:00pm on 90.7 KWMU) and the Nine Network (first Sunday of each month at
5:00pm on Channel 9). Regular virtual events present in-depth panel discussions with SLSO leaders,
musicians, and collaborating artists. The SLSO’s Education Team created a series of resources,
including the interactive Instrument Playground Online, to support teachers and help parents keep
students engaged in music outside of the traditional classroom. SLSO Stories, the SLSO’s digital
magazine, keeps patrons up to date on the latest photos, videos, and stories about the SLSO in Powell
Hall and in the community. Learn more about the SLSO’s fall season here.
Calendar listings
Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence
Wednesday, October 28, 7:30pm
Friday, November 6, 11:00am
2Kristin Ahlstrom, violin
Ann Fink, violin
Michael Casimir, viola
Shannon Farrell Williams, viola
Melissa Brooks, cello
Bjorn Ranheim, cello
Shelley WASHINGTON Middleground
TCHAIKOVSKY Souvenir de Florence
Night Music
Thursday, October 29, 7:30pm
Saturday, November 7, 7:30pm
Erin Schreiber, violin
Hannah Ji, violin
Shawn Weil, violin
Beth Guterman Chu, viola
Leonid Plashinov-Johnson, viola
Melissa Brooks, cello
Bjorn Ranheim, cello
R. STRAUSS Sextet from Capriccio
Missy MAZZOLI Vespers for Violin
SCHOENBERG Verklärte Nacht (Transfigured Night)
Debussy and Ravel
Friday, October 30, 11:00am
Thursday, November 5, 7:30pm
Allegra Lilly, harp
Jennifer Nitchman, flute
Ryan Toher, clarinet
Eva Kozma, violin
Rebecca Boyer Hall, violin
Chris Tantillo, viola
Alvin McCall, cello
3Katherine HOOVER Reflections
DEBUSSY Sonata for Flute, Viola, and Harp
TAILLEFERRE Sonata for Harp
RAVEL Introduction & Allegro
Schubert’s Octet
Friday, October 30, 7:30pm
Wednesday, November 4, 7:30pm
Alison Harney, violin
Angie Smart, violin
Chris Tantillo, viola
Jennifer Humphreys, cello
Ronald Moberly, double bass
Diana Haskell, clarinet
Andrew Gott, bassoon
Victoria Knudtson, horn
Caroline SHAW Entr’acte
SCHUBERT Octet in F major (selections)
This program is presented by the Thomas A. Kooyumjian Family Foundation.
Mendelssohn, Montgomery, and Frank
Saturday, October 31, 11:00am
Sunday, November 8, 3:00pm
Xiaoxiao Qiang, violin
Jessica Cheng, violin
Andrea Jarrett, violin
Asako Kuboki, violin
Jonathan Chu, viola
Andrew François, viola
Jennifer Humphreys, cello
Alvin McCall, cello
Jessie MONTGOMERY Strum
4Gabriela Lena FRANK Leyendas: An Andean Walkabout (selections)
MENDELSSOHN Octet in E-flat major
Music for Winds
Sunday, November 1, 3:00pm
Saturday, November 7, 11:00am
Ann Choomack, flute
Cally Banham, oboe
Tzuying Huang, clarinet
Andrew Cuneo, bassoon
Julie Thayer, horn
IBERT Trois pièces brèves (Three Short Pieces)
BARBER Summer Music
LIGETI Six Bagatelles
Valerie COLEMAN Tzigane
Beetlejuice
Friday, November 6, 7:30pm
Film at Powell Hall: Beetlejuice
This presentation does not feature the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.
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 141st year with the 2020/2021
season and its second with Music Director Stéphane Denève. Widely considered one of the world’s
finest orchestras, the SLSO maintains its commitment to artistic excellence, educational impact, and
community connections—all in service to its mission of enriching lives through the power of music.
The SLSO musical family also includes two resident choruses: the St. Louis Symphony Chorus, founded
in 1976; and the St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus, an ensemble founded in 1994 and focused
on the music of African-American and African cultures. The SLSO family also includes the St. Louis
Symphony Youth Orchestra, founded by Conductor Laureate Leonard Slatkin in 1970.
In addition to its regular concert performances at Powell Hall, which has been the permanent home
of the SLSO for more than 50 years, the orchestra is an integral part of the diverse and vibrant St.
5Louis community, presenting dozens of free education and community programs and performances
throughout the region each year. It presents St. Louis Symphony: Live at the Pulitzer, a collaboration
with the Pulitzer Arts Foundation focused on music of today. The SLSO also serves as the resident
orchestra for Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, with the upcoming 2021 festival season marking the 44th
year of the partnership.
The Grammy Award-winning SLSO’s impact beyond the St. Louis region is realized through weekly
Saturday night concert broadcasts on St. Louis Public Radio, acclaimed recordings, and regular touring
activity. A sought-after artistic partner by preeminent musicians and composers from across the
globe, as well as by local and national organizations, the SLSO enjoys a long history of robust and
enduring artistic collaborations that have developed and deepened over the years.
Today, the SLSO builds on the institution’s current momentum on all fronts, including artistic,
financial, audience growth, and community impact, and looks toward the future with Stéphane
Denève. For more information, visit slso.org.
# # #
6You can also read
