Halen

Friday, October 10, 2008 at 8pm
Presented by American Airlines

Hans Graf, conductor
David Halen, violin
Jonathan Vinocour, viola

PROKOFIEV Symphony No. 1, “Classical”
MOZART Sinfonia concertante, K. 364
STRAVINSKY Scènes de Ballet
BIZET Symphony in C

The influence of one’s forbearers may produce anxiety, but it also provokes great art. Bizet stands boldly in Mozart’s shadow. Young Prokofiev honors his musical ancestors as Stravinsky reflects on Tchaikovsky’s fiery romanticism. Mozart is purely himself, inventing a refined discourse between violin and viola.

Robertson


John Patitucci

Friday, November 14, 2008 at 8pm
Presented by MasterCard

David Robertson, conductor
Leila Josefowicz, violin
John Patitucci, electric bass and electric bass guitar

MARK-ANTHONY TURNAGE A Prayer Out of Stillness
STEVEN MACKEY Violin Concerto (US Premiere)
STRAVINSKY The Rite of Spring

The most outrageous work from the beginning of the 20th century, The Rite still beats with a rock & roll heart in the 21st, and so matches a quiet piece for electric bass and electric bass guitar, and a violin concerto by a dynamic composer with an electric guitar in mind.

Kaduce

Friday, January 9, 2009 at 8pm

James Gaffigan, conductor
Kelly Kaduce, soprano

VERDI La forza del destino Overture
VERDI arias from La Traviata
PUCCINI arias from Madama Butterfly and Gianni Schicchi
WAGNER Symphonic Suite from “The Ring of the Nibelungs” including “Ride of the Valkyries”

Rising star Kelly Kaduce has captivated Opera Theatre of St. Louis audiences in the title roles of Anna Karenina, Jane Eyre and Suor Angelica. Spend a riveting night with Kaduce as she sings Verdi and Puccini, including a reprise from Madama Butterfly—her summer ’08 star turn at OTSL.

Lee

Friday, February 6, 2009 at 8pm
Presented by Thompson Coburn LLP

Xian Zhang, conductor
Daniel Lee, cello

CHEN YI Si Ji (Four Seasons)
ELGAR Cello Concerto
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 5

Music of the seasons, from an Asian perspective. Then Elgar’s concerto, written near the close of World War I, makes music from the ashes of a world destroyed, hauntingly played by SLSO Principal Cello Daniel Lee. Out of Tchaikovsky’s struggles of the heart, he makes an eloquent appeal to Fate.

Mattila

Friday, March 27, 2009 at 8pm

David Robertson, conductor
Karita Mattila, soprano
Anssi Karttunen, cello

WAGNER Parsifal, Good Friday Music
ZIMMERMANN Canto di Speranza
KAIJA SAARIAHO Mirage (US Premiere)
SIBELIUS Symphony No. 5

Tensions build. Worlds break open and take new form. Transformation— magical, mystical, spiritual, physical—is the theme here: contemplations of Good Friday, a cello song of the spirit, the mystery of things seen and unseen, and Sibelius’ wondrous evocation of swans in flight.

Salerno-
Sonnenberg

Friday, April 24, 2009 at 8pm
Presented by Thompson Coburn LLP

Vasily Petrenko, conductor
Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, violin

ELGAR Cockaigne Overture
BRUCH Violin Concerto No. 1
SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 5

With the Bruch concerto, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg is given a melody that never stops from beginning to end. Watch where it takes her. She nearly took the roof off Powell Hall when she played Tchaikovsky two seasons ago. Just as well, Shostakovich is sure to give you a view of the sky.