ST. LOUIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CELEBRATES DAVID ROBERTSON AND HIS DISTINGUISHED 13-YEAR TENURE AS SLSO MUSIC DIRECTOR
“Every time I walk on stage with this orchestra, I am filled with delight. It’s been an incredible privilege to musically lead this organization.” - Music Director David Robertson
St. Louis, March 12, 2018 – The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s current season celebrates David Robertson and his remarkable 13-year tenure as Music Director. Over the coming months, the SLSO pays tribute to Robertson and invites the community to join in the celebrations.
Defined by musical excellence, widespread acclaim, artistic partnerships, innovative programming, Grammy Award-winning recordings, and unprecedented orchestral achievements, the Robertson era is recognized as one of the SLSO’s most illuminating. Robertson appointed 44 current SLSO musicians, including 10 of the principal positions. He increased the orchestra’s touring schedule, including 17 appearances at Carnegie Hall in New York, the SLSO’s first tour of Europe in 14 years, and four California tours. And his recording with the SLSO of John Adams’ City Noir wonthe Grammy Award in 2015 for Best Orchestral Performance – the seventh Grammy in SLSO history.
In April and May, there are three opportunities to hear Robertson conduct the SLSO, including the season finale weekend with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. (See concert details on pages 2 – 3.) During this final weekend (May 4 – 6), patrons will be invited to join in a champagne toast to Robertson in the Grand Foyer at intermission to celebrate. A limited number of tickets are available for those concerts. You can visit slso.org/tickets or call the Box Office at 314-534-1700 to purchase.
The SLSO will highlight special Robertson moments across its social media channels each week as a special #TributeTuesday. Guests are invited to explore a special tribute page at slso.org/davidrobertson, which features articles about Robertson, reviews from memorable performances at Powell Hall and on tour with the SLSO, favorite photos from throughout Robertson’s years in St. Louis, as well as reflections from artistic colleagues and collaborators. The public is encouraged to share their memories, which will be presented to Robertson, by emailing marketing@slso.org by Monday, April 2.
The SLSO will honor the legacy of David Robertson at its annual Gala Celebration on Saturday, April 14. The special event takes place at Powell Hall before the evening concert, when Robertson leads the orchestra as guest artist Simon Trpčeski takes center stage for Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2. The program also features Robertson leading Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man alongside American composer Howard Hanson’s “Romantic” Symphony No. 2. For more information or to purchase a table, visit slso.org/gala.
The SLSO also is hosting a Celebration Brunch at Powell Hall honoring Robertson on Sunday, April 15. The event will be from 12:00pm to 2:00pm and feature a performance by members of the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra. To purchase tickets, call the SLSO at 314-286-4101.
To commemorate Robertson’s tenure, the SLSO is creating two unique, limited edition pieces: a book titled David Robertson: A Legacy and a multi-CD set, both retrospectives on his career with the SLSO. The book will be given as a commemorative gift to gala attendees; brunch attendees will receive the book with the purchase of a patron ticket. Copies of the CD set will be available for sale in the Powell Hall Boutique. And the book/CD package set is available as a gift with a donation to the SLSO of $150 or more. For more information, visit www.slso.org/davidrobertson.
Roberton’s legacy with the SLSO also is captured in two new recordings, one recently released and one set for release next month. Recorded live at Powell Hall in April 2017, "The Gershwin Moment: Rhapsody in Blue & Concerto in F," with David Robertson, the SLSO, and pianist Kirill Gerstein, was released on Myrios Classics last month. It is available for purchase at https://myriosmusic.com/products/myr022-the-gershwin-moment. The recording of David Robertson and the SLSO performing John Adams’ Violin Concerto featuring Leila Josefowicz, captured live at Powell Hall in 2016, will be released on Nonesuch on April 27 and available for purchase at http://store.nonesuch.com/.
Robertson’s Final Concerts as SLSO Music Director
Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2
Saturday, April 14, 2018 at 8:00pm* *Broadcast live on St. Louis Public Radio
Sunday, April 15, 2018, 3:00pm
David Robertson, conductor
Simon Trpčeski, piano
COPLAND Fanfare for the Common Man
RACHMANINOFF Piano Concerto No. 2
HANSON Symphony No. 2, “Romantic”
Bruckner 4
Friday, April 27, 2018, 10:30am
Saturday, April 28, 2018, 8:00pm* *Broadcast live on St. Louis Public Radio
David Robertson, conductor
Christian Tetzlaff, violin
WIDMANN Violin Concerto
BRUCKNER Symphony No. 4, “Romantic”
Marsalis Swing Symphony
Friday, May 4, 2018, 8:00pm
Saturday, May 5, 2018, 8:00pm* *Broadcast live on St. Louis Public Radio
Sunday, May 6, 2018, 3:00pm
David Robertson, conductor
Wynton Marsalis, trumpet
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
BERNSTEIN Three Dance Episodes from On the Town
BERNSTEIN Prelude, Fugue and Riffs
MARSALIS Swing Symphony
Presented by World Wide Technology and the Steward Family Foundation
The SLSO’s 2017/2018 Classical Season is sponsored by the Centene Charitable Foundation, Steward Family Foundation, and World Wide Technology.
About David Robertson
David Robertson – conductor, artist, thinker, and American musical visionary – occupies some of the most prominent platforms on the international music scene. A highly sought-after podium figure in the worlds of opera, orchestral music, and new music, Robertson is celebrated worldwide as a champion of contemporary composers, an ingenious and adventurous programmer, and a masterful communicator whose passionate advocacy for the art form is widely recognized. A consummate and deeply collaborative musician, Robertson is hailed for his intensely committed music making.
Currently in his valedictory season as Music Director of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, and his fifth season as Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, he has served as artistic leader to many musical institutions, including the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestre National de Lyon, and, as a protégé of Pierre Boulez, the Ensemble Intercontemporain. With frequent projects at the world’s most prestigious opera houses, including The Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, Bayerische Staatsoper, Théâtre du Châtelet, the San Francisco Opera and more, Robertson will return to the Met Opera in 2018 to conduct the premiere of Phelim McDermott’s new production of Così fan tutte.
During his 13-year tenure with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Robertson has solidified the orchestra’s standing as one of the nation’s most enduring and innovative. His established and fruitful relationships with artists across a wide spectrum is evidenced by the orchestra’s ongoing collaboration with composer John Adams. The 2014 release of City Noir (Nonesuch Records)—comprising works by Adams performed by the SLSO with Robertson—won the Grammy Award for Best Orchestral Performance. Robertson is the recipient of numerous musical and artistic awards, and in 2010 was made a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
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 and widely considered one of the world’s finest. Now in its 138th season, the orchestra is committed to artistic excellence, educational impact, and community connection – all in service to its mission of enriching people’s lives through the power of music.
In addition to its regular concert performances at Powell Hall, which marks its 50th anniversary as home of the SLSO this season, the orchestra is an integral part of the diverse and vibrant St. Louis community, presenting hundreds of free education programs and performances throughout the region each year. 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, celebrated recordings, and regular touring activity.
American conductor David Robertson is the 12th Music Director in the orchestra’s history and has solidified the SLSO’s standing as one of the nation’s most vital and innovative ensembles. The current SLSO season honors the legacy of Music Director David Robertson, whose remarkable 13-year tenure will conclude at the close of the season in May.
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. Denève, who has been a frequent guest conductor with the orchestra since 2003, begins his tenure as Music Director with the 19/20 season, following next season as Music Director Designate.
