St. Louis Symphony Orchestra announces soloist and program change, welcoming violinist Ray Chen in his SLSO debut with Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 5,K.219 "Turkish"
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(January 16, 2019, St. Louis, MO) – Internationally-acclaimed violinist Ray Chen will make his debut with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra on short notice this weekend, performing Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 5, K.219 "Turkish" with conductor Karina Canellakis. The program also includes Beethoven's Leonore Overture No. 3, the SLSO premiere of Richard Strauss' Symphonic Fantasy from Die Frau ohne Schatten, and Hindemith's Symphonic Metamorphosis. Chen replaces violinist Renaud Capuçon, who is unable to travel to St. Louis this weekend due to illness.
Chen, pictured left, rose to fame when he won First Prize in the 2008 Yehudi Menuhin and 2009 Queen Elisabeth Competitions for young violinists. He has since built a staggering performing profile in Europe, Asia, and North America, appearing this season with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, and the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra.
Instead of the originally-programmed Schumann's Violin Concerto, Chen will perform Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 5, "Turkish," known for its majestic opening movement.
Capuҫon unfortunately had to withdraw from his performances because of illness. In a statement from his management, Capuҫon "deeply regrets not being able to perform the Schumann Concerto with the SLSO and Maestra Karina Canellakis. He sends everyone his very best wishes for the concerts ahead."
Friday, January 18, 2019, 10:30am
Saturday, January 19, 2019, 8:00pm
Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO
Karina Canellakis, conductor
Ray Chen, violin
BEETHOVEN Leonore Overture No. 3
MOZART Violin Concerto No. 5, K.219 "Turkish"*
R. STRAUSS Symphonic Fantasy from Die Frau ohne Schatten
HINDEMITH Symphonic Metamorphosis
*Change from original program.
Audiences can attend the free Pre-Concert Conversation at 9:30am Friday and 7:00pm Saturday in the auditorium. This weekend, the conversations are hosted by pianist Peter Henderson.
Tune in to St. Louis Public Radio on Saturday, December 1, at 8:00pm for the live broadcast of the performance, along with interviews of Canellakis and Chen during intermission. Listen on air (90.7 FM KWMU) or online (http://www.stlpublicradio.org/listen.php).
The 18/19 SLSO Classical Season is presented by World Wide Technology and the Steward Family Foundation and runs through May 12, 2019.
Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at www.slso.org or by calling the Box Office at 314-534-1700.
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 139th year with the 2018/2019 season. Widely considered one of the world's finest, 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.
In addition to its regular concert performances at Powell Hall, which has been the permanent home of the SLSO for 50 years, the orchestra is an integral part of the diverse and vibrant St. Louis community, presenting free education programs and performances throughout the region each year. It presents St. Louis Symphony Live at the Pulitzer, a four-program series at the Pulitzer Arts Foundation. The SLSO also serves as the resident orchestra for Opera Theatre Saint Louis, with this season marking the 42nd year of their 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. 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 this season as Music Director Designate. For more information, visit slso.org.
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