St. Louis Symphony Orchestra announces soloist change, welcoming mezzo-soprano Dolora Zajick in her SLSO debut performing Prokofiev's Alexander Nevsky
Music Director Designate Stéphane Denève leads an all-Prokofiev program that also includes Piano Concerto No. 2 with pianist Yefim Bronfman and Denève's own arrangement of Prokofiev's Cinderella Suite
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(February 13, 2019, St. Louis, MO) – Internationally-acclaimed mezzo-soprano Dolora Zajick will make her debut with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra on short notice this weekend, performing on Prokofiev's Alexander Nevsky with the SLSO and St. Louis Symphony Chorus. The February 15-16 concerts are conducted by SLSO Music Director Designate Stéphane Denève. The program also includes Denève's arrangement of Prokofiev's Cinderella Suite and Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 2 with pianist Yefim Bronfman. Zajick replaces mezzo-soprano Clémentine Margaine, who is unable to travel to St. Louis this weekend.
Zajick, pictured left, is an internationally-renowned mezzo-soprano, known for her expressive vocal palette. She is particularly noted for her interpretations of Amneris in Aida, Eboli in Don Carlo, and Azucena in Il Trovatore, as well as Verdian repertoire.
Zajick's extensive discography features recordings of Aida, Il Trovatore, Don Carlo, La forza del destino, the Verdi Requiem; Rusalka and Dolora Zajick: The Art of the Dramatic Mezzo-Soprano. In 1993, Sony Classical released a recording of Alexander Nevsky with the London Symphony Orchestra featuring Zajick.
A passionate vocal pedagogue, Zajick founded the Institute for Young Dramatic Voices in 2006. A training program for large or unusual voices, it is designed to help nurture and develop young singers according to their unique needs, and to help them reach the world stage.
Friday, February 15 2019, 8:00pm
Saturday, February 16, 2019, 8:00pm
Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO
Stéphane Denève, conductor
Yefim Bronfman, piano
Dolora Zajick, mezzo-soprano
St. Louis Symphony Chorus | Amy Kaiser, director
PROKOFIEV/arr. DENÈNE Cinderella Suite
PROKOFIEV Piano Concerto No. 2
PROKOFIEV Alexander Nevsky
Audiences can attend the free Pre-Concert Conversation at 7:00pm Friday and Saturday in the auditorium. This weekend, the conversations are hosted by pianist Peter Henderson.
Tune in to St. Louis Public Radio on Saturday, February 16, at 8:00pm for the live broadcast of the performance, along with interviews of Denève, Bronfman, and Kaiser 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 and Music Director Designate Stéphane Denève. 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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