St. Louis Symphony Orchestra performs Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto with violinist Karen Gomyo, SLSO debut of conductor Jakub Hrůša

March 29-31 concerts also include performances of Bartók's The Miraculous Mandarin Suite and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 9

To download a photo of Karen Gomyo, click here.
To download a photo of Jakub Hrůša, click here.
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(March 4, 2019, St. Louis, MO) – The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra welcomes virtuoso violinist Karen Gomyo in performances of Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto, led by conductor Jakub Hrůša in his SLSO debut. The concerts will be held Friday through Sunday, March 29-31.

Karen GomyoGomyo, pictured left, returns for her fifth appearance with the SLSO. Described as "dazzling" (St. Louis Post-Dispatch), Gomyo performs one of the most well-known violin concertos in the repertoire. A popular soloist with St. Louis audiences, Gomyo will return for her sixth engagement with the SLSO next season (October 18-20, 2019) to perform Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No. 1 with Music Director Stéphane Denève. Subscriptions for the 2019/2020 season are on sale now.

The March 29-31 concerts open with Bartók's The Miraculous Mandarin Suite, music selections from his pantomime ballet of the same name. The suite is noted for its orchestral depictions of city life, including the "concrete jungle" and car horns. Shostakovich's bright, and even optimistic, Symphony No. 9 closes the program. A departure from his previous symphonies, the composition is almost cheerful, inspired by the liberation of the Soviet people during World War II.

Hrůša makes his SLSO debut conducting these concerts. Born in the Czech Republic, he is Chief Conductor of the Bamberg Symphony, Principal Guest Conductor of the Philharmonia Orchestra, and Principal Guest Conductor of the Czech Philharmonic.

Friday, March 29, 2019, 8:00pm
Saturday, March 30, 2019, 8:00pm
Sunday, March 31, 2019, 3:00pm
Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO

Jakub Hrůša, conductor
Karen Gomyo, violin

BARTÓK The Miraculous Mandarin Suite
TCHAIKOVSKY Violin Concerto
SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 9

Audiences can attend the free Pre-Concert Conversation at 7:00pm Friday and Saturday and 2:00pm Sunday in the auditorium. This weekend, the conversations are hosted by SLSO Creative Partner Tim Munro.

Tune in to St. Louis Public Radio on Saturday, March 30, at 8:00pm for the live broadcast of the performance, along with interviews of Hrůša and Gomyo 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, including subscriptions for the 2019/2020 season, 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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