New leads the SLSO in the St. Louis premiere of Thomas Adès’ Three Studies from Couperin, Mozart’s Concerto for Flute and Harp, and Richard Strauss’ Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme Suite
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(March 5, 2019, St. Louis, MO) – Gemma New, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Resident Conductor, will lead the SLSO – including two of its own musicians as featured soloists – in a program of diverse pieces that all have connections to France. The concerts are Friday through Sunday, April 5-7.
Opening the concert is the St. Louis premiere of Thomas Adès’ Three Studies from Couperin, a three-movement work based on early French music by harpsichordist Franҫois Couperin. Three Studies from Couperin is one of 12 works added to the SLSO repertoire this season.
Then, SLSO Principal Flute Mark Sparks and SLSO Principal Harp Allegra Lilly take center stage as soloists on Mozart’s Concerto for Flute and Harp. They are two of seven SLSO musicians stepping forward as soloists this season. Mozart wrote this famous concerto while he was in Paris, his only piece written for solo harp.
Closing the program is Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme Suite, a French libretto and story set to music by Richard Strauss. The piece’s distinct Baroque flavor is reflected by the intimate stage set up. Two antiphonal string orchestras will be used to capture the style of this dance-like piece.
Gemma New returns to conduct her second subscription concert with the SLSO during the 2018/2019 season after opening the season conducting Elgar’s Enigma Variations in September 2018. She also led the SLSO at the annual Forest Park concert, the Mercy Holiday Celebration, and presentations of Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert. She made her New York Philharmonic debut condcuting a Young People’s Concert at Lincoln Center in November 2018. She was recently appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, a position she will assume in the 2019/20 season.
Friday, April 5, 2019, 10:30am
Saturday, April 6, 2019, 8:00pm
Saturday, April 7, 2019, 3:00pm
Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO
Gemma New, conductor
Mark Sparks, flute
Allegra Lilly, harp
Thomas ADÈS Three Studies from Couperin
MOZART Concerto for Flute and Harp, K. 299
R. STRAUSS Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme Suite
Audiences can attend the free Pre-Concert Conversation at 9:30am Friday, 7:00pm 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, April 6, at 8:00pm for the live broadcast of the performance, along with interviews of New, Sparks, and Lilly 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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