St. Louis Symphony Orchestra to perform U.S. premiere of Lotta Wennäkoski's Flounce, September 28-29
Second week of 2018-19 season is led by Hannu Lintu, and also features Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 11 and the SLSO premiere of Esa-Pekka Salonen’s Violin Concerto, with violinist Leila Josefowicz
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(September 14, 2018, St. Louis, MO) – A pair of premieres highlight the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s second weekend in its 2018/2019 classical season on Friday, September 28, and Saturday, September 29.
Described as “imaginative and unusual,” Flounce, by Finnish composer Lotta Wennäkoski, will receive it’s U.S. debut by the SLSO under the baton of Finnish conductor Hannu Lintu, who returns to St. Louis for his 7th stint as a guest conductor. The piece was commissioned by the BBC and made its world premiere at Royal Albert Hall in London by the BBC Symphony Orchestra in September 2017.
A close SLSO collaborator, American-Canadian violinist Leila Josefowicz, returns to perform the SLSO debut of Esa-Pekka Salonen’s modern masterpiece, Violin Concerto. Josefowicz, a passionate advocate of contemporary music, has been heralded as a “master storyteller.” This is her 11th appearance with the SLSO. She was nominated for a Grammy award for a recording of composer John Adams’ Scheherazade.2 with the SLSO in 2016 in the Best Classical Solo Instrumental category.
In addition to the U.S. premiere of Wennäkoski’s Flounce and the orchestra debut of Salonen’s Violin Concerto, the SLSO will add 10 other works to its repertoire during the 139th season, including the world premiere of Christopher Rouse’s Bassoon Concerto on Nov. 16.
In the second half of the September 28-29 program, the orchestra will perform Shostakovich’s massive Symphony No. 11, “The Year 1905” – a bold and cinematic depiction of the Bloody Sunday Massacre of 1905. Often dubbed a “film score without the film,” the four-movement symphony portrays the calm of the Palace Square in St. Petersburg, the massacre of demonstrators by the military, the ensuing solemnity and the eventual discord that leads to the Russian Revolution of 1917.
Friday, September 28, 2018, 8:00pm
Saturday, September 29, 2018, 8:00pm
Hannu Lintu, conductor
Leila Josefowicz, violin
WENNÄKOSKI Flounce (U.S. Premiere)
SALONEN Violin Concerto
SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 11, "The Year 1905"
Before both performances, SLSO Creative Partner Tim Munro will lead a free pre-concert conversation to share insight into the program.
Tune in to St. Louis Public Radio on Saturday, September 29, at 8:00pm for a live broadcast of the performance. Listen on air (90.7 FM KWMU) or online (http://www.stlpublicradio.org/listen.php).
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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