Celebrated Grammy Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell returns to perform with St. Louis Symphony Orchestra November 23-25
Bell performs Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1 in program conducted by Michael Francis that also includes Elgar's In the South (Alassio) and Vaughan Williams' A London Symphony (Symphony No. 2)
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(November 5, 2018, St. Louis, MO) – Continuing a relationship that has spanned more than 35 years, Grammy Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell performs with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra November 23-25.
Bell, one of the best-known violinists in the world, has been described as "formidably powerful" (Gramophone) and a "lithe virtuoso" (Los Angeles Times). Bell, pictured left, has performed with the SLSO 12 times since his debut with the orchestra at Powell Hall on February 12, 1983. He made his Carnegie Hall debut with the SLSO in 1985 when he was just 17 and has also performed on three SLSO tours.
While Bell is a frequent SLSO collaborator, conductor Michael Francis makes his SLSO debut. Francis, the Music Director of the Florida Symphony in Tampa, is one of five conductors making their first visit to St. Louis during the SLSO's 139th season, titled "From Our Family to Yours."
On November 23-25, Bell performs Bruch's Violin Concerto. Admired for the melody of the second movement and dance-like energy of the third, Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1 continues to be one of the most prolific pieces for solo violin.
The concert opens with Elgar's programmatic overture In the South (Alassio), which depicts the history and scenery surrounding an Italian town. Vaughan Williams' evocative A London Symphony, inspired by locations in and around London, closes the concert.
Friday, November 23, 2018, 8:00pm
Saturday, November 24, 2018, 8:00pm
Sunday, November 25, 2018, 3:00pm
Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO
Michael Francis, conductor
Joshua Bell, violin
ELGAR In the South (Alassio)
BRUCH Violin Concerto No. 1
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS A London Symphony (Symphony No. 2)
Audiences can attend the free Pre-Concert Conversation at 7:00pm Friday and Saturday and 2:00pm Sunday in the auditorium.
Tune in to St. Louis Public Radio on Saturday, November 24, at 8:00pm for the live broadcast of the performance. During the intermission, broadcast host Robert Peterson will interview Bell and Francis. Listen on air (90.7 FM KWMU) or online.
Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at www.slso.org or by calling the Box Office at 314-534-1700.
The 18/19 SLSO Classical Season is presented by World Wide Technology and the Steward Family Foundation and runs through May 12, 2019.
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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