St. Louis classical calendar for the week of February 17, 2014

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The Chamber Players of St. Louis and the Laclede Quartet presents a concert of Russian classics by the Laclede Quartet on Sunday, February 23, at 2:30 PM. The concert takes place at the Maryville University Auditorium, 650 Maryville University Drive. For more information: www.lacledequartet.org.

The New Music Circle presents Joshua Abram's New Information Society on Saturday, February 22, at 7:30 PM. "Bassist, composer, and collaborator Joshua Abrams has been an essential voice of Chicago’s vibrant music scene for the past fifteen years, playing and recording as leader and sideman in a wide range of projects and spanning all genres (Hamid Drake, Tortoise, Tony Conrad, Sam Prekop, Jandek, Craig Taborn, Bill Dixon, Kevin Drumm, Bonny “Prince” Billy). Abrams’s most recent project, Natural Information, represents yet another fascinating entry in his composing oeuvre, gathering aesthetic input from all over the globe and melding these influences into his own vivid personal statements. At the heart of Abrams’s sound here is the guimbri, a three-stringed animal hide bass, traditionally used by the Gnawa of North Africa in healing ceremonies. Combining quintet formats with adroit use of sampling techniques, Abrams creates intricate psychedelic environments that join the hypnotic character of Gnawa guimbri music with more contemporary musics and methodologies." The performance takes place at Joe's Café, 6014 Kingsbury. For more information: newmusiccircle.org

St. Louis Cathedral Concerts presents an Organ and Brass Spectacular on Sunday, February 23, at 2:30 PM at the cathedral at 4431 Lindell. “Experience the sonic splendor of Brass and Organ in the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis. The 7,621 pipes of the Great Cathedral Organ, played by Cathedral Organist Gereon Krahforst, will be joined by Roger Kaza and a quintet of St. Louis Symphony Brass players in this special performance of brass and organ music, written to be performed in a space such at the Cathedral Basilica.” For more information: www.cathedralconcerts.org

The St. Louis Chamber Chorus presents Concert Three: The Ancients Speak - Latin. “We mark the centenary of both our venue and the great British composer, Benjamin Britten, with the St. Louis premiere of his complete cantata, A Boy Was Born. Other early English lyrics inspire seasonal songs by Gustav Holst, Trond Kverno, and Francis Pott, who contributes a brand new carol for this occasion.” The concert takes place on Sunday, February 23, at 3 PM at the 560 Music Center, 560 Trinity in University City. For more information: www.chamberchorus.org

The St. Louis Classical Guitar Society presents William Kanengiser in concert on Saturday, February 22, at 8 PM. " Last here as a founding member and first guitar of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet in 2010, it’s been ten years since we’ve heard this most-popular American artist perform in solo recital! Recognized as one of America’s finest classical guitarists, William Kanengiser won First Prize in the 1987 Concert Artists Guild International Competition as well as major guitar competitions in Toronto (1981) and Paris (1983)." The performance takes place at the Ethical Society, 9001 Clayton Road. For more information: www.guitarstlouis.net

Bernard Labadie

Bernard Labadie conducts The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra with soloists Philip Ross (oboe), Andrew Gott (bassoon), Kristin Ahlstrom (violin), and Melissa Brooks (cello) in a program of music by Rameau, Haydn, and Mozart. Performances take place on Friday at 10:30 AM, Saturday at 8 PM and Sunday at 3 PM, February 21-23, at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand. “Balancing elegance and moments of great power, Mozart’s Symphony No. 39 is full of charming humor. The beloved work completes a program celebrating the 250th birthday of St. Louis by showcasing talented STL Symphony musicians performing Haydn’s delightful Sinfonia concertante, as well as works by Rameau and Haydn composed in the same year as the founding of St. Louis, 1764.”  For more information: stlsymphony.org.

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra presents a free concert on Tuesday, February 178h, beginning at 7 PM at the Piper Palm House in Tower Grove Park. “The STL Symphony celebrates more than 15 years performing for audiences in the beautiful Piper Palm House inside Tower Grove Park. Each of these popular concerts is followed by a complimentary wine tasting reception. Doors open at 6:30pm and all concerts begin at 7pm. Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.” For more information: www.stlsymphony.org/symphony_neighborhood

The St. Louis Symphony’s Young Friends of the Symphony presents Sips and Symphonies on Thursday, February 20, at 7:30 PM. “What is Sips and Symphonies? It is a great way to learn about music in a fun, casual environment. On the third Thursday of each month, we get together at Tavern of Fine Arts to listen to and discuss a piece of music being performed at an upcoming concert at Powell Hall. We will have a different guest moderator each month who will help lead an informal conversation about the music.” A special cocktail is created for each event to accompany the music. The event takes place at The Tavern of Fine Arts, 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood.  For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents Patrick Rafferty, guitar; Laura Ross, oboe; and Erika Beasley, soprano in concert on Friday, February 21, at 8:00 PM. The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

Julie Heck

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents pianist Julie Heck in concert on Saturday, February 22, at 8:00 PM. "Join us for an exciting musical martini of classical, jazz, pop, and original compositions mixed together by pianist Julie J. Heck. Julie Heck is a performing artist, accompanist, and private instructor. She holds a BA in Music Business with a concentration in collaborative piano from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She was the recipient of several scholarships in college, including the Jack Stephen Gramlich Scholarship, the highest award granted in the music department, and graduated with top honors." The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.