St. Louis classical calendar for the week of October 13, 2014

Share on Google+:

Leonard Slatkin conducts the Detroit Symphony
leonardslatkin.com / Donald Dietz

The Chamber Music Society of St. Louis presents St. Louis, America, featuring on Monday and Tuesday, October 13 and 14, at 7:30 PM. "Chamber Music Society of St. Louis opens our 2014-15 Season with a concert, to be performed twice, saluting St. Louis and our City’s 250th birthday. As a part of the American Arts Experience – St. Louis, we will showcase music written in honor of America. Recognized as a top interpreter of American music, and having deep-rooted St. Louis ties, Leonard Slatkin, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Conductor Laureate, is the perfect choice as our Guest Artist for this program. Leonard will share the stage with CMSSL musicians in performances of Variations On Yankee Doodle by Henri Vieuxtemps, works by Aaron Copland, Scott Joplin, and our CMSSL version of Leroy Anderson’s The Typewriter, and the always delightful Variations on America by Charles Ives." The concert takes place at The Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington. For more information: chambermusicstl.org.

Conductor laureate Leonard Slatkin conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and soloist David Halen, violin, in Bruch's "Violin Concerto No. 1," Berlioz's "Symphonie Fastastique," and Slatkin's own composition "Endgames" Friday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m., October 17 and 19. "Leonard Slatkin makes his annual return to Powell Hall to conduct Berlioz’s epic and autobiographical Symphonie fantastique which tells the story of an artist's self-destructive passion for a beautiful woman. David Halen celebrates his 20th season as concertmaster performing Bruch’s warm-hearted Violin Concerto with the former Music Director who appointed him to his post with the STL Symphony." The concerts take place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

Lang at the
international Chopin Year 2010

David Robertson conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and soloists Lang Lang, piano, and Mark Sparks, flute, in Bach's "Orchestra Suite No. 2" and Tchaikovsky's "Piano Concerto No. 1" Saturday, October 18, at 8:30 p.m. The concert is part of the annual Red Velvet Ball formal fundraising event. "We are thrilled to welcome internationally-acclaimed piano sensation, Lang Lang, to Powell Hall for this annual fundraising concert benefiting the STL Symphony. Declared by The New York Times as "the hottest artist on the classical music planet," Lang Lang will perform Tchaikovsky’s triumphant Piano Concerto No. 1 with David Robertson and the STL Symphony." The concerts take place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

The St. Louis Symphony’s Crescendo Circle presents Sips and Symphonies on Thursday, October 16, 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. This month, there will be a lively and informal discussion/presentation of Berlioz's "Symphonie fantastique" and Tchaikovsky's "Piano Concerto No. 1." 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 a classical open stage night on Monday, October 13, from 7:30 – 9 PM. "Come by yourself or bring your quartet. Sight read through a Beethoven quartet or use this as an opportunity to put the finishing touches on that Hindemith Viola Sonata you have been working on. All ages and skill levels are welcome. We have a 6' grand piano and an accompanist." The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

Kirk Hanser

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents Kirk Hanser and Friends on Friday, October 17, at 6 PM. "Guitarist Kirk Hanser will be joined by several musical friends for an early evening's performance featuring the guitar! Music of American composers including Andy York, Michael Chapdelaine, Michael Hedges and many others." The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

Third Baptist Church presents an organ concert by Craig Datz, Organist at Missouri United Methodist Church, Columbia, Missouri, on Friday, October 17, at 12:30 PM as part of its free Friday Pipes series. "Join us on Fridays at Third Baptist Church for Friday Pipes, the free organ recital series celebrating the restoration of the church's 72-rank Kilgen/Möller pipe organ. Each week a different performer will be presenting a program of classical, church, and theatre organ music in the beautiful sanctuary of Third Baptist. This season's performers come from across the USA, and even from around the world. Free parking is available in the church lots on Washington Avenue." Third Baptist Church is at 620 N Grand. For more information: www.third-baptist.org

The Washington University Symphony presents a free concert featuring bassoonist Andrew Gott on Monday, October 13, at 7:30 p.m. The program will include Beethoven’s Overture to Fidelio and Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suites, ending with the popular "In the Hall of the Mountain King". The performance takes place at the 560 Music Center, 560 Trinity in University City, MO. For more information: music.wustl.edu