Monday, March 31, 2014

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of March 31, 2014

Looking for auditions and other artistic opportunities? Check out the St. Louis Auditions site.]

For information on events beyond this week, check out the searchable database at the Regional Arts Commission's ArtsZipper site.

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Lindenwood University's J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts presents the musical The Addams Family on Sunday April 6 at 8 PM. The Scheidegger Center is on the Lindenwood campus in St Charles MO. For more information, visit lindenwood.edu/center.

The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents its Bullets in the Bathtub through April 27. The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com

Stray Dog Theatre presents Kander and Ebb's musical Cabaret Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM April 3-19. Performances take place at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee. For more information, visit straydogtheatre.org or call 314-865-1995.

The Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University presents A Devised Piece April 4-6. “From Punch Drunk's Sleep No More to The Public Theater's Under the Radar festival, devised theatre is taking New York and the contemporary theatre in an exciting new direction. It seeks to create performances through experimentation, collaboration, and innovation. Devised theatre can emerge from a dream, a newspaper article, a poem, or anything that inspire its creator or creators to make a dynamic theatrical event. In this Conservatory first, students actors and designers will collaborate to create a piece of theatre from scratch." Performances take place at the Stage III Auditorium in Webster Hall. For more information: www.webster.edu/fine-arts/departments/conservatory/index.html or call 314-968-7128

Clinton County Showcase presents the drama Doubt April 4-13 Performances take place at the Avon Theater, 525 North 2nd Street Breese IL. For more information, visit ccshowcase.com.

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents Flaming Saddles through April 27. The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com

Edison Theatre Ovations! Presents the “live-action graphic novel” Intergalactic Nemesis Friday and Saturday, April 4 and 5, at 8 PM. Performances take place in the Edison Theatre on the Washington University campus. For more information, call (314) 935-6543 or visit edison.wustl.edu.

The Presenters Dolan present Katie McGrath: Love in the Desert: Romance in the Age of Scarcity on Friday, April 4, at 8 PM as part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. "Nobody's better at love gone bad than Katie, who asks, "In our world economy, scarcity is the problem of having seemingly unlimited human wants and needs in a world of limited resources. But this issue is also alive and well in matters of love. Why is it then, as we age and the prospective romance population shrinks, we become needier yet more demanding than ever?" The performance takes place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information: gaslightcabaretfestival.com.

The Hawthorne Players present Laughter on the 23rd Floor Friday and Saturday at 8 PM and Sunday at 2 PM, April 4-13. The performances take place at the Florissant Civic Center Theatre at Parker and Waterford in Florissant, MO. For more information, call 921-5678 or visit hawthorneplayers.com.

The Presenters Dolan present Morgan A. Faulkner: I Got it All From My Mom on Thursday, April 3, at 8 PM as part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. " Following her sold-out debut at New York's The Duplex, and an encore performance in Sante Fe, Morgan is thrilled to premier her One-Woman Show 'I Got It All From My Mom' here in the great state of her birth! One daughter's discovery there is humor in heartbreak, strength in weakness, and that ice cream conquers all." The performance takes place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information: gaslightcabaretfestival.com.

Photo: Jerry Naunheim, Jr.
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Michael Frayn's comedy Noises Off through April 13. “Disasters abound as a frantic, sleep-deprived touring company of actors rehearses and performs their fictional farce, Nothing On. Too many doors, too many sardines and not near enough time combine to create a riotously funny situation on and off stage for both cast and crew. Michael Frayn's intricately crafted mayhem is hailed as one of the greatest comedies ever written.” Performances take place on the mainstage at the Loretto-Hlton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves, MO. For more information, call 314-968-4925 or visit repstl.org. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

Gateway Opera presents Menotti's The Old Maid And The Thief at 7:30 PM Friday and Saturday, April 4 and 5, at The Chapel Venue, 6238 Alexander Drive. For more information: www.katereimann.com/oldmaid

Tesseract Theatre Company presents Taylor Gruenhoh's A Path Far From Here Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 4 PM, April 4-13. "Things get a bit awkward when, after meeting Lisa on a sex website, Mark accidently gets trapped in an apartment with three women and a drag queen. With ecstacy and alcohol in his system Mark tries to understand the way the world moves around him. Lisa's mystery of a husband is possibly on his way, Anne was just fired for sleeping with her boss' brother, Flora was bitten at work today, and Cooper just wants to keep everyone calm, collected, and relatively unhurt. Injurious sex, misguided love, and experimental governmental drugs force this night off the rails. Each show will be preceded by a ten-minute curtain opener play, The Missouri Horror, by David Crespy." Performances take place at the Regional Arts Commission on Delmar, across from the Pageant. For more information: tesseracttheatre.org.

Photo: John Lamb
New Jewish Theater presents Arthur Miller's The Price through April 16. “Everything has a price. In one of the most emotional pieces that Arthur Miller ever wrote, two estranged brothers reunite for one day to sort and sell their deceased father's "furniture," before the building is torn down. The brothers are forced to deal with the price of decisions made in their shared past.” Performances take place in the Marvin and Harlene Wool Studio Theater at the Jewish Community Center, 2 Millstone Campus Drive in Creve Coeur. For more information: www.newjewishtheatre.org or call 314-442-3283. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

St. Louis Shakespeare presents Romeo and Juliet through April 6. Performances take place in the Thomas Hunter Theatre at DeSmet Jesuit High School, 233 N New Ballas Road. For more information, call 314-361-5664 or visit stlshakespeare.org.

Photo: John Lamb
The West End Players Guild continues their 103rd season with Kate Fodor's Rx by Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, April 4-13. There will also be a show on Thursday, April 10, at 8 PM. “If there was a drug that could make your dreary job an exciting daily adventure, would you take it? If you did, would it make your life better or worse? And who would dream up such a thing in the first place? Answers to all those questions - liberally laced with laughter - will be found in Rx, the satirical romantic comedy by 2013 Guggenheim playwriting fellow Kate Fodor. The show takes a hilarious look at life, love and Big Pharma.” Performances take place at the Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 North Union at Enright in the Central West End. For more information, call 314-367-0025 or visit www.westendplayers.org.

The COCA Theatre Company presents Tales, an original devised play told through physical theatre and circus and directed by Josh Routh. Performances are Friday through Sunday, April 4-6. COCA is at 524 Trinity in University City. For more information, call (314) 725-6555 or visit www.cocastl.org.

The Presenters Dolan present Todd and Kelly Decker in They Can't Take That Away from Me: Songs and Stories of Ira Gershwin on Saturday, April 5, at 8 PM as part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. " The Gershwin brothers - George (music) and Ira (lyrics) - remade popular music in the 1920s and 1930s, writing songs for Broadway shows and Hollywood films that have stood the test of time. In their own time, these sons of Jewish immigrants helped define what the word "jazz" meant and charted a meteoric path to international stardom before George's untimely death at age thirty-eight. This show revisits the Gershwins' greatest songs - "The Man I Love," "Summertime," "I Got Rhythm," "S'Wonderful," the list goes on and on - and explores just what makes a Gershwin tune so irresistible." The performance takes place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information: gaslightcabaretfestival.com.

Family Musical Theater presents Victor/Victoria Thursday and Friday and Saturday at 8 PM and Sunday at 2 PM, April 4-13, at the Ivory Theatre, 7622 Michigan. For more information, visit familymusical.org or call 314-571-9579.

Over Due Theatre presents the Kaufman and Hart's You Can't Take it With You Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, April 4-13. Performances take place at the Olivette Community Center, 9723 Grandview Drive, in Olivette, MO. For more information, call 314-210-2959 or visit overduetheatrecompany.com.

Would you like to be on the radio? KDHX, 88.1 FM needs theatre reviewers. If you're 18 years or older, knowledgeable in this area, have practical theatre experience (acting, directing, writing, technical design, etc.), have good oral and written communications skills and would like to become one of our volunteer reviewers, send an email describing your experience and interests to chuck at kdhx.org. Please include a sample review of something you've seen recently.

Sunday, March 30, 2014

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of March 31, 2014

SMSSL at the Sheldon
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The Chamber Music Society of St. Louis presents Genuine Classics—No Fooling, featuring the Mozart Clarinet Quintet in A Major K 581 and the Brahms Piano Quintet in F minor, op. 34 on Tuesday, April 1, at 7:30 PM. The concert takes place at The Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington. For more information: chambermusicstl.org.

The Chamber Players of St. Louis and the Laclede Quartet present a concert by the Maryville Symphony Orchestra on Sunday, April 6, at 3 PM. The concert features Daniel Bert, oboe and Kevon Hall, bassoon, performing Vivaldi's Concerto in G. Also on the program: Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachmusik and Borodin's Petite Suite as arranged by Glazounov. The concert takes place at the Maryville University Auditorium, 650 Maryville University Drive. For more information: maryvillesymphony.com.

The Community Music School of Webster University presents its Spring Faculty Recital on Friday, April 4, at 8 PM. "The Community Music School of Webster University is pleased to present faculty members in recital, showcasing their abilities as outstanding performers. Faculty performing on the recital include Donita Bauer, bassoon; April Dannelly, cello; Audrey Denny, clarinet; Jeanine York-Garesche, clarinet; Nina Gerassimova, piano; Jill Hartzog, soprano; Ann Homann Mottl, oboe; Jessica Knopf, saxophone; Vera Parkin, piano; Patrick Rafferty, guitar; and Robert Souza, trumpet. Works by J.S. Bach, Leonard Bernstein, Benjamin Britten, Kent Kennan, Ed Martin, Rudolf Escher, and others will be performed in solos and ensembles." The school is at 535 Garden Avenue in Webster Groves, MO. For more information: www.webster.edu/cms.

McKendree College presents a St. Louis Symphony Mondays concert featuring member of the SLSO on Monday, March 31st, at 7:30 PM. The concert takes place in the Hettenhausen Center for the Arts on the college campus in Lebanon, IL. For more information: thehett.com.

Alarm Will Sound
The Pageant presents the contemporary music ensemble Alarm Will Sound on Tuesday, April 1, at 7:30 PM. " Alarm Will Sound returns to St. Louis to perform music of Aphex Twin, Steve Reich, Tyondai Braxton and John Orfe at The Pageant. Alarm Will Sound has been described as "the SEAL Team Six of new music" by the New York Magazine and as "one of the most vital ensembles on the American music scene" by the New York Times. In this show, Alarm Will Sound transforms the electronica of Aphex Twin into live performance on acoustic instruments, putting machine-made music into the hands of human players. Also on the program is Steve Reich's newest work "Radio Rewrite," based on the music of Radiohead, and Ty Braxton's "Fly By Wire", both written specifically for Alarm Will Sound's adventurous virtuosos, and both exploring the relationship between popular and classical music." The Pageant is at 6161 Delmar. For more information: alarmwillsound.com.

The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts presents ICE (International Contemporary Ensemble) with Claire Chase on Friday, April 4, at 7:30 PM. "Claire Chase, a 2012 MacArthur Fellow, is a soloist, collaborative artist and arts entrepreneur. Over the past decade Chase has presented the world premieres of over 100 new works for flute, many of them tailor-made for her. ICE will present a performance inspired by "Things of Their Own Making" exhibit at Pulitzer, which 'explores the autonomous object as something simultaneously enduring and ephemeral, synchronic, and diachronic.'" The performance takes place at the Pultzer Center for the Arts, 3716 Washington. For more information: pulitzerarts.org

Christian Tetzlaff
David Robertson conducts The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and violinist Christian Tetzlaff in Shostakovich's Violin Concerto No. 1 and Sibelius's Symphony No. 2 on Saturday at 8 PM and Sunday at 3 PM, April 5 and 6, at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand. “After garnering rave reviews as part of the STL Symphony's 2012 European Festivals Tour for his “angelic playing” (Times of London), Christian Tetzlaff returns to perform Shostakovich's Violin Concerto No. 1. Considered a song of praise for summer and the joy of life, Sibelius' Second Symphony creates a romantic feeling with its memorable melodies. Full of heroic character in the first and final movements, this work touches the hearts of many in its views of man's struggle and a nation's independence.” For more information: stlsymphony.org.

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra presents a free concert on Tuesday, April 1, 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/.

Third Baptist Church presents an organ concert on Friday, April 4, 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.

Expectancy and ecstasy

Karita Mattila
Photo: Marcia Rosengard
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Who: The St. Louis Symphony conducted by David Robertson with soprano soloist Karita Mattila
What: Music of Brahms, Wagner, and Schoenberg
When: Friday and Saturday, March 28 and 29, 2014
Where: Powell Symphony Hall, St. Louis

The OnMusic Dictionary (at dictionary.onmusic.org) defines attacca as "a musical directive for the performer to begin the next movement (or section) of a composition immediately and without pause." Lately the symphony has been experimenting with playing compositions by different composers attacca as a way of highlighting similarities between the pieces. This weekend's bit of attacca might be the boldest yet, following the prelude to Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde" (first performed in 1859) with Arnold Schoenberg's neurasthenic 1909 "monodrama" "Erwartung" ("Expectation").

[Find out more about the music with the symphony program notes and my Symphony Preview article.]

Although separated by six decades, the two works have more in common than you might think. Musically, the expanded harmonic language of "Tristan" marked the start of a sea change in composition style that eventually led to the serialism of Schoenberg, with its complete demolition of conventional notions of consonance and dissonance. Dramatically, both "Tristan" and "Erwartung" mix images of love and death. Or, as Freud would have put it, Eros and Thanatos.

Wagner in Paris, 1861
In Wagner's opera, the musical and psychological tension set up by the unsettling "Tristan chord" in the first measures of the "Prelude" aren't resolved until nearly four hours later when Isolde, in the rapturous "liebestod," wills herself to join her lover Tristan in death. In "Erwartung" the mixture of the erotic and the violent that forms the subtext of "Tristan" comes to the forefront in "a stream of consciousness libretto (it starts on page 59 of that link) written by poet and medical student Marie Pappenheim and inspired by Freud's "The Interpretation of Dreams."

Scored for soprano and post-Wagnerian orchestra, "Erwartung" unfolds as a somewhat hallucinatory monolog in which the narrator (The Woman) wanders into a nocturnal forest expecting to meet her lover and instead finds his corpse. "The line between truth and fantasy grows increasingly blurred," writes Paul Schiavo in his program notes. "Who killed her lover? Did she do it herself? The only reference point is the dramatic impulse, but the protagonist is unreliable, in thrall to her own circuitous dream logic." Schoenberg himself, in his essay "New Music: My Music," said the aim of the piece "is to represent in slow motion everything that occurs during a single second of maximum spiritual excitement, stretching it out to half an hour."

This is demanding music, both for the audience and the soloist. Schoenberg's didactic, theme-free score is no easier on the ears now than it was over a century ago and the challenges it presents to the singer are substantial. She has to hold her own against a huge orchestra and convincingly portray a wide range of disordered emotions without tipping over into absurdity. It requires a performer with a powerful voice and exceptional acting skills.

Karita Mattila clearly has both. She gave us a jaw droppingly intense performance Friday night. A striking, statuesque figure in a slinky black gown and gray shawl, Ms. Mattila commanded attention from the moment she walked on stage during the final pages of the "Tristan" prelude and held it all the way through the deranged twists and turns of "Erwartung."

Schoenberg's Der Rote Blick (Red Gaze)
1910
en.wikipedia.org
The focus on the drama was enhanced by the canny use of lighting, as the house was dimmed more than usual and the orchestra illuminated by lights that changed color to match the mood of the text. The opening section describing the forest was all in green, for example, with a change to the silvery when the narrator's attention shifted to the moon. The lights went red when the narrator raged against a rival and then gold when the sun rose; very effective.

The orchestra's performance was no less impressive. The occasional massive musical explosion not withstanding, "Erwartung" has long solo and small ensemble passages that leave individual musicians very exposed. Peter Henderson on celesta and Allegra Lilly on harp acquitted themselves particularly well, I thought.

The concerts opened with a lush and passionate Brahms "Symphony No. 3" in which the rubato dial was cranked up to 11. I'm usually very impressed with Mr. Robertson's ability to highlight the musical architecture of a symphony while still retaining the dramatic tension of the music from beginning to end. This time things got rather sluggish as Mr. Roberson tended to linger lovingly over too many phrases and there were occasional intonation problems, especially in the third movement. It sounded somewhat under rehearsed in spots, which made me wonder whether or not it got short changed by the Schoenberg.

Next at Powell: Christian Tetzlaff is the soloist and Mr. Robertson is on the podium for Shostakovich's "Violin Concerto No. 1" and Sibelius's "Symphony No. 2." Performances are Saturday at 8 PM and Sunday at 3 PM, April 5 and 6. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

Friday, March 28, 2014

Chuck's Choices for the weekend of March 28, 2014

As always, the choices are purely my personal opinion. Take with a grain (or a shaker) of salt.

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New this week:

Mariposa Artists presents an encore performance of Liz Murphy's cabaret debut The Best is Yet to Come, Sunday, March 30, at 7 PM. The show is directed by Lina Koutrakos with music direction by Rick Jensen. “Liz shares the incredible opportunities of her life, the people that have influenced her, and her eagerness for self-discovery. This show celebrates the joy of new found possibilities: the spirit, energy, sparkle, and exuberance of a colorful life. With her musical partner, Rick Jensen, the evening of song will take us from Cy Coleman to Christopher Cross, Stephen Schwartz to Stephen Sondheim, Martina McBride to Julie Gold....just to mention a few.” The performance takes place at the Belleville Philharmonic, 116 North Jackson in Belleville, IL. For more information: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/567490

My take: Music director Rick Jensen and director Lina Koutrakos are major names in the cabaret world. I saw this show the first time around (last November) and was very impressed. For more information on the show, check out my interview with Ms. Murphy from last year.

The Presenters Dolan present an encore performance of Connie Fairchild: Down by the River on Friday, March 28, at 8 PM as part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. "As the lead singer of Fairchild, one of the most popular bands ever to call St. Louis home, Connie Fairchild was recognized by the RFT as Best Female Vocalist several times. A few years on, and Connie makes her cabaret debut in a show entitled Down By The River. Connie was mesmerized by the rhythms of the rivers that surrounded her home towns. Growing up in Kentucky on the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers, in Louisiana on the Mississippi, and then following the river up to St. Louis, her voice was chiseled from other voices she listened to from these lush environments, such as Irma Thomas and Rosemary Clooney." The performance takes place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information: gaslightcabaretfestival.com.

My take: I'll qualify this recommendation by noting that, as I wrote my review of the show last month, this is more of a themed concert than a cabaret show. That said, if you're a fan of Ms. Fairchild's work and/or go in not expecting traditional cabaret, I think you'll find this show great fun,

The Presenters Dolan present an encore performance of Joe Dreyer and Rosemary Watts: Swing Into Spring on Saturday, March 29, at 8 PM as part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. " Rosemary Watts and Joe Dreyer premier their new show "Swing Into Spring" at the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. Music from the masters of musical theatre makes up the heart of the show, with a few Dreyer originals too. The first couple of St. Louis cabaret brings a brand new show to the Gaslight stage." The performance takes place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information: gaslightcabaretfestival.com.

My take: I missed this show the first time around and will unfortunately do so this time as well. Which is a pity, because I'm a great admirer of Mr. Dreyer and his wife. The Dreyer/Watts team has been a fixture of the St. Louis cabaret scene for a while now, and Joe has solid credentials as an arranger and music director for a number of local artists. "With this first song," wrote KDHX's Laura Kyro in her review of the duo's February 2011 show at the Kranzberg, "they set the tone for the night, which was an obvious affection for each other and a joy in singing songs that were special to them."

Mariposa Artists Robert Breig in Making Every Moment Count: The Music of Peter Allen, Friday and Saturday, March 28 and 29, at 8 PM. The show is directed by Lina Koutrakos with music direction by Rick Jensen. “Robert Breig opens his new cabaret show "Making Every Moment Count - The Music of Peter Allen", March 28-29th, 8PM at the Kranzberg Arts Center. Rick Jensen serves as music director and arranger of songs that give us more than just a glimpse of Peter Allen's life in story and song....to Oz and beyond!” The performance takes place at the Kranzberg Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/559044

My take: Here's another show by a local cabaret pro that I'm going to miss due to schedule conflicts. That's my loss; Mr. Breig is an accomplished performer and cabaret producer. I can recommend this highly.

Photo: Jerry Naunheim, Jr.
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Michael Frayn's comedy Noises Off through April 13. “Disasters abound as a frantic, sleep-deprived touring company of actors rehearses and performs their fictional farce, Nothing On. Too many doors, too many sardines and not near enough time combine to create a riotously funny situation on and off stage for both cast and crew. Michael Frayn's intricately crafted mayhem is hailed as one of the greatest comedies ever written.” Performances take place on the mainstage at the Loretto-Hlton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves, MO. For more information, call 314-968-4925 or visit repstl.org.

My take: Reviews for this show have been overwhelmingly positive, and with good reason. Michael Frayn's script is an ingenious, brilliantly assembled laugh machine performed with all the necessary precision by a fine ensemble cast.

The Price
Photo: John Lamb
New Jewish Theater presents Arthur Miller's The Price through April 16. “Everything has a price. In one of the most emotional pieces that Arthur Miller ever wrote, two estranged brothers reunite for one day to sort and sell their deceased father's "furniture," before the building is torn down. The brothers are forced to deal with the price of decisions made in their shared past.” Performances take place in the Marvin and Harlene Wool Studio Theater at the Jewish Community Center, 2 Millstone Campus Drive in Creve Coeur. For more information: www.newjewishtheatre.org or call 314-442-3283.

My take: The play is a classic and reviews have been glowing. In her review for KDHX, Tina Farmer says that this is "an artfully staged, well-acted production that fully embraces the essential themes of playwright Arthur Miller. There's layered intention in every line and the cast, with strong, purposeful direction from Bruce Longworth, does an admirable job of navigating the playwright's subtleties and inferences while avoiding excess."

Held Over:

HotCity Theatre presents Red Light Winter by Adam Rapp through March 29. “A tempestuous love triangle smolders between two college buddies and the red light woman they share for a night. Sex, lies and decadence will change their lives forever!” Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, visit www.hotcitytheatre.org or call 314-289-4063.

My take: Critics have been impressed by this oddball play. "This is a doomed love story with comedy," writes Andrea Braun at Playbackstl.com, "or maybe a comedy with doomed love, or maybe a tragedy with some jokes...I'd call Red Light Winter another win for the always intriguing HotCity Theatre." Over at Ladue News, Mark Bretz says "Red Light Winter is sometimes graphic, frequently surprising and consistently engaging." HotCity has a good track record of bringing St. Louis new and unconventional shows.

Photo: Jill Ritter Lindberg
New Line Theatre presents the rock musical Rent Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM, through March 29. "New Line continues its 23rd season with Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer Prize winning, long-running rock opera Rent. This cheerfully transgressive, 1990s rock/pop riff on the classic story, set in New York City's East Village, is best described in its creator's own words: 'In these dangerous times, where it seems the world is ripping apart at the seams, we can all learn how to survive from those who stare death squarely in the face every day and we should reach out to each other and bond as a community, rather than hide from the terrors of life at the end of the millennium.'"Performances take place at the Washington University South Campus Theatre, 6501 Clayton Road. For more information: newlinetheatre.com.

My take: I've always been a fan of this musical. Jonathan Larson's score is inventive and stylistically eclectic and his lyrics are artful and intelligent. What strikes me about Rent is how much this modern and supposedly revolutionary show reminds me of another one to which those same adjectives were applied back in 1968: Hair, the show that defined the genre of rock musical. Like Hair, Rent takes jabs at the older generation - mine - and thumbs it's nose at the American status quo from the bottom of the economic pyramid. Unlike Hair, though, it's less overtly political, covers a wider emotional spectrum, and may actually be a better piece of theatre. In her review for KDHX, Tina Farmer describes this as "a memorable production filled with stolen chances, borrowed happiness and powerful emotions pulled from a constant state of movement, noise and distraction."

©Photo by Jerry Naunheim, Jr.
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Soups, Stews, and Casseroles: 1976 through March 30. “When the main employer in Monroe, Wisconsin is acquired by a major manufacturer, a once peaceful small town turns into a battleground as families struggle to retain their independence, identity and livelihoods. While new opportunities develop for some, difficult choices must be made, putting loyalties and relationships to the test. This world premiere play has been commissioned by The Rep and was developed through the Ignite! New Play Festival.” Performances take place in the studio theatre at the Loretto-Hlton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves, MO. For more information, call 314-968-4925 or visit repstl.org.

My take: As I write in my review for KDHX, this play addresses the slow poisoning of our culture by the empty values of the corporation and the marketplace using well-developed and credible characters in a way that's thoughtful, often funny, and consistently engrossing. Attention, as Linda Loman says in Death of a Salesman, must be paid.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Love and Death

The "Tristan" chord
commons.wikimedia.rg
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In his "Concord Hymn" Ralph Waldo Emerson describes the first shot of the American Revolutionary War as "the shot heard round the world." The same phrase has been applied to the shot that killed Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914. This weekend the St. Louis symphony will be playing the musical equivalent of "the shot heard round the world." Let's call it "the chord heard round the world." Its effect was less violent, but no less revolutionary in its own way.

The chord in question is called the "Tristan chord." It's heard at the very beginning of the work that opens the second half of this weekend's concerts, the Prelude to Wagner's 1857 opera "Tristan und Isolde." It sounds dissonant, even to modern ears and, in fact, many critics have pegged it as the first shot in the ongoing war on tonality in music (although just as many others dispute that idea). Certainly it seems to anticipate the expanded harmonic palette of post-Wagnerian composers like Richard Strauss and Mahler and, by extension, the active hostility to conventional notions of harmony and melody which are still more popular than they probably deserve to be in some compositional circles.

Ludwig and Malwine Schnorr von Carolsfeld in the title roles
of the original production of
Richard Wagner's Tristan und Isolde in 1865
But its significance goes beyond that. What's really revolutionary about it is that it never really resolves. The tension it creates isn't fully released, in fact, until nearly four hours later when Isolde, in the rapturous "liebestod," wills herself to join her lover Tristan in death.

The erotic subtext of the "liebestod" is undeniable to anyone who has ever heard it. What destroys Tristan and Isolde, after all, isn't some chaste affection but rather a consuming passion that drives them to betrayal. Which ultimately makes the "Tristan chord" a bit of foreplay before the longest musical orgasm on record.

Does that all sound a bit Freudian? It should. The relationship between the constructive and destructive instincts in the human psyche—sex and death, Eros and Thanatos—is a central concept of Freudian psychology. Which is what makes the piece the immediately follows the "Prelude" this weekend so appropriate.

With a stream of consciousness libretto inspired by Freud's "The Interpretation of Dreams," Arnold Schoenberg's 1909 monodrama "Erwartung" ("Expectation") for soprano and orchestra unfolds as a somewhat hallucinatory monolog in which the narrator (The Woman) wanders into a nocturnal forest expecting to meet her lover and instead finds his corpse. "The line between truth and fantasy grows increasingly blurred," writes Paul Schiavo in his program notes. "Who killed her lover? Did she do it herself? The only reference point is the dramatic impulse, but the protagonist is unreliable, in thrall to her own circuitous dream logic." Schoenberg himself, in his essay "New Music: My Music," said the aim of the piece "is to represent in slow motion everything that occurs during a single second of maximum spiritual excitement, stretching it out to half an hour."

Which, in a way, brings us back to "Tristan" and its four-hour climax.

"Erwartung" is, in any case, a major challenge for the soprano soloist. Writing for The Guardian, Andrew Clements notes that the music is "immensely taxing, demanding a huge vocal range and sometimes a Wagnerian power and authority, while the huge orchestra supports and challenges her in a web of ever-shifting colours and thematic shapes presented with chamber-like transparency." It's not surprising, then, that this weekend's singer, Karita Mattila, has an impressive musical and theatrical resume, with substantial experience in the music of the 20th century and beyond. Her program bio describes her as "an influential artistic force in the development of new music, regularly collaborating with eminent contemporary composers in the debut performances of significant modern works."

This weekend's concerts open with music that is about as far away as one can get from the psychological depths of Wagner and Schoenberg. Brahms's "Symphony No. 3 in F major," Op. 90 was written in the summer of 1883 when the composer was, to quote Mr. Schiavo, "robustly healthy, if fat, and had a lust for life—as well as for young women." It bubbles over with the joy Brahms took in walking the forests and mountains around Weisbaden. He stayed there in an airy studio overlooking the Rhine, and you can almost hear that majestic river in the sweep of the opening of this music. It's wonderful stuff.

The essentials: David Robertson conducts The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and soprano Karita Mattila in Wagner's "Prelude to Tristan and Isolde," Brahms's "Symphony No. 3," and Schoenberg's "Erwartung" on Friday and Saturday at 8 PM March 28 and 29, at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand. For more information: stlsymphony.org. The Saturday performance will be broadcast on St. Louis Public Radio, 90.7 FM, HD 1, and via live Internet stream.

Monday, March 24, 2014

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of March 24, 2014

Looking for auditions and other artistic opportunities? Check out the St. Louis Auditions site.]

For information on events beyond this week, check out the searchable database at the Regional Arts Commission's ArtsZipper site.

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Mariposa Artists presents an encore performance of Liz Murphy's cabaret debut The Best is Yet to Come, Sunday, March 30, at 7 PM. The show is directed by Lina Koutrakos with music direction by Rick Jensen. “Liz shares the incredible opportunities of her life, the people that have influenced her, and her eagerness for self-discovery. This show celebrates the joy of newfound possibilities: the spirit, energy, sparkle, and exuberance of a colorful life. With her musical partner, Rick Jensen, the evening of song will take us from Cy Coleman to Christopher Cross, Stephen Schwartz to Stephen Sondheim, Martina McBride to Julie Gold....just to mention a few.” The performance takes place at the Belleville Philharmonic, 116 North Jackson in Belleville, IL. For more information: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/567490

The Washington University Performing Arts Department presents Betrayal by Harold Pinter, Thursday and Friday at 8 PM, and Saturday at 2 and 8 PM and Sunday at 2 PM, March 27-20. " Harold Pinter's 1978 masterpiece about an adulterous love triangle, asks one big question: If you knew what a choice would cost you, would you still make it? With characteristically sparse dialogue and rich subtext, Pinter explores human desire and mines the depths one goes to satisfy it." Performances take place in the Studio Theatre in the Mallinckrodt Center on the Washington University campus. For more information: pad.artsci.wustl.edu or call (314) 935-5858.

The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents its Bullets in the Bathtub through April 27. The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com

Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville Department of Theater and Dance presents Pinter's The Caretaker through March 30. The performances take place on the campus in Edwardsville, IL. For more information, call 618-650-2774.

The Presenters Dolan present an encore performance of Connie Fairchild: Down by the River on Friday, March 28, at 8 PM as part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. " As the lead singer of Fairchild, one of the most popular bands ever to call St. Louis home, Connie Fairchild was recognized by the RFT as Best Female Vocalist several times. A few years on, and Connie makes her cabaret debut in a show entitled Down By The River. Connie was mesmerized by the rhythms of the rivers that surrounded her home towns. Growing up in Kentucky on the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers, in Louisiana on the Mississippi, and then following the river up to St. Louis, her voice was chiseled from other voices she listened to from these lush environments, such as Irma Thomas and Rosemary Clooney." The performance takes place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information: gaslightcabaretfestival.com. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

St. Louis University Theatre presents Five Women Wearing the Same Dress by Alan Ball March 28-30. Performances take place in Xavier Hall, 3373 West Pine Mall. For more information, call (314) 977-2998 or visit http://slu.edu/x38573.xml.

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents Flaming Saddles through April 27. The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents a staged reading of Georama - A Mostly True Story of the Forgotten John Banvard with book by West Hyler and Matt Schatz, music and lyrics by Matt Schatz, and additional music and lyrics by Jack Herrick on Saturday March 29, at 3:00 PM as part of the Ignite! New Play Festival. “In the mid 1800s, American artist John Banvard created the first georama, a 3,000 foot-long scrolled painting celebrating the beauty of the Mississippi River. His creation took him from the life of a starving artist to one of luxury and notoriety when his moving panorama became a nationwide hit. But can he handle the stresses and competition this new life brings or will his passion fall by the wayside in the search for fame and fortune?” The reading takes place at the Sally S. Levy Opera Center, 210 Hazel in Webster Groves. For more information, visit repstl.org.

Peabody Opera House presents Ghost the Musical, based on the popular film, Tuesday through Sunday, March 25-20. “Ghost The Musical delivers a visual experience unlike anything you've seen before. Relive the iconic and magical moments from the Oscar-winning movie in a brand-new Broadway musical that takes you on a thrilling adventure to the afterlife. You will be amazed to see inanimate objects take on a life of their own, a person walk through a solid door right before your eyes and other special effects that will astonish and leave you gasping.” For more information, visit peabodyoperahouse.com or call 314-622-5420.

The Presenters Dolan present an encore performance of Joe Dreyer and Rosemary Watts: Swing Into Spring on Saturday, March 29, at 8 PM as part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. " Rosemary Watts and Joe Dreyer premier their new show "Swing Into Spring" at the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. Music from the masters of musical theatre makes up the heart of the show, with a few Dreyer originals too. The first couple of St. Louis cabaret brings a brand new show to the Gaslight stage." The performance takes place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information: gaslightcabaretfestival.com.

Mariposa Artists Robert Breig in Making Every Moment Count: The Music of Peter Allen, Friday and Saturday, March 28 and 29, at 8 PM. The show is directed by Lina Koutrakos with music direction by Rick Jensen. “Robert Breig opens his new cabaret show "Making Every Moment Count - The Music of Peter Allen", March 28-29th, 8PM at the Kranzberg Arts Center. Rick Jensen serves as music director and arranger of songs that give us more than just a glimpse of Peter Allen's life in story and song....to Oz and beyond!” The performance takes place at the Kranzberg Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/559044

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Michael Frayn's comedy Noises Off through April 13. “Disasters abound as a frantic, sleep-deprived touring company of actors rehearses and performs their fictional farce, Nothing On. Too many doors, too many sardines and not near enough time combine to create a riotously funny situation on and off stage for both cast and crew. Michael Frayn's intricately crafted mayhem is hailed as one of the greatest comedies ever written.” Performances take place on the mainstage at the Loretto-Hlton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves, MO. For more information, call 314-968-4925 or visit repstl.org. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

The Price
Photo: John Lamb
New Jewish Theater presents Arthur Miller's The Price through April 16. “Everything has a price. In one of the most emotional pieces that Arthur Miller ever wrote, two estranged brothers reunite for one day to sort and sell their deceased father's "furniture," before the building is torn down. The brothers are forced to deal with the price of decisions made in their shared past.” Performances take place in the Marvin and Harlene Wool Studio Theater at the Jewish Community Center, 2 Millstone Campus Drive in Creve Coeur. For more information: www.newjewishtheatre.org or call 314-442-3283. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

The Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University presents Reckless by Craig Lucas Friday and Saturday at 7:30 PM and Sunday at 2 PM, March 28-20. “With Reckless... Mr. Lucas has given us a bittersweet Christmas fable for our time. It's a Wonderful Life as it might be reimagined for a bruising contemporary America in which homelessness may be a pervasive spiritual condition rather than a sociological crisis... Reckless has a simple emotional pull akin to that of a Crosby ballad born of the lonely World War II home front, it yanks us through every conceivable absurdist hoop, fracturing narrative, language and characterization on the way to its rending destination." Performances take place in the Stage III Auditorium in Webster Hall on the Webster University campus. For more information: www.webster.edu/fine-arts/departments/conservatory/index.html or call 314-968-7128

HotCity Theatre presents Red Light Winter by Adam Rapp through March 29. “A tempestuous love triangle smolders between two college buddies and the red light woman they share for a night. Sex, lies and decadence will change their lives forever!” Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, visit www.hotcitytheatre.org or call 314-289-4063. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

Photo: Jill Ritter Lindberg
New Line Theatre presents the rock musical Rent Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM, through March 29. "New Line continues its 23rd season with Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer Prize winning, long-running rock opera Rent. This cheerfully transgressive, 1990s rock/pop riff on the classic story, set in New York City’s East Village, is best described in its creator's own words: 'In these dangerous times, where it seems the world is ripping apart at the seams, we can all learn how to survive from those who stare death squarely in the face every day and we should reach out to each other and bond as a community, rather than hide from the terrors of life at the end of the millennium.'"Performances take place at the Washington University South Campus Theatre, 6501 Clayton Road. For more information: newlinetheatre.com. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

St. Louis Shakespeare presents Romeo and Juliet March 28 - April 6. Performances take place in the Thomas Hunter Theatre at DeSmet Jesuit High School, 233 N New Ballas Road. For more information, call 314-361-5664 or visit stlshakespeare.org.

©Photo by Jerry Naunheim, Jr.
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Soups, Stews, and Casseroles: 1976 through March 30. “When the main employer in Monroe, Wisconsin is acquired by a major manufacturer, a once peaceful small town turns into a battleground as families struggle to retain their independence, identity and livelihoods. While new opportunities develop for some, difficult choices must be made, putting loyalties and relationships to the test. This world premiere play has been commissioned by The Rep and was developed through the Ignite! New Play Festival.” Performances take place in the studio theatre at the Loretto-Hlton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves, MO. For more information, call 314-968-4925 or visit repstl.org. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

O'Fallon TheatreWorks presents Twelve Angry Jurors. at the O'Fallon Municipal Centre auditorium through March 30. The O'Fallon Municipal Centre is located at 100 North Main Street in O'Fallon, MO. For more information, visit www.ofallon.mo.us or call 636-379-5606.

The Fox Theatre presents the musical We Will Rock You through March 30. "From London's West End, the worldwide smash hit musical by Queen and Ben Elton comes to St. Louis for a limited engagement! We Will Rock You features the greatest hits of the legendary British rock group, Queen. Now in its 11th year in London and seen by a staggering 15 million people worldwide, this hilarious, multi-award-winning and record-breaking phenomenon boasts a fantastic score of killer Queen tunes that you just can't resist singing along to, such as Another One Bites The Dust, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, We Are The Champions, Bohemian Rhapsody and of course, We Will Rock You. It's the world champion of musicals and the show that rocks harder than any other, so don't miss the party - book your tickets now!" The Fox Theatre is at 517 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, call 314-534-1678. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

Would you like to be on the radio? KDHX, 88.1 FM needs theatre reviewers. If you're 18 years or older, knowledgeable in this area, have practical theatre experience (acting, directing, writing, technical design, etc.), have good oral and written communications skills and would like to become one of our volunteer reviewers, send an email describing your experience and interests to chuck at kdhx.org. Please include a sample review of something you've seen recently.

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Coming to America

Who: The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Robertson with violin soloist Gil Shaham
What: Music of Dvořák, Korngold, and Ingram Marshall
When: March 21 and 22, 2014
Where: Powell Symphony Hall

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Gil Shaham
Highlighting this weekend's St. Louis Symphony concerts is a pair impressive performances of works written right here in the good old USA (including one premiered in St. Louis) by visitors from abroad: Erich Wolfgang Korngold's 1945 "Violin Concerto" and Dvořák's 1893 "Symphony No. 9" ("From the New World").

Although separated by an almost fifty turbulent years in music history, the harmonic language of the two pieces isn't that much different—which is why the Korngold's concerto had to wait until the wave of Serialism and related compositional trends had begun to wane before it could start to get some respect.  Amply supplied with tunes recycled from Korngold's work as a film composer, the concerto has the late Romantic richness that you hear in the work of Richard Strauss and the other post Wagnerians coupled with ingenious and often unexpected bits of orchestration.  The celesta part (expertly played by Peter Henderson), for example, is large enough to almost make it a second solo instrument.  Combined with Allegra Lilly's fine harp work, the result was a kind of hallucinatory filigree that suggested a Hollywood dream sequence.

The concerto is probably familiar territory to soloist Gil Shaham (he recorded it with Andre Previn and the London Symphony back in 1994), so it's not surprising that he negotiated its many technically tricky passages with ease while not neglecting the lyricism that is at the heart of the piece.  "In spite of the demand for virtuosity in the finale," wrote the composer after hearing the concerto's premiere with Jascha Heifetz and the SLSO in 1947, "the work with its many melodic and lyric episodes was contemplated more for a Caruso than a Paganini."  There's a sense of longing in both the main theme of the first movement and (most notably) in all of the second movement "Romance" that needs to come through clearly, and we definitely got it from Mr. Shaham and Mr. Robertson Friday night.

That said, the balance between soloist and ensemble was less than ideal.  At least from our perch in row D of the dress circle, Mr. Shaham was often overwhelmed by the orchestra (which is, to be fair, a large one), even when he moved farther downstage.  I don't know how much of that was a performance issue and how much an acoustical one, although I'm inclined to suspect it's mostly the latter.

Mr. Shaham was warmly received by the audience Friday night, which applauded after every movement (something which was once commonplace in concert halls) and gave him a standing ovation at the end.  Mr. Shaham and Mr. Robertson responded with an encore: an echt Viennese (with really major luftpausen) of Kreisler's charming "Schön Rosmarin," including a bit of clowning around between Mr. Robertson and Mr. Shaham (who is, after all, his brother-in-law).

The concert concluded with a world class (or is that "new world class"?) Dvořák 9th from Mr. Robertson and the orchestra.  From the dramatically charged introduction to the electrifying final bars of the Allegro con fuoco, this was a "New World" that bristled with excitement and fine orchestral playing.  The famous "Goin' Home" English horn theme in the second movement was lovingly played by Cally Banham, the flute theme in the first movement got a particularly expressive treatment from Mark Sparks, and the brass section generally did itself proud.

Mr. Robertson intelligently shaped and paced this performance in ways that made the most of the work's strengths while minimizing its weaknesses (much as I love this piece, I understand how episodic it can be).  Tempi were well chosen, dynamics were just right—it all added up to a wonderfully coherent reading that revealed new aspects of a work which, I expect, many of us have heard so often that we could almost conduct it ourselves.

The concert opened with a relatively new work (it premiered in 2004): "Bright Kingdoms" by Connecticut-based composer Ingram Marshall.  Mr. Marshall is friend of composer John Adams (who is a major booster of Mr. Ingram's work) and a great lover of the compositional technique of mixing live and recorded sounds, which he's been doing since the 1970s.  Both approaches are evident in this music, which struck me as the sort of thing you might experience if you were listening to an Adams composition while someone in the next room was playing an old Tomita LP.

For me, the best thing about "Bright Kingdoms" was the lovely fugal central section for strings based on the hymn "Eventide" (most often heard with the words "Abide with Me").  The tune is also, apparently, the basis for a Swedish hymn, a distorted children's choir version of which is the basis for a long recorded section that takes up much of the final third of this 17-minute piece.  "Bright Kingdoms" rather wore out its welcome for me after that string chorale.  Judging from the polite applause, I probably wasn't the only one who thought so.

Next at Powell Hall:  David Robertson conducts the orchestra and soprano Karita Mattila in Wagner's Prelude to "Tristan and Isolde," Brahms's "Symphony No. 3," and Schoenberg's "Erwartung" on Friday  and Saturday at 8 PM March 28 and 29.  For more information: stlsymphony.org

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of March 24, 2014

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The Bach Society of St. Louis presents an Bach's St. John Passion on Sunday, March 30, at 3 PM at First Presbyterian Church of Kirkwood, 100 East Adams Ave. “Only Bach can produce great works of art that also take the listener on along a spiritual and emotional journey. The Leipzig master's setting of the Passion story from the Gospel of St. John combines powerful emotion with intense drama, providing a meaningful preparation for Lent. The Chorus and Orchestra are joined by five outstanding soloists who were featured in our recent St. Matthew Passion, tenor William Watson as the Evangelist, baritone Stephen Morscheck singing the role of Jesus, countertenor Jay Carter, tenor Lawrence Jones, bass Curtis Streetman, along with the Bach Society debut of soprano Kathryn Lewek.” For more information: www.bachsociety.org

The Community Music School of Webster University presents a concert of winning compositions from the 10th Annual Young Composers Competition on Saturday, March 29, at 3 PM. " The national competition selects winners in two levels: I. 12-16 years and II. 17-21 years. The 2013-2014 winners represent four different states. The concert will include a work by guest composer, Beth Denisch. Ms. Denisch's work has been described as "... wonderfully evocative ... simply splendid," David Cleary, New Music Connoisseur." The school is at 535 Garden Avenue in Webster Groves, MO. For more information: www.webster.edu/cms.

Karita Mattila
Photo: Lauri Eriksson
David Robertson conducts The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and soprano Karita Mattila in Wagner's Prelude to Tristan and Isolde, Brahms's Symphony No. 3, and Schoenberg's Erwartung on Friday and Saturday at 8 PM March 28 and 29, at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand. “Brahms constantly strived to embody and emulate the great symphonic model that Beethoven created. His Symphony No. 3 follows in Beethoven's path as a work unfolding with brilliant melody and harmony. A contemporary of Brahms, Wagner charted his own revolutionary path in the epic opera Tristan and Isolde with lush and powerful harmonies depicting a legendary love affair. Acclaimed by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch for “her big, steely voice and expressive charisma,” the captivating soprano Karita Mattila returns for Schoenberg's bone-chilling monodrama Erwartung.” For more information: stlsymphony.org Fill out an on-line form before Wednesday, March 26, and you might even win free tickets plus a gift certificate to Vito's!

Steve Lippia
Steve Lippia joins The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra for Simply Sinatra on Sunday, March 30, at 3 PM at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand. “Steve Lippia joins the STL Symphony in a special tribute to Ol' Blue Eyes that every Sinatra fan will want to hear including "Come Fly with Me," "Luck Be a Lady," "The Lady is a Tramp," "My Way" and more. The Symphony performs arrangements of Sinatra's classic tunes and accompanies Steve Lippia.” For more information: stlsymphony.org.

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and Maryville University's Music Therapy Program present Creative Music Making, part of the orchestra's SymphonyCares music therapy initiative, on Wednesday, March 26, at 7 PM in the Maryville University Auditorium. " This partnership between the Symphony and Maryville gives people with physical and mental disabilities an opportunity to learn about and create music together with Symphony musicians and Maryville students." The auditorium is at 650 Maryville University Drive in Town and Country, MO. For more information: www.stlsymphony.org/symphony_neighborhood

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents Manuela Kaymakanova, violin and Diana Umali, piano in a program of music of Brahms, Turina, Zlatev-Cherkin, and Bartok on Saturday, March 29, at 8 PM. “Manuela Kaymakanova was born in Rousse, Bulgaria, and began her violin studies at the age of five. She holds a Bachelor of Music from Webster University, where she received the Buder scholarship for gifted students and studied with Yuly Iliashov. Presently she teaches at the Community Music School of Webster University and maintains a private studio. Diana Umali completed her master's degree in Piano Performance with an emphasis in accompanying/chamber music from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in May 2006. She graduated summa cum laude from Saint Louis University, attaining a B.A. in Music Performance and B.S. in Finance. Currently she is a music professor at Southwestern Illinois College.” 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 on Friday, March 28, 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