Review: The Bach Society Illuminates the Sounds of the Season

In real estate, we are told, location is everything. During the Bach Society’s annual Christmas Candlelight Concert at Powell Hall on December 23rd, it occurred to me that the same can often be true of a performing arts event. Some seats are better than others, especially when there’s a strong visual component to the performance.

The Bach Society at Powell Hall

That’s not usually a major issue for classical concerts, but the Bach Society’s annual event isn’t like most. That’s primarily because of the candlelight procession that opens the second half. The lights dim and the members of the Bach Society walk down the aisles singing, each with an electric candle. If you're lucky enough to be sitting downstairs in the orchestra section, you're soon surrounded by singers—some carrying the melody, some the harmony, enveloping you in a constantly changing kaleidoscope of sound. It’s unforgettable.

This year, though, I was late in requesting tickets, so we were in what is now called the Mid Balcony. From up there, the chorus and orchestra still sounded fine, but the surround-sound experience of the candlelight procession was mixed down to stereo, and the procession itself wasn’t visible. That meant that over half of the audience at this sold-out concert missed what has become the event’s trademark.

That said, this first Candlelight Concert in the new Powell Hall did not lack for fine musicianship and holiday cheer. Bach Society Music Director and Conductor A. Dennis Sparger led the society’s orchestra and chorus with his usual authority, making the evening of holiday sounds old and new a fitting tribute to mark the Bach Society’s 85^th birthday.

Usually dedicated to more serious/traditional classical works, the first half of this year’s event was taken up almost entirely with a brightly celebratory performance of the 1990 Magnificat by Sir John Rutter (b. 1945). A prolific composer of choral music—including popular Christmas tunes such as “The Shepherd’s Pipe Carol,” “Angels’ Carol,”  and “Donkey Carol”—Rutter is one of what was, until fairly recently, a small number of contemporary composers writing in an accessible, audience friendly style. As Sparger writes in his program notes, the composer’s “infectious melodies, along with colorful harmonies and brilliant orchestrations…have made Rutter a favorite in churches, schools and concert halls around the world.”

The text of the Magnificat, per the composer’s web site, is “based on the prayer ascribed by St Luke [Luke I:46-55] to the Virgin Mary on learning that she was to give birth to Christ, [and] is extended by the interpolation of Marian prayers and poems chosen by the composer to create a celebratory work reminiscent of outdoor processions in honour of the Virgin.” In notes for a Naxos recording of the work, Rutter added that “it is mainly in the sunny southern countries—Spain, Mexico, Puerto Rico—that Mary is most celebrated and enjoyed. This led me to conceive the music as a bright Latin-flavoured fiesta.”

Scored for orchestra, chorus, and soprano solo, the Magnificat covers a wide range of moods, from the exuberant first movement (“Magnificat anima mea Dominum”) with its lively Latin-American percussion to the majestic and celebratory final movement (“Gloria Patri”), complete with a fervent Marian Antiphon in a translation by Ron Jeffers. The second movement, “Of a Rose, a Lovely Rose,” is a tranquil setting of an anonymous 15^th-century English poem comparing Mary to a rose. The fugal fifth movement, “Fecit potentiam in brachio suo” (“He has shown strength with His arm”), is a dramatic depiction of divine might reminiscent of Vaughan Williams—a sharp contrast with the rocking, near-lullaby “Esurientes implevit bonis” (“The hungry He has filled with good things”) that follows.

Under Sparger’s sympathetic direction, the Bach Society Orchestra and Chorus ensured that all those moods and colors came through with superb clarity.  The occasional cracked note in the horns and brasses notwithstanding, this was quite a solid reading and created the proper festive spirit.

Emily Birsan

Soprano Emily Birsan, who was the soloist the last time the Bach Society presented the Magnificat in 2016, brought a pure and precise tone and good stage presence to her performance. The part calls for a wide vocal range, dipping into the low end of the soprano tessitura in “Esurientes,” but Birsan sounded entirely comfortable with it.

Birsan returned in the second half of the concert for an impressively virtuosic “Laudamus Te” from Mozart’s Great Mass in C minor, K. 427. The composer wrote this and other soprano solos in the Mass with the coloratura voice of his future wife, Constanze Weber, in mind, so a large range and vocal flexibility are called for. Birsan is a lyric soprano rather than a coloratura per se, but she sounded very much on top of her game in the piece.

Other highlights of the evening included a pair of inventive arrangements by Texas-based composer/arranger Tyler Scott Davis of the classic carols “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”  and “Joy to the World.” The former wrapped the 15^th-century tune in a shimmering, modernist haze while the latter had an appropriately triumphal feel that placed the shining brass section in the foreground. The Latin-American sound of “Angels We Have Heard on High” (by Dr. Barlow Bradford of the University of Utah) was a pleasant surprise and kept percussionists Erin Elstner and Paul Brumleve busy with multiple instruments, including marimba, gourd, wood block, and bongos.

The program included a recurring favorite, A Musicological Journey through the 12 Days of Christmas by contemporary American composer Craig Courtney. In this witty arrangement of the popular Christmas memory challenge, each verse is orchestrated in the style of a different composer and/or musical era. As a bonus, most of the arrangements also include a nod to the lyrics.

So, for example, the “seven swans a-swimming” uses the “Swan” theme from Saint-Saëns’s Carnival of the Animals, the “eleven pipers piping” is set to the “Dance of the Mirlitons” (toy flutes) from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker, the “eight maids a-milking” become the eight Valkyries from Wagner’s Die Walküre, and the “twelve drummers drumming” are setting the beat for Sousa’s Stars and Stripes Forever. The program lists only the century and country of inspiration for each verse (e.g., “19th-century France” for Saint-Saëns), leaving it to listeners to fill in the blanks. Judging from the laughter, the audience had no difficulty doing so. I’m not sure the visual jokes (mostly chorus members dancing in period costumes) added anything, but neither did they detract.

Now that they are back in Powell Hall, my hope is that the Bach Society can make better use of the space in the future. Use of the hall’s projected text capabilities, for example, would have been helpful during the Magnificat, as would an awareness of the fact that placing soloists too far down stage center makes them invisible to some of the balcony seats.

The Bach Society’s 2026 season continues with Parts II and III of Handel’s Messiah in March, Bach’s Magnificat in May, and the 2026 Bach Festival at multiple locations this spring. More information is available at the Bach Society web site.

Review: Virtual seasonal joy with the Bach Society

As it has every Christmas season since 1951, the Bach Society of St. Louis presented its Candlelight Concert last week (Wednesday, December 23rd). It's a local tradition grounded in fine musicianship and intelligent programming and marred only by the fact that it lasts but one night.

This being 2020, though, the concert was presented not for a live crowd in Powell Hall, but for an on-line audience nationwide. Running a little over an hour, the program combined video recordings of Music Director A. Dennis Sparger conducting the full orchestra and chorus at Powell Hall in previous Candlelight Concerts with Mr. Sparger leading a 20-member masked chorus with piano accompaniment at Cathedral of St. Peter in Belleville. It very effectively recalled the warm, seasonal spirit of those memorable live concerts. It also worked pretty well as a stand-alone event, the variable quality of some of the older videos notwithstanding.

The Bach Society at Powell Hall

Highlights from those past concerts included a lovely arrangement by Utah Symphony Chorus Director Barlow Bradford of the traditional British “Sussex Carol” and an infectiously joyous version by Steve Barnett of the traditional “Go Tell It On the Mountain” that had a nice sense of swing. The singers were clearly enjoying themselves—all smiles and hand claps in the final refrain—and soloists Jenny Ubi, Joe Codispoti, and Shawn Neace all brought their own individual styles to their verses. The syncopated rhythms and bracingly astringent harmonies of 20th-centry Welsh composer William Mathias’s arrangement of the old English carol “Sir Christèmas” offered a pleasant contrast to more traditional fare and were performed with impressive precision by the orchestra and chorus.

The most popular aspect of the Candlelight Concerts has always been the procession that always opens the second half. The lights dim, and the members of the Bach Society walk down the aisles singing, each with an electric candle. Those lucky enough to be sitting downstairs in the orchestra section are soon surrounded by singers, enveloping the listener in a constantly changing kaleidoscope of sound. You could never really capture that on video, of course, but the recording included in this year’s concert did bring back pleasant memories of that unique experience.

The newly-recorded segment had a unique charm of its own. Under Mr. Sparger’s sure direction, the small chorus sang with remarkable clarity despite their masks and Sandra Geary provided solid piano accompaniment. As Mr. Sparger noted in remarks during the broadcast, the St. Peter Cathedral was originally chosen for recording because its size made physical distancing easier, but the reverberant acoustics also had the benefit of adding a sense of power to the music. Recording engineer Paul Hennerichs deserves congratulations for getting clear, coherent sound out of what must have been a challenging sonic landscape.

The mix of material for that segment was nicely balanced, combining two traditional carols (“The Carol of the Bells” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”) with Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” (fitted out with new lyrics by the late Leonard Van Camp of SIU-Edwardsville) and the film classic “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” That last one is especially poignant in this Year of the Plague, which made traditional holiday gatherings a source of hazard instead of happiness. “Someday soon, we all will be together,” runs the original lyric, “if the fates allow.” We can but hope.

The program concluded on a lighter note with contemporary American composer Craig Courtney’s witty arrangement of “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” in which each verse was orchestrated in the style of a different composer and/or musical era. As a bonus, most of the arrangements also included a nod to the lyrics.

So, for example, the “seven swans a-swimming” uses the “Swan” theme from Saint-Saëns’s “Carnival of the Animals,” the “eleven pipers piping” is set to the “Dance of the Mirlitons” (toy flutes) from Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker,” the “eight maids a-milking” become the eight Valkyries from Wagner’s “Die Walküre,” and the “twelve drummers drumming” are setting the beat for Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever.” The program lists only the century and country of inspiration for each verse (e.g., “19th-century France” for Saint-Saëns), leaving it to listeners to fill in the blanks. Judging from the laughter, the audience at the concert where this was recorded had no difficulty doing so.

The Bach Society’s on-line Candlelight Concert was a one-time-only event, and the Society’s calendar for 2021 has yet to be publicly announced, but you can keep in touch with their plans at their web site.

This article originally appeared at 88.1 KDHX, where Chuck Lavazzi is the senior performing arts critic.

Symphony Preview: Christmas time is here

This article originally appeared at 88.1 KDHX, where Chuck Lavazzi is the senior performing arts critic.

Kevin McBeth and the IN UNISON® Chorus

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If you can't wait until December 25th to open your presents, take heart; the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra has some musical stocking stuffers for you right now.

December 14: Kevin McBeth leads the IN UNISON® Chorus in A Gospel Christmas -- The originally scheduled soloist, Grammy Award-winning jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves, has had to cancel due to unexpected health concerns. Appearing in her place will be St. Louis native Brian Owens, an accomplished singer and recording artist in his own right. The program will include Gospel favorites, popular Christmas tunes, and Yuletide classics like Adolphe Adam's "Oh Holy Night," with tenor Robert Jackson doing the high-flying solo. There's even a soulful version of the "Hallelujah Chorus" from "Handel's Messiah: a Soulful Celebration" by Paul David Wilson. Tenor Curtis McGruder will be the featured soloist for that one.

Celebrating its 21st season with the SLSO, the IN UNISON® Chorus is "an all-volunteer, 120-voice auditioned ensemble that performs a variety of musical styles, with a focus on the interpretation, performance, and preservation of the music of African-American and African cultures." Kevin McBeth, who became director of the chorus in 2011, is Director of Music at Manchester United Methodist Church and serves as full-time administrator for the Music Ministry, which includes 18 choral and handbell ensembles, involving nearly 500 youngsters and adults.

Note that this show always sells well and, in fact, only a limited number of tickets are available as this is being written.

Doug Labrecque

December 15-17: The Mercy Holiday Celebration -- Resident Conductor Gemma New leads the orchestra and Holiday Festival Chorus (consisting of students from local schools and colleges conducted by Kevin McBeth) in a program of traditional carols and seasonal pop songs. The featured soloist is singer and actor Doug Labrecque, whose stage credits include the roles of both the Phantom and Raoul in the Harold Prince production of Phantom of the Opera.

The program this year includes one of my all-time favorite Christmas medleys, Leroy Anderson's A Christmas Festival, along with selections from Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker, a mix of traditional and contemporary holiday songs, a "Holiday Sing-Along," and a suite from Alan Silvestri's score for the film Polar Express. There will also presumably be the annual "surprise" visit from Santa (usually played by the ever-charming Whit Richert). "Pops" events like this are usually big moneymakers for the orchestra and great fun as well. Only a dedicated Scrooge could complain.

The Bach Society at Powell Hall

December 19: The Bach Society Christmas Candlelight Concert -- Soloists Scott Kennebeck , Martha J. Hart and Sari Gruber join the Bach Society Chorus and Orchestra for Handel's Messiah and the usual assortment of traditional holiday carols. What makes this annual program truly special, though, is the candlelight procession that starts the second half.

The lights dim, and the members of the Bach Society walk down the aisles singing, each with an electric candle. If you're lucky enough to be sitting downstairs in the orchestra section, you find yourself surrounded by singers - some carrying the melody, some harmony, enveloping you in a constantly changing kaleidoscope of sound. Charles Ives would have loved it. It's a St. Louis tradition and every music lover should get to experience it at least once.

This isn't an SLSO event, but the SLSO is handling the ticketing and it does take place in Powell Hall, so I figured it's fair game for this article.

December 21-23: The Music of John Williams -- SLSO Music Director David Robertson is a great admirer of the work of famed film composer John Williams, and his concerts of Williams film music have become something of a holiday tradition in recent years.

John Williams receiving the
2009 National Medal of Arts
from President Obama

Mr. Williams, who will turn 86 in February, is probably the best known and most frequently recorded film music composer of the last 100 years. He's certainly one of the most honored, with five Oscars, four Golden Globes, 22 Grammys, seven BAFTA awards, and, for all I know, a partridge in a pear tree. With 49 Oscar nominations, he is the second most-nominated individual in that award's history. His most visible work has been for blockbusters like Jurassic Park, the first Harry Potter film, the Indiana Jones films, and the Star Wars series, but Mr. Williams's involvement with the film music business extends all the way back to his days as a jazz keyboardist and film and TV studio pianist. Remember piano riff for Peter Gunn? That's him.

The program for this year hasn't been released yet, but the SLSO web site promises music from ET, Schindler's List, The Cowboys, Superman and Star Wars. If the concert two years ago was any indication, I'd expect selections from the Harry Potter films as well and if a program this close to Christmas doesn't include the popular "Christmas Memory" song from that Home Alone, I'll eat my mistletoe.

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of January 11, 2016

Bass Ravi Raghuram

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The Bach Society of St. Louis presents a Young Artist Recital on Sunday, January 17, at 4 p.m. "The Young Artist Scholarship Program was established in 1989 to provide performance experience and enhance professional training for career-oriented soloists, some of whom now sing in concert halls and opera houses across the country. The 2014-2015 Young Artists are joined by pianist Sandra Geary for an afternoon featuring Bach solo arias and duets, as well as personal favorites from operatic and recital repertoire. Enjoy hearing soprano Madalyn Mentor, mezzo soprano Katherine Menke, tenor Jimmy Stevens and baritone Ravi Raghuram on their path to careers as soloists. Presented jointly with the Couts Music Series of Second Presbyterian Church. Free admission." The concert takes place at Second Presbyterian Church, 4501 Westminster Place in the Central West End. For more information: bachsociety.org.

The Missouri Chamber Music Festival presents Pro Jam for the ProAm Thursday, January 14, at 6 p.m. " Join the Missouri Chamber Music Festival for a chamber music party celebrating MOCM's Pro-Am Intensive Workshop. Guaranteed fun, whether you join the chamber music readings with our Pros or just sit back and listen." 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 St. Louis Art Museum presents a high-definition video broadcast of the Metropolitan Opera's production Bizet's The Pearl Fishers on Saturday, January 16, at 1 p.m. "Bizet's gorgeous opera of lust and longing set in the Far East returns to the Met stage for the first time in 100 years. Soprano Diana Damrau stars as Leïla, the beautiful Hindu priestess pursued by rival pearl divers competing for her hand. Director Penny Woolcock explores the timeless themes of pure love, betrayal, and vengeance in a production that vividly creates an undersea world on the stage of the Met." The live digital HD video broadcast from New York takes place in The Farrell Auditorium at the Art Museum in Forest Park. For more information: slam.org.

David Robertson

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Robertson presents Olivier Messaien's From the Canyons to the Stars on Saturday, January 16, at 8 PM at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand. The performance features piano soloist Peter Henderson and video artist Deborah O'Grady. "After a 1972 visit to Bryce Canyon and neighboring parks, French composer Olivier Messiaen set out to create an extraordinary musical creation capturing the vastness of National Parks in the American West. From the Canyons to the Stars..., a monumental work never performed in St. Louis, features intoxicating colors and beguiling rhythms alongside projected video and images of nature by visual artist Deborah O'Grady and insightful commentary led by Music Director, David Robertson. This awesome musical narrative is performed in honor of the 100th anniversary of the National Park System." For more information: stlsymphony.org.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents a classical open stage night on Monday, January 11, 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.

The Arianna String Quartet

The Touhill Performing Arts Center presents The Arianna Orchestra Festival on Tuesday, January 12, at 6 PM. "The Arianna String Quartet proudly presents it's annual Orchestra Festival. Providing the best educational opportunities for the next generation of our best musicians has always been a primary mission of the Arianna String Quartet. This festival is certainly no exception. After a day of rehearsals, sectionals, masterclasses and touring the campus with members of the Arianna String Quartet, three of the top high school orchestras in our area will perform beginning at 6 p.m. in the Anheuser-Busch Performance Hall. All three orchestra will perform under the direction of our very own Dr. James Richards. Please join us and experience what these young people are able to accomplish in a day by helping us celebrate this great night of music and the immense talent of these students." The Touhill Performing Arts Center in on the University of Missouri at St. Louis campus. For more information: touhill.org.

Concert Review: The annual magic of the Bach Society Christmas Candlelight Concert, December 23, 2015

The Bach Society at Powell Hall

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As it has every Christmas season since 1951, the Bach Society of St. Louis presented its Candlelight Concert last night. It's a local tradition grounded in fine musicianship and intelligent programming, and marred only by the fact that it lasts but one night.

For those of you who have never had the pleasure of attending this annual gala, the concert is in two parts. The first is the more "serious" of the two and usually features the traditional classical repertoire.

This year, in anticipation of the organization's 75th anniversary, the focus was on selections that have graced previous Candlelight Concerts, beginning with a lively and lucid performance by the chorus and orchestra of "Jauchzet, frohlocket" ("Shout for joy"), from Bach's "Christmas Oratorio" under the baton of the Bach Society's long-time music director A. Dennis Sparger. The trumpet section is featured prominently in the music, and delivered it with wonderful clarity and precision.

Noted soprano and area native Christine Brewer (born in Grand Tower, Illinois, just a couple hours south of St. Louis) was the soloist for the next two selections, the brief "Et exultavit" (the second movement from Bach's "Magnificat") and some selections from Part 1 of Handel's "Messiah." Her voice was clear and fluid, and the tessitura of all the selections sounded like a good fit for her.

Christine Brewer
Photo: Christian Steiner

When she returned in the second half of the concert for a chorus and orchestra arrangement by Mack Wilberg of Adolphe Adam's Greatest Hit, "O Holy Night," she seemed not entirely comfortable with the low notes in the opening, but really nailed the rest of it, garnering a well-earned standing ovation.

The first half of the concert concluded with "Christmas Medley" an inventive arrangement of three carols by Utah Symphony chorus master Barlow Bradford that made nice use of the chimes, xylophone, and other percussion instruments.

It's the second half of the concert that gives the event its name, though, and it's undoubtedly the most anticipated part. It consists traditional carols sung by the Bach Society choir, assisted by the St. Louis Children's Choirs. It opens with the candlelight procession. The lights dim, and the members of the Bach Society walk down the aisles singing, each with an electric candle. If you're lucky enough to be sitting downstairs in the orchestra section, you're soon surrounded by singers—some carrying the melody, some the harmony, enveloping you in a constantly changing kaleidoscope of sound. Meanwhile the sound of the children's choir floats down from the dress circle upstairs.

Giovanni Gabrielli, that great exponent of the antiphonal school of 16th century Venetian choral composition, would have loved it. Heaven knows I did.

The rest of the second half focused on carols old and new, often in ingenious and delightful arrangements. I was especially taken with Stephen Paulus's setting of "I Sing the Birth" for chorus, harp, flute, and percussion, as well as Stephen Mager's version of the Medieval German carol "Resonet in Laudibus," with its little trio of female voices set antiphonally against the full chorus.

I even enjoyed the lively reworking of the traditional Burgundian carol "Pat-a-Pan," with its Las Vegas-style Latin congas. In fact, percussionists Erin Elstner and Kim Shelley deserve a special nod for their versatile work throughout the evening.

Mr. Sparger oversaw it all in fine form on the podium, handling the program's variety of musical styles with ease and occasionally narrating with dry humor.

The St. Louis Children's Choirs had their moments in the spotlight as well, under the direction of Karen Kaibel and Emily Pikaard, with John Leavitt's arrangement of "People Look East," a version of "O Come Little Children" incorporating the orchestral accompaniment of the final chorus from Bach's BWV 147 cantata (better known as "Jesu, joy of man's desiring"), and "Believe" from the animated film "Polar Express."

The Bach Society's Candlelight Concert is over, but the organization has some ambitious programming lined up for its 75th anniversary season. You can find out more at bachsociety.org.

Dance Review: Nasville Ballet's "Carmina Burana" is even better the second time around

Photo: Marianne Leach

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Although usually presented as a concert piece, Carl Orff's 1936 "Carmina Burana" was always intended to be theatrical, with some mimed action and "magic tableaux." The first performance in Frankfurt in 1937 was fully staged, in fact, with dancers, sets, and costumes.

Photo: Heather Thorne

Nashville Ballet's "Carmina Burana," originally presented at the Touhill back in 2013, made an encore appearance there this past weekend, once again under the aegis of Dance St. Louis. With 40 dancers, 120 singers, and 60 musicians, including The University of Missouri-St. Louis Orchestra and Singers, The Bach Society of Saint Louis, and The St. Louis Children's Choirs, it was, once again, a stunning work of dance theatre that succeeded both as Spectacle and as Art.

The first (and least sexually explicit) of Orff's "Trionfi" trilogy of choral theatre works, "Carmina Burana" derives its title from an 1847 collection of secular poetry by anonymous authors from the 12th and 13th centuries that turned up in 1803 in the Benedictine monastery in Beuren, Germany. As befits their "vulgar" status, the poems celebrate not the theoretical joys of heaven but rather the practical ones of earth: spring, sex, food, sex, drink, gambling, and sex. They also recognize something that we moderns have lost track of, to our detriment: the heavy influence of blind chance on our lives. The setting of "Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi" ("Fortune, Empress of the World"), which opens and closes the work, reminds us that the wheel of fortune is always turning and that none of us should get too cocky, as the universe has a tendency to dope-slap the excessively smug.

Photo: Heather Thorne

Nashville Ballet Artistic Director and choreographer Paul Vasterling and visual designer Eric Harris emphasize that centrality of Lady Fortuna by making her a key character in the ballet. Fortuna begins and ends the evening surrounded by a massive, stage-filling "wheel of fortune" skirt that neatly establishes her dominance, but she also interacts with individual dancers to emphasize fate's capricious influence. Kayla Rowser was Fortuna in this revival, and she alternated beautifully between the faux-mechanical precision of the impersonal wheel and the seduction of Lady Luck.

This realization of "Carmina Burana" was, in fact, filled with striking images that beautifully complement the lyrics. Let me cite a few that will, I hope, give you a feel for the remarkable quality of what Mr. Vasterling, Mr. Harris, and the dancers accomplished.

Photo: Heather Thorne

For "In Taberna quando sumus" (labeled "The Drinking Song" here) the stage was filled with dancers in wine-red outfits reeling about in drunken but very precise abandon while the lyrics reeled off a list of the many types who come to the tavern to imbibe. The bird being roasted for dinner in "Olim lacus coleuram" (The Roasted Swan") was costumed all in white and danced entirely en pointe, as though trying to escape the flames. She was eventually surrounded in fiery red-on-white banners and carried off the stage by dancers in red. Katie Vasilopoulos danced the role this time with a sense of heart-rending distress.

The "Spring" section underscored the lyrical parallels between the awakening of the earth and the awakening of human desire with a succession of colorful and flirtatious dances. In "Floret silva nobilis" ("The Maypole"), for example, the dancers were costumed in spring-like pastels and, at one point, danced around a human Maypole. "Chramer, gib de varwe mir" ("More Joys of Spring") made the sex/spring parallel even more obvious with poses of adolescent sexual braggadocio and cheerful coupling.

Photo: Heather Thorne

I could go on, but you get the idea. The Nashville Ballet's "Carmina Burana" was a visual treat of the highest order.

Musically, "Carmina Burana" was noticeably more polished this time around than it was in 2013. Perhaps the best work came from the combined voices of the Bach Society and UMSL University Singers. Deployed on risers behind and to the sides of the dancers, they were powerful, to say the least. Elocution was quite impressive, given how widely separated the singers were, although I suspect audience members who were not familiar with the music might have benefited from projected text.

Soprano Stella Markou and tenor Tim Waurick repeated their roles from 2013. Ms. Markou had a bit of difficulty with that absurdly difficult coloratura moment in "Dulcissime" ("Sweetest One" in the program) but sounded great otherwise. And Mr. Waurick's roasting swan was, once again, one of the most dramatic I've heard. Baritone Adam Stefo turned in compelling performances of some very difficult music ("Dies, nox et omnia," with its rapid switch between falsetto and chest voice, is a real killer). His solo in "Ego sum abbas" ("The Bad Abbott") was a wonderful combination of skillful musicianship and theatricality, complete with drunken hiccups.

The St. Louis Children's Choir, deployed in box seats house right and left, were also most impressive, holding their own even through the tricky tempo changes towards the end of "Tempus est iocundum."

Photo: Heather Thorne

The UMSL University Orchestra, conducted by James Richards, sounded more robust and cohesive than they did back in 2013, a few minor brass intonation problems not withstanding. Orff's big brass and percussion sections had the proper impact, and more intimate moments like the "Round Dance" had just the right delicacy. Congratulations to them and Mr. Richards for a job well done.

The evening opened with "La Fontana," a new work choreographed by Dance St. Louis Artistic and Executive Director Michael Utoff to Bach's "Concerto for Violin and Oboe in C minor," BWV 1060, and performed by Saint Louis Ballet. As a choreographer, Mr. Utoff seems to have a remarkable affinity for Bach and an excellent eye for movement that creates visual analogs to the composer's musical structures. Four women costumed as classical Greek statues (ivory togas and coronets) suggested the fountain of the title, an image enhanced by their fluid movement. They were soon joined by three more colorfully costumed couples: the men in red-orange classical outfits and the women in flowing pastel gowns and long gloves. As the work progressed, the two groups began to interact, until, at the end, the couples became the fountain and the four women struck statuesque poses on the outside.

The movement enhanced and complemented Bach's music, in short, without trying to impose a story thread on it. It was a nice contrasting choice to the more literally narrative choreography of "Carmina Burana," just as Bach's chamber music was a well-chosen contrast to Orff's far more massive work.

Oboist Ann Homan and violinist Julia Sakharova were flawless in the solo roles, intertwining beautifully in Bach's elaborate counterpoint.

Dance St. Louis's Bach/Orff double bill will be over by the time you read this, of course, but I still want to congratulate them on bringing this crowd pleaser back for another appearance. Fully staged productions of "Carmina Burana" are rare, so the chance to see one of this quality was most welcome. The Dance St. Louis season continues with MOMIX in "Alchemia" at the Touhill January 29 and

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of November 9, 2015

The Back Society of St. Louis

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The Bach Society of St. Louis presents a chamber music concert on Sunday, November 15 at 2:30 PM at The Church of Saint Michael and Saint George, 6345 Wydown. “Concertmaster Lenora-Marya Anop is joined by members of the Bach Society Orchestra, including harpsichordist Charles Metz, cellist Ken Kulosa, flutist Catherine Edwards, and pianist Sandra Geary in an informal program of Bach instrumental works. Limited seating in the old-world ambiance of the Great Hall. Meet and chat with the performers over a glass of wine after the performance.” For more information: www.bachsociety.org.

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra presents Pulitzer Concert 02 on Wednesday, November 11, at 7:30 p.m. David Robertson conducts members of the orchestra in music of Steve Reich. The concert takes place at the Pulitzer Foundation on Washington in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

David Robertson conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, with soprano Christine Goerke, on Friday and at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m., November 13-15. The program features Beethoven's Symphony No. 6 ("Pastoral"), Webern's Six Pieces for Orchestra, and Richard Strauss's Four Last Songs. The concerts take place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

The St. Louis Wind Symphony and pianist Jennifer Lim-Judd perform Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue and other wind band compositions on Friday, November 13, at 7:30 PM. The performance takes place at East Central College, 1964 Prairie Dell Road in Union, MO. For more information: stlwindsym.org.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents a classical open stage night on Monday, November 9, 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.

The Chamber Project St. Louis

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents The Chamber Project St. Louis in A Very Open Rehearsal on Tuesday, November 10, at 7:30 PM. "What happens when a piece of music is rehearsed for the very first time? What happens when the piece of music is brand new? Find out when we work with composer Christopher Stark as we rehearse his new piece, written just for us! You get to be a part of the process as the reheasal is open for questions!" The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents Ingrid Popp in an evening of music for unaccompanied viola by Bach, Vieuxtemps, Reger, Lillian Fuchs, and John Corgliano on Saturday, November 14, at 5 p.m. The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

The Washington University Department of Music presents a program of German lieder by Schubert, Mendelssohn, and Weber on Sunday, November 15, at 7 p.m. "Esteli Gomez, a soprano with a 'floating, angelic voice and a powerful presence', Eric Hoeprich, the uncontested master of the classical clarinet, and Seth Carlin on the Graf fortepiano, perform Schubert's bucolic lied as well as other songs and sonatas of Mendelssohn and Weber." The performance takes place at the 560 Music Center, 560 Trinity in University City. For more information: music.wustl.edu.

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of April 20, 2015

The Bach Society at St. Stanislaus Church

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The Bach Society of St. Louis presents Faire is the Heaven on Sunday, April 26, at 3:0 p.m. at Second Presbyterian Church, 4501 Westminster Place. "Post-Dispatch critic Philip Kennicott hailed Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Mass in G minor, as "a summit of the 20th-century choral repertoire" when we performed it in 1997. This magnificent mass for double chorus will be performed again by our chorus and is sure to leave a lasting impression as it did 18 years ago. Music from the English choral tradition, including works by Philips, Byrd, Stanford, Tallis, Howells and Harris is also included on the program." For more information: www.bachsociety.org.

The Chamber Music Society of St. Louis presents Brasstravaganza on Monday and Tuesday, April 20 and 21, at 7:30 p.m. "Chamber Music Society of St. Louis presents an evening of fanfares and antiphonal brass, performing chamber music of the highest quality in a relaxed, informal, cabaret style where audiences can have an entertaining evening as they sit at a table with friends, share a bottle of wine and light snacks while enjoying beautiful music performed by some of the finest musicians in St. Louis." The performance takes place in The Sheldon Concert Hall at 3648 Washington. For more information: chambermusicstl.org.

The Chamber Project St. Louis

The Chamber Project St. Louis presents Vernacular, featuring works by Tower, Beaser, Ozgen, Allison, and Schubert on Wednesday, April 22, at 7:00 PM. The performance takes place at the World Chess Hall of Fame, 4652 Maryland Avenue. For more information: www.chamberprojectstl.org

Gateway Opera presents Mozart's The Impresario Friday and Saturday, April 24 and 25, at 7:00 p.m. "In this hilarious hour-long show, an entrepreneur struggles to hold together an opera company filled with affairs, feuding singers, and a strained budget. This new expanded English edition commissioned by Gateway Opera features favorites from other Mozart operas including Così fan tutte, The Magic Flute, Idomeneo and more!" Performances take place at the Kranzberg Center 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: 1-800-838-3006 or gatewayopera.org.

The Missouri History Museum presents The Seven Deadly Sins, a concert by CHARIS, the St. Louis Women’s Chorus, on Friday, April 24, at 8 p.m. in the Lee Auditorium. "Pride. Envy. Wrath. Gluttony and Lust. Sloth and Greed. Join CHARIS for a tongue-in-cheek look at the weird and darkly comic world of sin, as told through song." The Missouri History Museum is at Skinker and DeBaliviere in Forest Park. For more information: mohistory.org.

Emanuel Ax

David Robertson conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra with pianist Emanuel Ax on Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m., April 25 and 26. Ax will be the soloist in Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 2. The concerts will include music by Elgar and Glanert. The concerts take place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents Wanda Becker, violin; Andrew Rubin, cello; and Daniel Schene, piano on Tuesday, April 21, at 8 p.m. They will perform Schubert's Trio in B-flat Major, Op. 99. Daniel Schene will also Schubert's Piano Sonata in A Major, Op. 120. The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents pianist Mike Ring on Wednesday, April 22, at 8 p.m. "Pianist Mike Ring presents his first solo recital in over two years. He will perform Impressionistic music and piano works of Brazilian composer Hietor Villa-Lobos as well as Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin, Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue by J.S. Bach, Piano Sonata No. 3 by Sergei Prokofiev. Piano Sonata No. 1 - First Movement by Rodion Shchedrin, and a few short collaborations with friends." The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

Alan Mohammed and Chad Pleasant

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents violinists Chad Pleasant and Alan Mohammed with Daniel Fry on piano performing music by Massenet, Gluck, Bach, Beethoven, and Mendelssohn on Thursday, April 23, at 8 p.m. The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents a concert performance of Giuseppi Verdi's comic opera Falstaff featuring Jeffrey Heyl as Falstaff and Rebecca Drury as Alice Ford on Friday, April 234 at 8 p.m. The performance is part of the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival's Shake38 event. The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

The University of Missouri—St. Louis presents a University Piano Alumni Concert on Tuesday, April 21, at 7:30 p.m. "UMSL Piano Alumni Concert. In Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the renowned pianist Sviatoslav Richter. David Doran, Tzu Hwa Ho and Daniel Kuehler will share the stage with Alla Voskoboynikova, Director of Keyboard Studies. They will perform music by Scarlatti, Schumann, Scriabin, Medtner and Kapustin. Meet the artists in the lobby of the Lee Theater after the concert." The performance takes place at The Touhill Performing Arts Center on the University of Missouri at St. Louis campus. For more information: touhill.org.

Traditional Handel and a bouquet of carols highlight the Bach Society Candlelight Concert

Who: The Bach Society of St. Louis and the St. Louis Children's Choirs
What: Christmas Candlelight Concert
When: Tuesday, December 23, 2014
Where: Powell Symphony Hall

The Bach Society at Powell Hall

The Bach Society of St. Louis Christmas Candlelight Concert has been a St. Louis tradition since 1951 and, as this year's sold-out edition proved tonight, that tradition is grounded in fine musicianship and intelligent programming.

For those of you who have never had the pleasure of attending this annual gala, the concert is in two parts. The first is the more "serious" of the two and usually features the traditional classical repertoire.

This year we got the more "Christmassy" bits of Handel's "Messiah"—basically the more celebratory and uplifting numbers from Part I and the famous "Hallelujah!" chorus from Part II. Conductor A. Dennis Sparger, in his introductory remarks, promised a "HIP" (as in: Historically Informed Performance) interpretation but what we got sounded more conventional than that label implies. The soloists' vocal cadenzas were a bit more ornamented than usual but otherwise tempi and the overall approach were pretty much in the late 19th/early 20th century mainstream. It was a polished performance with exemplary work by the orchestra and chorus, just not what I expected.

Jane Jennings
wustl.edu

Soloists Jane Jennings (soprano), Debra Hillabrand (mezzo), and Don Frazure (tenor) were all solid, with Ms. Jennings showing the most emotional investment in the text. Ms. Hillabrand did not sound entirely comfortable with the lower notes in what is, after all, an alto part but was in good voice otherwise.

The second half of the concert was probably what most of the audience was waiting for: traditional carols sung by the Bach Society choir, assisted by the St. Louis Children's Choirs. It opens with the candlelight procession. The lights dim, and the members of the Bach Society walk down the aisles singing, each with an electric candle. If you're lucky enough to be sitting downstairs in the orchestra section, you're soon surrounded by singers - some carrying the melody, some the harmony, enveloping you in a constantly changing kaleidoscope of sound. Meanwhile the sound of the children's choir floats down from the dress circle upstairs. Charles Ives would have loved it; I know I did.

The rest of the evening was a well-chosen mix of traditional carols and more contemporary pieces. My favorite example of the latter was "Salvator Mundi", a suite of three 15th-17th century carols arranged by Welsh composer William Mathias in 1983 for children's chorus and conducted smartly by Bach Society Deputy Director Elizabeth Hogan McFarland. Other highlights included "O Salutaris Hostia" by contemporary Latvian composer Eriks Esenvalds with its two soaring solo soprano lines rendered with ethereal beauty by Jilliann Law-Grygier and Darcie Johnson and a lively arrangement of the traditional Catalan carol "Fum, Fum, Fum!" featuring (I think) Jennifer Nitchman on piccolo. A tip of the topper is also due Concertmaster Lenora-Myra Anop for her solo in the Barlow Bradford arrangement of the traditional Austrian carol "Still, Still, Still."

The two audience sing-along numbers were fun as well, although the David Willocks arrangement of "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" was in a key that wasn't very friendly to us bass-baritone types.

The concert is over now, of course, but the Bach Society has other concerts planned for next year (its 75th anniversary), including a complete "Messiah" and a Bach "B Minor Mass." For more information, visit the Bach Society web site.

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of December 22, 2014

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The Bach Society of St. Louis presents a Christmas Candlelight Concert on Tuesday, December 23, at 7:30 PM. “Capture the spirit of Christmas with Handel's Messiah! The well-known selections will highlight solos by soprano Jane Jennings, mezzo soprano Debra Hillabrand and tenor Don Frazure. Then, experience the much-anticipated candlelight procession—a cornerstone of this concert since 1951—with the Bach Society Chorus and special guests The St. Louis Children's Choirs processing throughout the hall. Favorite carols of the season and an audience sing-along promise to make this the perfect holiday family tradition.” The performance takes place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: www.bachsociety.org.

Hugh Smith

The Compton Heights Concert Band presents a Holiday Pops Spectacular concert, featuring tenor Hugh Smith, soprano Gina Galati, and the St. Louis Metro Singers, on Tuesday, December 23, at 7:30 p.m. The concert takes place at the Peabody Opera House at 14th and Market downtown. For more information: peabodyoperahouse.com.

Steven Jarvi conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in Pixar in Concert on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., December 27 and 28. "Watch as all your favorite characters come to life on the big screen as the STL Symphony performs music from 14 Pixar films including Toy Story, Brave, Cars, Monsters, Inc. and more. Fun for both the young, and the young at heart!" The concerts take place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents Christmas Party at the Tavern with the St. Louis Christmas Carols Association on Wednesday, December 25, at beginning at 5 p.m. "Come enjoy a free appetizer buffet and drink specials before going home to wait for jolly St. Nick and the sugarplum fairies. We will also receive a visit from members of the St. Louis Christmas Carols Association at 7:30 PM -- they have been singing annually in our neighborhood and collecting donations for local children's charities since 1938. Sing along, or just enjoy the music and the company!" The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

Grand Basin Brass Quintet

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents The Grand Basin Brass Quintet on Monday, December 22, at 8 PM. "The Grand Basin Brass Quintet performs an evening of holiday music that is sure to add an extra dash of cheer to the season." The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents a CD Release Party for pianist Holly Mead on Saturday, December 27, at 8 PM. "Pianist Holly Mead returns to St. Louis from the Bay Area for a Hometown CD Release Party. Music will commence at 8PM. There will be two sets with a brief intermission. You will hear tunes from the new album, as well as some Fauré, Joni Mitchell, holiday tunes, etc. Guest artists include Katie McCarthy (horn), Robert Frye (sax), and Chris Lauf (uke)." The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

Symphony Preview: The concerts of Christmas present

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The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra will be delivering Christmas presents for St. Louis audiences throughout the month of December. Let's sneak downstairs and take a peek under the wrapping, shall we?

The Flying Wallendas
circusflora.org

December 12-14: A Winter Fable with Circus Flora - Music has always been a part of the Circus Flora experience, so the partnership with the symphony isn’t as unusual as it might seem. This is, in fact, the orchestra's fourth team-up with our much-loved local circus; the last one was "A Child's Christmas in Wales" two years ago.

As always, the combination of music and circus acts has a story line to hold everything together. This time it's a fairy tale "set in the High Tatras mountains, in the ancient and beautiful Kingdom of the Spiís." There's a magic spell, a princess and (because it's a circus) a horse, along with trained dogs. The Flying Wallendas will be on hand with their legendary high-wire act, along with the popular St. Louis Arches and, of course Theatre Director Cecil MacKinnon as Yo-Yo, the Narrator.

Symphony Resident Conductor Steven Jarvi leads the orchestra in a program with a heavy Eastern European and Russian flavor. Dvořák is heavily favored, along with Bartók, Glinka, Janáček, Ippolitov-Ivanov and that other hyphenated Russian, Rimsky-Korsakov. There are also some Brahms "Hungarian Dances," along with Berlioz's "Hungarian March" from "The Damnation of Faust."

Kevin McBeth
stlsymphony.org

December 18: Kevin McBeth leads the IN UNISON® Chorus in "A Gospel Christmas" – Best-selling singer/songwriter Oleta Adams and her band are the guest soloists in a program that features many of her original compositions along with Gospel favorites and popular Christmas tunes. There's even a soulful version of the "Hallelujah Chorus" from "Handel's Messiah: a Soulful Celebration" by Paul David Wilson.

Celebrating its 20th season with the SLSO, the IN UNISON® Chorus is "an all-volunteer, 120-voice auditioned ensemble that performs a variety of musical styles, with a focus on the interpretation, performance, and preservation of the music of African-American and African cultures." Kevin McBeth, who became director of the chorus in 2011, is Director of Music at Manchester United Methodist Church and serves as full-time administrator for the Music Ministry, which includes 18 choral and handbell ensembles, involving nearly 500 youngsters and adults.  NOTE: as of Friday, December 12, this concert is sold out, but standing room tickets are still available.

December 19-21: The Macy's Holiday Celebration – Steven Jarvi conducts the orchestra and Holiday Festival Chorus (consisting of students from local schools and colleges conducted by Kevin McBeth) in a program of traditional carols and seasonal pop songs. Featured soloists are musical theater star Chelsea Packard and local television personality Charles Brennan, who will narrate Randol Alan Bass's musical setting of "The Night Before Christmas."

There's also a "Holiday Sing-Along", music from the films "Polar Express" and "It's A Wonderful Life," and the annual "surprise" visit from Santa (usually played by the ever-charming Whit Richert). "Pops" events like this are usually big moneymakers for the orchestra and great fun as well. Only a dedicated Scrooge could complain.

The Bach Society at Powell Hall
bachsociety.ort

December 23: The Bach Society Christmas Candlelight Concert – A. Dennis Sparger conducts the Bach Society Chorus along with members of the SLSO, the St. Louis Children's Choirs, and soloists Jane Jennings (soprano), Debra Hillabrand (mezzo), and Don Frazure (tenor).This is usually a more classically-oriented program, although favorite carols and an audience sing-along are included as well.

The "candlelight" refers to the opening of the second half of the concert. The lights dim, and the members of the Bach Society walk down the aisles singing, each with an electric candle. If you're lucky enough to be sitting downstairs in the orchestra section, you find yourself surrounded by singers - some carrying the melody, some harmony, enveloping you in a constantly changing kaleidoscope of sound. Charles Ives would have loved it. It's a St. Louis tradition and every music lover should get to experience it at least once.

This isn't an SLSO event, but symphony musicians are involved and it does take place in Powell Hall, so I figured it's fair game for this article.

There are other special concerts at Powell after Christmas. I'll give you a look at the in my next preview article.

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of November 10, 2014

The Bach Society at Powell Hall

The Bach Society of St. Louis presents a program of Bach instrumental works on Sunday, November 16, at 2:30 PM at The Church of Saint Michael and Saint George, 6345 Wydown. “Concertmaster Lenora-Marya Anop is joined by members of the Bach Society Orchestra, including harpsichordist Charles Metz, cellist Ken Kulosa, flutist Catherine Edwards, and pianist Sandra Geary in an informal program of Bach instrumental works. Limited seating in the old-world ambiance of the Great Hall. Meet and chat with the performers over a glass of wine after the performance.” For more information: www.bachsociety.org

The Chamber Music Society of St. Louis presents Wine, Women and Song on Monday and Tuesday, November 10 and 11, at 7:30 PM. "Chamber Music Society of St. Louis features St. Louis Women’s HOPE Chorale; harpist Megan Stout; horns Roger Kaza and Thomas Jöstlein." The concert takes place at The Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington. For more information: chambermusicstl.org.

The Chamber Project St. Louis presents Epitaph, featuring works by Debussy, Stravinsky, Schubert, Golijov and Caplet on Friday, November 14, at 8:00 PM. "In this program with works by master composers Debussy, Stravinsky, Schubert, Golijov and Caplet, we examine what is left behind after we depart. Harp, flute, clarinet and string quartet are the featured performers. " The performance takes place at The Chapel Venue, 6238 Alexander Drive. For more information: www.chamberprojectstl.org Christ Church Cathedral presents Stella Markou, soprano; Elsie Parker, clarinet; Ken Kehner, piano; and Bill Lenihan, guitar in a program of music by Schubert, Weber, Jacobs, and Stamitz on Sunday, November 16, at 2 p.m. Christ Church Cathedral is at 13th and Olive downtown. For more information: christchurchconcerts.org.

The St. Louis Brass Band presents Blazing Brass on Sunday, November 16, at 2:30 p.m. " This concert will be a blend of traditional and contemporary repertoire for the British Brass Band, performed with the Spirit of St. Louis. From “Henry V” by Ralph Vaughn Williams to “Pastime with Good Company” by Henry VIII, and “Silverado” to “St. Louis Blues”, there will be music to fit all tastes. J.S. Bach will even make an appearance with “Toccata in d minor” performed as only a Brass Band can do it! As a part of the Educational Outreach Program of the St. Louis Brass Band, a large group of high school and college brass students will be invited to join the band to perform several selection for a rousing finale to each half of the concert." The concert takes place at United Methodist Church "The Gathering," 101 Bemiston Avenue in Clayton, MO. For more information: stlbb.org.

Jun Märkl conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra along with piano soloist Orli Shaham and violin soloists Helen Kim and Xiaoxiao Qiang in an all-Beethoven program on Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., November 15 and 16. "Our all-Beethoven concert features Orli Shaham in Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto and the dual talents of the STL Symphony’s outstanding violinists, Helen Kim and Xiaoxiao Qiang, in his lyrical Romances. This program showcases Beethoven’s early works as he was first emerging as a master composer." The concerts take place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

Steven Jarvi conducts The St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra in Elgar's "Enigma Variations" on Friday, November 14, at 8 PM. The performance takes place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

Second Presbyterian Church presents a Thanksgiving Concert on Sunday, November 16, at 2:30 p.m. " The Second Church Chorale and Orchestra with conductor Andrew Peters present a program in celebration of Thanksgiving. The performance features George Frideric Handel’s “Dettingen Te Deum” for soloists, choir, and orchestra. The church is at 4501 Westminster Place in the Central West End. For more information: secondchurch.net.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents a classical open stage night on Monday, November 10, 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

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents the Illumine Ensemble on Friday, November 14, at 8 PM. " Twists and turns abound as the Illumine Ensemble weaves “Little Red Riding Hood” and other tales into a modern and humorous adventure for the whole family set to music by composer Robert Broemel, who will be in attendance. Broemel’s music hearkens back to the era of silent film, making for plenty of drama as they weave through the story. At each decision point in the story, the audience will choose the outcome, so the tale never goes the same way twice!" The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents soprano Heather Fehl on Saturday, November 15, at 8 PM. 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 Dr. William Sullivan, organist at Laclede Groves Chapel on Friday, November 14, 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

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of October 6, 2014

Bach Society at St. Stanislaus, 2013

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The Bach Society of St. Louis presents Voices of the Baltic Coast on Sunday, October 12, at 3 PM at St. Stanislaus Polish Church, 1413 North 20th Street in St. Louis. "After decades of suppression under communist rule, composers of the Baltic States returned to writing sacred music following their liberation in 1991. Experience this rarely-heard and enchanting a cappella music of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania in the beautiful setting of St. Stan's. After the performance join us for refreshments in the adjoining Polish Heritage Hall to meet friends and greet the performers. Free, gated parking." For more information: www.bachsociety.org.

Cristian Macelaru conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and soloists Joo Kim, violin, and James Czyzewski, cello, in a program of the music of Tchaikovsky, featuring the "Romeo and Juliet—Fantasy Overture" and the "1812 Overture", Friday at 10:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 3 p.m., October 10-12. "Known as the bombastic tune that accompanies Fourth of July fireworks, Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture closes out an all Tchaikovsky program with a brass fanfare finale certain to bring you to your feet! Appearing for the first time on subscription in five years, this celebratory piece is a fitting way to commemorate our year of milestones." The concerts take place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

Mark Gifford

Third Baptist Church presents an organ concert by Mark Gifford, Associate Pastor, Parkway Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), in Springfield, Illinois, on Friday, October 10, 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: .

Winter Opera STL presents Michael Ching's "Speed Dating Tonight," a one-act opera about the trials and tribulations of finding love in a world that moves too fast. The performance takes place on Thursday, October 9, at 8 p.m. at the Tavern of Fine Arts, 313 Belt in the DeBaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: winteroperastl.org