St. Louis classical calendar for the week of June 22, 2015

Thomas Murrah

The American Guild of Organists presents an organ recital by Thomas Murray on Wednesday, June 24, at 8:15 p.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis at 4431 Lindell.  “Murray is organist and professor at Yale University and will play works of Duruflé, Grieg, Mozart, and Saint-Saëns.”  For more information: www.agostlouis.org

Christ Church Cathedral presents an organ concert by Christopher Marks on Monday, June 22, at 7:30 p.m.  "Marks is organ professor at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and will play works of Seth Bingham, Marcel Dupré, and Leo Sowerby." Christ Church Cathedral is at 13th and Olive downtown.  For more information: christchurchconcerts.org.

The Compton Heights Concert Band presents free Sunday Serenades concerts featuring marches, show tunes and classical favorites on Sundays at 7:30 PM, June 28 – July 26.  This week's concert features baritone soloist Robert Ellison and includes a performance of Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" complete with cannons.  The concerts takes place in Francis Park at Donovan and Eichelberger on the Compton Heights Band’s "Carol Joy Brooks Memorial" Stage.  For more information: chband.org

The Ethical Society presents The Legend Singers in concert on Thursday, June 26, at 6 p.m.  "It’s time for The Legend Singers Chorale Ensemble’s concert and tribute to Black Music History Month! We had the Divas (Women) in 2013 and the Music Royals, Kings, Princes & Dukes (Men) in 2014. This year we are celebrating African-American music genres and Family Performers!" The performance takes at the Ethical Society of St. Louis, 9001 Clayton Road.  For more information: ethicalstl.org.

The Barber of Seville
Photo: Ken Howard

Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents Rossini's comedy The Barber of Seville Saturday, June 27, at 8 p.m.. "There's a good reason it's one of the world's most popular operas! Rossini's zany and sparkling score sets the gold standard for opera that is fresh, elegant, funny, and brimming with vocal fireworks. Delight as the young barber Figaro helps Count Almaviva steal the beautiful Rosina from under the nose of her doddering guardian." Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center at 135 Edgar Road on the Webster University campus. All performances are sung in English with projected English text. For more information: experienceopera.org or call 314-961-0644. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

Emmeline
Photo: Ken Howard

Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents Tobias Picker's drama Emmeline Thursday, June 25, at 8 p.m. and Saturday, June 27, at 1 p.m. " Inspired by a compelling true story from a mill town in 19th century New England, Emmeline's heart-wrenching saga echoes the age-old Oedipus legend." Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center at 135 Edgar Road on the Webster University campus. All performances are sung in English with projected English text. For more information: experienceopera.org or call 314-961-0644. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents A Little Lunch Music, a free concert with soprano Felicia Moore (Harriet Mosher in Emmeline), mezzo-soprano Emily Fons (Rosina in The Barber of Seville), baritone Jonathan Beyer (Figaro in The Barber of Seville), and pianist Andrea Grant, on Monday, June 22 at 12:30 PM.  The concert takes place at Manchester United Methodist Church, 129 Woods Mills Road in Manchester.  For more information, you may visit experienceopera.org or call 314-961-0644.

Richard the Lionheart
Photo: Ken Howard

Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents the American premiere of Handel's Richard the Lionheart Wednesday and Friday at 8 p.m., June 24 and 26. "If you only know him from Robin Hood, you don't know the whole story of Richard the Lionheart. Shipwrecked on the way to the Third Crusade, one of England's bravest kings must disguise himself to protect his future bride and prevent war in a foreign land. But who can he trust in this all-too-real game of thrones? Handel's virtuosic vocal writing in this opera, never before heard in the United States, makes Richard an eagerly-anticipated event for all music-lovers." Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center at 135 Edgar Road on the Webster University campus. All performances are sung in English with projected English text. For more information: experienceopera.org or call 314-961-0644. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

La Rondine
Photo: Ken Howard

Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents Puccini's La Rondine Wednesday, June 24, at 1 p.m. and Sunday, June 28, at 7 p.m. " Can a beautiful, sophisticated Parisian courtesan find happiness with a young man from the country? Or is her love affair doomed by a past she cannot keep secret? Celebrated OTSL music directorStephen Lord brings Puccini's gorgeous music and romantic storytelling to life in this stunning, newbelle epoque period production." Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center at 135 Edgar Road on the Webster University campus. All performances are sung in English with projected English text. For more information: experienceopera.org or call 314-961-0644. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra presents The Music of U2 on Friday, June 26, at 7:30 p.m.   "Dubbed by Rolling Stone as the ‘Biggest Band in the World,’ U2 has released 13 albums and sold more than 150 million records worldwide. Channeling the global celebrity stardom of frontman Bono and the musicians of U2, conductor Brent Haven, the STL Symphony and a rock band perform U2’s greatest hits.”  The performance takes place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand.  For more information: stlsymphony.org.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents cellist Bjorn Ranheim in a program of Bach's Cello Suites 1, 3, and 5 on Monday, June 22, 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.

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of November 3, 2014

Eli Keszler

Christ Church Cathedral presents pianist Mark Laverty in a program of the complete Études of Chopin on Sunday, November 9, at 2 p.m. Christ Church Cathedral is at 13th and Olive downtown. For more information: christchurchconcerts.org.

The New Music Circle presents Eli Keszler on Saturday, November 8, at 7:30 p.m. "NYC based drummer and sound artist, Eli Keszler, engages in a frictional push-and-pull of percussive sound through instrumental means which are both traditional and experimental. His hyper-percussive improvisations are ripe with detailed and pointillistic attacks that build momentum to form frenzied sonic clusters, drawing inspiration from the spontaneity of Han Bennik's percussion work as well as the harmonic density of Colin Nancorrow's compositions." The performance takes place at the Luminary Center for the Arts, 2701 Cherokee Street. For more information: newmusiccircle.org.

St. Cecilia Catholic Church presents St. Louis Chamber Chorus Concert II: Juan Gutierrez De Padilla and Heitor Villa-Lobos on Sunday, November 9, at 3 p.m. 'Twelve masterful exponents of the choral repertoire, from six centuries and three continents, are presented in pairs, demonstrating the sheer vitality and variety possible in writing for unaccompanied choir. Each program includes a reprise of a Chamber Chorus original, commissioned for us in recent years from a leading choral composer. Concert II at St.Cecilia Magnificent motets for double choir by Padilla, a master of the Mexican Renaissance, are complemented with the stirring Miss Sao Sebastiao of modern Brazilian genius, Heitor Villa-Lobos. " St. Cecilia Catholic Church is at 5418 Louisiana Ave. For more information: chamberchorus.org.

Markus Groh

Hannu Lintu conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and piano soloist Markus Groh in Grieg's "Piano Concerto," Schumann's "Concertstück for Four Horns and Orchestra," " Lemminkäinen's Return" by Sibelius, and "Les Preludes" by Liszt on Friday at 10:30 a.m. and Saturday at 8 p.m., November 7 and 8. "Markus Groh joins the STL Symphony for the Grieg Piano Concerto, one of the most popular concertos ever written, full of familiar melodies used in movies and television including Twin Peaks, The X-Files, Milo and Otis and many more." The concerts take place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

The Sheldon Concert Hall presents the Cavatina Duo on Saturday, November 8, at 7:30 p.m. "Combining Spanish passion with Balkan sensibility, the Cavatina Duo has become known for powerful and versatile performances, captivating audiences in many festivals and venues across Europe, Asia, and the USA. Winners of the "Young Musicians of the Doelen" competition in Rotterdam (Netherlands) in 1996, the duo has been called "the best flute and guitar duo in the world today" by Sergio Assad. Spanish flutist Eugenia Moliner, acclaimed as "a brilliant young musician" by British Flute Society magazine, teams with Bosnian guitarist (and husband) Denis Azabagic, winner of eleven international guitar competitions. The Sheldon is at 3658 Washington in Grand Center. For more information: thesheldon.org.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents guitarist Alison Rolf, violin; Chris Banda, viola; and James Nacy, cello in a program of music by Mozart, Kodaly and Beethoven on Friday, November 7, 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.

The Arianna String Quartet

The Touhill Performing Arts Center presents The Arianna String Quartet on Friday, November 7, at 8 PM at the Touhill Performing Arts Center on the University of Missouri at St. Louis campus. "Maestro Klein will take the audience on a sonic journey through the expansive range of expression of the oboe. WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART: Oboe Quartet in F Major, K.370; ANTAL DORTI: Notturno and Capriccio for Oboe and String Quartet; BENJAMIN BRITTEN: Phantasy Quartet for Oboe and String Trio, Op.2; LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN: Quartet in F Major, Op.135." For more information: touhill.org.

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of October 27, 2014

The Metropolitan Orchestra of St. Louis

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Christ Church Cathedral presents the Bel Canto Women's Ensemble with pianist Jordan Ault in a program of music by Bach, Biebl, Gabriel Faure, and Marti on Sunday, November 2, at 2 p.m. Christ Church Cathedral is at 13th and Olive downtown. For more information: christchurchconcerts.org.

Eliot Unitarian Chapel presents a Friends of Music concert on Sunday, November 2, at 3 PM. "The program will feature: Steven Cheng and Lee Demertzis performing Johannes Brahms' Sonata no. 2 in A major for violin and piano; and The New Muse Piano Duo of Paola Savvidou and Jonathan Kuuskoski, joined by saxophonist Leo Saguigiut, performing Sorex by Emily Doolittle, Departure/Train by Patrick Clark, and Rambunction by Stacey Barelos." Eliot Unitarian Chapel is at 100 South Argonne in Kirkwood. For more information: fomcstl.org

First Presbyterian Church of Kirkwood presents a concert by The Metropolitan Orchestra of St. Louis on Sunday, November 2, at 7 p.m. "The Metropolitan Orchestra of Saint Louis welcomes several guests for their second concert of the season. The Arianna Quartet joins us in performance with Elgar's Introduction and Allegro. In 1904 Elgar was was asked to compose a piece for the newly-formed London Symphony Orchestra, and he decided to write only for that orchestra's string section. Patrick Jackson is our guest conductor for Britten's Simple Symphony. Rodrigo's Fantasia Para un Gentilhomme will feature guitarist Benjamin Minden-Birkenmaier and conducted by Music Director Allen Carl Larson. The concert concludes with Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings conducted by Associate Music Director Wendy Lea. The audience is invited to meet the soloists and musicians at a reception immediately following the concert." First Presbyterian Church is at 100 East Adams in Kirkwood. For more information: metro-orch.org.

The Sheldon Concert Hall presents the a cappella vocal ensemble Chanticleer in concert on Tuesday, October 28, at 8 p.m. "Called 'the world's reigning male chorus' by 'The New Yorker' magazine, the San Francisco-based, Grammy award-winning ensemble returns to The Sheldon! With a seamless blend of its twelve male voices, ranging from countertenor to bass, Chanticleer thrills with its interpretations of vocal literature, from Renaissance and jazz, to gospel and adventurous new music." The Sheldon is at 3658 Washington in Grand Center. For more information: thesheldon.org.

The St. Louis Civic Orchestra presents "Brahms Meets America" on Saturday, November 1, at 7 p.m. "Kimberly McCoul Risinger will be performing the St. Louis premiere of Zyman's Concerto No. 2 for Flute and Orchestra on November 1 at 7 p.m. She recently performed the US premiere of the piece with the Illinois State Symphony Orchestra. We will also be performing Samuel Barber's First Essay for Orchestra and Brahms Symphony No. 4." The concert takes place at the Purser Center at Logan University, 1851 Schoettler Rd in Chesterfield, MO. For more information: stlco.org

The St. Louis Symphony presents a showing of the film Gladiator Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., November 1 and 2. Justin Freer conductions the orchestra and chorus in a live performance of the score to accompany the movie. 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 guitarist Deyan Bratic on Saturday, November 1, at 8 PM. "Returning to the Tavern, classical guitarist and acclaimed author Deyan Bratic will present an exciting and culturally diverse program touching upon the hallmarks of the classic guitar repertoire." 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 Brent Johnson on Friday, October 31, 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 December 9, 2013

IN UNISON® Chorus

The St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON® Chorus and conductor Kevin McBeth present Too Hot to Handel: a Gospel Messiah on Thursday and Friday, December 12 and 13, at 7 PM at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand. Featured soloists are Cynthia Renee Saffron, soprano; La Tanya Hall, mezzo-soprano; and Thomas Young, tenor. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

The St. Louis Symphony, conducted by Arnie Roth, presents A Mannheim Steamroller Christmas on Saturday at 8 PM and Sunday at 2 PM, December 14 and 15, at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand. "The STL Symphony performs the sounds of Mannheim Steamroller Christmas at Powell Hall for the first time ever this holiday season. The modern symphonic arrangements of Christmas songs made famous by Chip Davis include yuletide favorites like "Carol of the Bells," "Silent Night," "Deck the Halls" and many more." For more information: stlsymphony.org.

The St. Louis Symphony presents symphony violinist Shawn Well and cellist Bjorn Ranheim as soloists in the Brahms Double Concerto with the Washington University Symphony on Monday, December 9, at 7:30 PM. The concert takes place at the 560 Music Center, 560 Trinity in University City. For more information: http://www.stlsymphony.org/symphony_neighborhood/

The Shepley Program of Music and Arts presents an organ recital by William Partridge on Thursday, December 12, at 12:30 PM at Christ Church Cathedral, 1210 Locust. Admission is free. For more information: christchurchconcerts.org.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents a classical music open stage on Monday, December 9, starting at 7:30 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." The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: http://tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

Jon Garrett

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents singer/pianist Jon Garrett performing music from his CD To Find Love There: A Classic Celebration of Christmas on Tuesday, December 10, at 7:30 PM. The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: http://tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

TPTBT (The Place to Be Tonight): Sunday, February 24

Well, this afternoon, actually.

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The St. Louis Brass Band presents Glorious Brass at 2 PM at Christ Church Cathedral, 1210 Locust just east of the Central Branch Library. "For the 4th concert of its 2012/2013 concert season, the Saint Louis Brass Band returns to Christ Church Cathedral....this concert features a variety of hymn arrangements and popular brass band favorites. Please join us for this free concert!" I'll admit that, as a former brass player (trombone, euphonium, and tuba), I'm a bit biased. But I think the sound of a brass band in the cathedral ought to be pretty cool. For more information: www.stlbb.org or (314) 753-5438.