Chuck's Choices for the weekend of February 1, 2019

This week's new entries feature an adult musical at Westport, an update of Merchant of Venice at New Jewish, and an intellectual comedy at Upstream.

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Avenue Q
Photo by John Flack

The Playhouse at Westport Plaza presents the musical Avenue Q running through March 3. "Part flesh, part felt and packed with heart, AVENUE Q is a laugh-out-loud musical telling the timeless story of a bright-eyed college grad named Princeton. When he arrives in the city with big dreams and a tiny bank account, he has to move into a shabby apartment all the way out on AVENUE Q. Still, the neighbors seem nice. There, he meets Kate (the girl next door), Lucy (the slut), Rod (the Republican), Trekkie (the internet entrepreneur), superintendent Gary Coleman (yes, that Gary Coleman) and other new friends! Together, they struggle to find jobs, dates, and their ever-elusive purpose in life." The Playhouse at Westport Plaza is at 635 West Port Plaza. For more information: www.playhouseatwestport.com.

My take: A smart, hip, and very funny parody of Sesame Street, Avenue Q is also an entertaining (if R-rated) story of college-educated twentysomethings--both flesh and foam rubber--coming to grips with the economic, political and sexual facts of life. The show is good, not-so-clean fun and always worth seeing. This production is "outrageously funny" (Calvin Wilson, STLToday). "A blend of national and local talent brings zest, exquisite precision and rampant enthusiasm to this delightful version of the Tony Award-winning musical melange of puppeteered optimism at its finest," writes Mark Bretz at Ladue News.

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District Merchants
Photo by Eric Woolsey

New Jewish Theater presents District Merchants: An Uneasy Comedy Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays at 2 and 8 pm, and Sundays at 2 pm through February 10. "In District Merchants, love, litigation, deep passions and predatory lending are taken to a new level. The play wades fearlessly into the complexities of life in America. It is set among Black and Jewish populations in an imagined time and place, simultaneously Shakespearean and post- Civil War Washington, D.C. In Posner's reimagining, the play becomes less about the quality of mercy and more about how flexible a supposedly egalitarian society can be to the varied tribes struggling to find partners in America. Aaron Posner expertly blends humor, emotional truths and topics that make people think. He is able to create characters who are deeply flawed, like we are. In his “uneasy” comedy, he wants us to look at a snapshot in time, the Reconstruction Era, but what he has written is relevant to audiences today." 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: This ingenious update of Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice is "a richly entertaining re-imagining of a play that’s at once timeless and timely" (Calvin Wilson, STLToday). "This is not your high school English teacher's Merchant of Venice," writes Richard Green at TalkinBroadway.com. "Aaron Posner's District Merchants is still a tale of love's many obstacles (most of them funny) and also of the poisonous nature of grievance (decidedly not funny). But this time it's all a lot more personal, and present, and maybe even political, at The New Jewish Theatre."

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Wittenberg
Photo by ProPhotoSTL

Upstream Theater presents the St. Louis premiere of Wittenberg Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 7 pm (except for February 10, which is at 2 pm) through February 10. "It's October 1517, and the new fall semester at the University of Wittenberg finds certain members of the faculty and student body at personal and professional crossroads. Hamlet (senior, class of 1518) is returning from a summer in Poland spent studying astronomy, where he has come in contact with a revolutionary scientific theory that threatens the very order of the universe, resulting in psychic trauma and a crisis of faith for him. His teacher and mentor John Faustus (Professor of Philosophy) has decided at long last to make an honest woman of his paramour, Helen, a former nun who is now one of the Continent's most sought-after courtesans. And Faustus' colleague and Hamlet's instructor and priest, Martin Luther (Professor of Theology), is dealing with the spiritual and medical consequences of his long-simmering outrage at certain abusive practices of the Church. Tavern disputes, tennis duels, 16th century lounge hits, and the slings and arrows of outrageous wit will tickle your brain into overdrive." Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, including show times: upstreamtheater.org.

My take: Hamlet meets Martin Luther, with Dr. Faustus and Helen of Troy in the mix as well. It's the sort of idea that might make for an extended comic sketch, but apparently playwright David Davalos has turned it into "a whimsical journey to 16th century Germany" that "offers tasty food for thought" (Mark Bretz, Ladue News). Ann Lemmons Pollack writes that Wittenberg is "all about wit, both mental agility and humor, and we get plenty of both here." Go thou and enjoy.

Held Over:

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The Wolves
Jon Gitchoff

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the St. Louis premiere of The Wolves by Sarah DeLappe through February 3. "Nine teenage girls prepare for battle on a soccer field. As they stretch and warm up together, the teammates' nonstop banter reveals how a collection of disparate personalities bonds to form a team. With its engrossing flow of dialogue and authentic characters, DeLappe's acclaimed new play distills the raw passion, confusion and wonder of adolescence into exhilarating theatre." Performances take place in the studio theatre at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information: repstl.org.

My take: "Director Melissa Rain Anderson," writes Mark Bretz at Ladue News, "shepherds her smartly collected cast in a whimsical ensemble effort which captures the spontaneity of youth with poignancy, charm and frequently funny dialogue in refreshing fashion." "DeLappe has an original voice that cries out to be heard," says Calvin Wilson at STLToday, "and 'The Wolves' is an experience unlike anything you've seen before." The studio theatre season at the Rep, brief though it may be, consistently delivers high quality theatre in an intimate setting.

Symphony Preview: Chalk, cheese, and haggis

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

Version 3 of "Island of the Dead"
en.wikipedia.org

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In the first half of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra concerts this weekend (February 1 and 2), guest conductor Matthias Pintscher will lead the band in a pair of works by Russian Romantic composers who, while close friends, were still as different as chalk and cheese.

Aleksandr Scriabin
en.wikipedia.org

The composers in question are Serge Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) and Aleksandr Scriabin (1872-1915). Rachmaninoff, famously, was so stung by the harsh criticism of his first symphony that he spiraled into a depression that was cured only after extensive hypnotherapy. Scriabin, on the other hand, was a raging egomaniac unacquainted with self-doubt. Rachmaninoff was a stable family man. Scriabin was an eccentric who fathered illegitimate children while separated from his wife. Rachmaninoff was a member of the Russian Orthodox Church with strong moral beliefs. Scriabin was a Theosophy-addled mystic who began to see himself as divine.

Basically, Rachmaninoff was sane while Scriabin was a loony.

At the time Scriabin wrote the work that represents him this weekend, though, he hadn't yet achieved those heights of weirdness. Written in 1896, when the composer was only 24, his one and only Piano Concerto shares what SLSO program annotator Tim Munro calls the "inward-looking nature" of Chopin, whom Scriabin greatly admired. "Its restrained music," he writes, "allows few outbursts, holding its hand close, asking us as listeners to lean in, to observe closely." In a detailed analysis for the Pianist Musings blog, pianist and composer Kathryn Louderback adds that Scriabin "masterfully orchestrated the piece so the piano is enhanced, yet the orchestra also shines on its own. AND he created his own sound based on Classical and Romantic roots injected with his own style."

Rachmaninoff in 1900
en.wikipedia.org

The soloist this weekend is Kirill Gerstein, whose previous appearances here have included a surprisingly lyrical Tchaikovsky 1st back in 2013, a bravura performance of British composer Thomas Adès's "In Seven Days" in 2012, and a brilliantly improvisatory "Rhapsody in Blue" in 2014--a performance repeated here and recorded for CD on the Myrios label in 2017. A Gilmore Artist Award winner, Mr. Gerstein has shown himself to be equally at home with both Romantic classics and new music (some of which he has commissioned himself), which would seem to make him a good bet for a work like the Scriabin concerto, which looks back to Chopin while still anticipating the composer's more radical later works.

The Rachmaninoff tone poem that opens the concerts this weekend draws its inspiration not from an earlier composer, but rather from a painting. Written in 1908, when the composer was 35, "Isle of the Dead" is based on a landscape of the same name that was the most popular thing created by the Swiss Symbolist artist Arnold Böcklin. The stark depiction of an island necropolis towards which a white-robed figure is being rowed apparently struck a sympathetic chord over a century ago and is still compelling today. Böcklin painted five different versions of it (one of which was destroyed in World War II) in the 1880s, and reproductions were apparently common in an early 20th century Europe still reeling from war and influenza.

Dominated by the "Dies Irae" theme that shows up in so much of Rachmaninoff's work, "Isle of the Dead" captures the ominous and majestic feel of the painting remarkably well, considering that the composer had seen only a black and white print of the original. A rocking 5/8 theme, suggestive of the sea and the boat, begins in the low strings and gradually takes over the orchestra. A more lyrical second theme (intended to represent the life force) rises in the strings about half way through, only to be beaten down by a series of relentless brass-and-percussion hammer blows. The piece ends with a return to the eternal sea.

The ruins of Holyrood Abbey
By Kaihsu at English Wikipedia

The Mendelssohn piece on the program--the "Symphony No. 3 in A minor", op. 56, "Scottish"--also drew some inspiration from death and ruin. Although most of it wasn't written until 1842, Mendelssohn got the idea for the slow introduction to the first movement when he visited the ruined Holyrood Chapel in Edinburgh on an 1829 walking tour of Scotland. "In the evening twilight," he wrote, "we went today to the palace where Queen Mary lived and loved...Everything round is broken and mouldering and the bright sky shines in. I believe I today found in that old chapel the beginning of my 'Scottish' Symphony."

That opening theme aside, though, the "Scottish" nature of the symphony is a subject of some debate among critics and program annotators. Some, like the Eric Bromberger (in program notes for the San Diego Symphony), feel that "no one is sure what that nickname means. This music tells no tale, paints no picture, nor does it quote Scottish tunes." British composer and conductor Julius Harrison (in "The Symphony," edited by Robert Simpson, 1967), on the other hand, thought the symphony "illustrates the near-scenic aspect of Mendelssohn's romantic art" and felt that the jaunty clarinet theme of the Vivace non troppo second movement has "a touch of 'Charlie is My Darling' about its dotted quavers--something Mendelssohn may have remembered and set down."

I fall more into the late Mr. Harrison's camp, but wherever you come down on the "Scottishness" of this music there's no getting around its unflagging appeal and elegant construction. To hear this music is to love it.

The Essentials: Matthias Pintscher conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and pianist Kirill Gerstein Friday and Saturday at 8 pm, February 1 and 2. The concerts take place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand in Grand Center.

Review: The grand old sound of "A New Hope"

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

L-R: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford

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A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, an Imperial battle cruiser swooped down across the screen to the strains of a full symphony orchestra. Movies and movie music have never been quite the same since.

This past weekend (January 25-27), Gemma New and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra reminded me of that magic moment as they performed John Williams's score for "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope" (or, as it was known back in 1977, plain old "Star Wars") while the film played on the big screen above them. And as thrilling as it was to hear that big, old-fashioned sound in a theatre back in the day, nothing quite compares with the visceral impact of hearing it performed live by an 80-piece orchestra.

That's especially when it's the exemplary members of our own SLSO. When we attended on Saturday night, the horns and brass were in excellent form, the percussion section was impeccably precise, and the orchestra in general performed at a very high level. On the podium, Ms. New did her usual flawless job conducting in synch with the film--a skill that has apparently become increasingly important for younger conductors in recent years.

Gemma New

Williams sprinkled his score with lots of fun orchestral details that aren't always noticeable in a movie house, but which emerge with great clarity live. That includes the reference to Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring" for C-3PO's trek across the Tatooine desert, the menacing low brass passages for the Empire and its minions, and the grand triumphal march at the end, which has always reminded me of the patriotic declarations of Elgar and Walton. Yes, the film remains a Certified Rouser, but hearing the score live gave me an opportunity to appreciate Williams's consummate skill as a composer once again.

Fans of the "Star Wars" series probably noted that the version of the film screened this weekend was not the original 1977 release, but rather the digitally remastered 1997 re-release, in which many of the original special effects shots were enhanced and a few new scenes using computer animation were added--most notably a meeting between Han Solo and Jabba the Hut. It looked wonderful on Powell Hall's big screen, and the dialog tracks were crystal clear. The hard-of-hearing members of our party also appreciated the captioning, which seems to now be a standard practice for these events.

Big movie events like this one have become very popular with symphony orchestras for obvious financial reasons. Certainly "Star Wars: A New Hope" attracted a huge, enthusiastic crowd that filled nearly every seat in Powell Hall and gave the orchestra a happy standing ovation at the end. How many of them will return to see the orchestra without a movie screen over their heads is another question, but as far as I'm concerned anything that exposes folks to the splendid playing of the SLSO is a good thing.

Next at Powell Hall: Matthias Pintscher conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and pianist Kirill Gerstein Friday and Saturday at 8 pm, February 1 and 2. The concerts will consist of Rachmaninoff's "The Isle of the Dead," Scriabin's Piano Concerto, and Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 3 ("Scottish"). The concerts take place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand in Grand Center.

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of January 28, 2019

Companies with new shows this week include R-S Theatrics, SATE, and Metro Theatre Company. There's also a classic musical at the Fox.

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The Playhouse at Westport Plaza presents the musical Avenue Q running through March 3. "Part flesh, part felt and packed with heart, AVENUE Q is a laugh-out-loud musical telling the timeless story of a bright-eyed college grad named Princeton. When he arrives in the city with big dreams and a tiny bank account, he has to move into a shabby apartment all the way out on AVENUE Q. Still, the neighbors seem nice. There, he meets Kate (the girl next door), Lucy (the slut), Rod (the Republican), Trekkie (the internet entrepreneur), superintendent Gary Coleman (yes, that Gary Coleman) and other new friends! Together, they struggle to find jobs, dates, and their ever-elusive purpose in life." The Playhouse at Westport Plaza is at 635 West Port Plaza. For more information: www.playhouseatwestport.com.

The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents Bullets in the Bathtub through April 13. The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com.

Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble presents Classic Mystery Game Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 pm, January 30 - February 16. "Classic Mystery Game: a parody (or a spoof, maybe a send-up, possibly a take-off). The use of parody in human culture is ritualistic, so here is SATE, once more, to perform yet another ritual. Classic Mystery Game investigates Western society in 2019 through the lens of the hilarious 1985 movie, CLUE...which in turn was investigating Western society in 1985 through the lens of McCarthyism. Perhaps by distilling our world through so many layers of comedy, as the ritual calls for, we'll discover a bit of Truth - even if it's merely a smile at the end of a funny play." Performances take place at The Chapel Venue, 6238 Alexander Drive. For more information: slightlyoff.org.

CSZ St. Louis presents The ComedySportz Show on Saturday nights at 7:30 pm. The show is "action-packed, interactive and hilarious comedy played as a sport. Two teams battle it out for points and your laughs! You choose the winners the teams provide the funny!" Performances take place on the second floor of the Sugar Cubed, 917 S Main St. in St Charles, Mo. For more information: www.cszstlouis.com.

Black Anthology presents The Creation Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., February 1 and 2. "Black Anthology was founded in 1989 by Marcia Hayes-Harris to provide a means of commemorating the history and progress of African Americans. Since its creation, the program was totally student run, from the script to set and costume design. However in the beginning skits were compilations centered on pertinent literature. Over the years, the productions have become a scripted play. Even with the changes in the format of the show, Black Anthology's aims remain the same and we, the executive board, hope to see the program continue to thrive." The performances take place in the Edison Theatre on the Washington University campus. For more information: edison.wustl.edu

Dennie Nast Is Back

Ten Directions and the St. Lou Fringe present Audrey Crabtree in her one-woman show Dennie Nast Is Back Fridays at 8 pm, February 1 - 15. "Oscar-winner, Emmy-winner, 2-time Tony winner, 6-time Kevin Klein Award Nominee and international performance superstar Deenie Nast delivers a no holds barred, song-filled tribute to her lonely fans. Nast heads to St Louis with a hilarious and heartbreaking exploration of relationships, loneliness, and true connections. Nast is back with a vengeance, singing the hits from her past, revealing very personal stories, and re-enforcing her legendary status to modern audiences. Songs, physical comedy, audience interaction and general 'Nast-iness" will ensue!" Performances take place in the Emerald Room at The Monocle in the Grove. For more information: www.deenienast.com.

District Merchants
Photo by Eric Woolsey

New Jewish Theater presents District Merchants: An Uneasy Comedy Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays at 2 and 8 pm, and Sundays at 2 pm through February 10. "In District Merchants, love, litigation, deep passions and predatory lending are taken to a new level. The play wades fearlessly into the complexities of life in America. It is set among Black and Jewish populations in an imagined time and place, simultaneously Shakespearean and post- Civil War Washington, D.C. In Posner's reimagining, the play becomes less about the quality of mercy and more about how flexible a supposedly egalitarian society can be to the varied tribes struggling to find partners in America. Aaron Posner expertly blends humor, emotional truths and topics that make people think. He is able to create characters who are deeply flawed, like we are. In his “uneasy” comedy, he wants us to look at a snapshot in time, the Reconstruction Era, but what he has written is relevant to audiences today." 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.

Fontbonne University presents the musical Edges Thursday through Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday at 2 pm, January 31 - February 3. “From Pasek and Paul, the musical genius behind Dogfight, Dear Evan Hansen, The Greatest Showman, and La La Land, comes a thrilling song-cycle about coming of age in these fast moving times.” Performances take place at the Fontbonne Fine Arts Theatre, 6800 Wydown Blvd. For more information, call (314) 719-8060 or visit the web site at www.mustardseedtheatre.com.

The Fabulous Fox Theatre presents the musical Fiddler on the Roof opening on Tuesday, January 29, and running until February 10. "Tony®-winning director Bartlett Sher and the team behind South Pacific, The King and I and 2017 Tony-winning Best Play Oslo, bring a fresh and authentic vision to this beloved theatrical masterpiece from Tony winner Joseph Stein and Pulitzer Prize winners Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick. The original production won ten Tony Awards, including a special Tony for becoming the longest-running Broadway musical of all time. You'll be there when the sun rises on this new production, with stunning movement and dance from acclaimed Israeli choreographer Hofesh Shechter, based on the original staging by Jerome Robbins. A wonderful cast and a lavish orchestra tell this heartwarming story of fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, and the timeless traditions that define faith and family." The Fabulous Fox Theatre in on N. Grand in Grand Center. For more information: fabulousfox.com.

The Hundred Dresses

Metro Theatre Company presents The Hundred Dresses opening on Sunday, February 3 at 2 pm and running through February 25 " Wanda Petronski, the new girl in Room 13, is a Polish immigrant who lives in a shabby house and doesn't have any friends. Every day she wears the same faded blue dress, but tells her new class-mates that she has a hundred dresses at home. Her classmates tease Wanda about her hundred dresses until one day she disappears from school. As guilt overtakes the children, they decide to find out what happened to Wanda and to make amends. But is it too late? Bullying, friendship and forgiveness are at the center of this play adapted from the beloved Newbery Honor Book by Eleanor Estes." The performance takes place at the Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square in Grand Center. For more information: metroplays.org.

The Looking Glass Playhouse presents the musical Jesus Christ Superstar Thursdasy through Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2 pm through February 3. A global phenomenon that has wowed audiences for over 40 years, Jesus Christ Superstar is a timeless work set against the backdrop of an extraordinary and universally-known series of events but seen, unusually, through the eyes of Judas Iscariot." Performances take place at 301 West St. Louis Street in Lebanon, Ill. For more information, visit www.lookingglassplayhouse.com.

Alton Little Theater presents Maybe This Time Friday and Saturday at 7:20 pm and Sunday at 2 pm, February 1-3. "This play shows four online dates with good and bad, humorous and sad results. You not only see and hear the two people on the blind date but also see and hear what their brains are thinking. It shows how miscommunication and misunderstanding can lead to all kinds of unexpected and unwarranted consequences. You will laugh, you will be moved and you may even see yourself in there too." Performances take place at 2450 North Henry in Alton, IL. For more information, call 618.462.6562 or visit altonlittletheater.org.

The Motherf*Cker With the Hat
Photo by Jill Lindberg

R-S Theatrics presents the St. Louis premiere of The Motherf*Cker With The Hat Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, and Sundays at 7 PM through February 1. "How do you know where you're going...if you don't know who has been in your home? The seriocomedy explores how 5 people in New York navigate loyalty, trust, and duty through friendship, love and the challenges of adulthood. And how no one should ever underestimate the importance of cleaning up their accessories. Performances take place at the .ZACK, 3224 Locust in midttown. For more information: r-stheatrics.com.

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents Nursery Crimes through May 9. The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com.

Wittenberg
Photo by ProPhotoSTL

Upstream Theater presents the St. Louis premiere of Wittenberg Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 7 pm (except for February 10, which is at 2 pm) through February 10. "It's October 1517, and the new fall semester at the University of Wittenberg finds certain members of the faculty and student body at personal and professional crossroads. Hamlet (senior, class of 1518) is returning from a summer in Poland spent studying astronomy, where he has come in contact with a revolutionary scientific theory that threatens the very order of the universe, resulting in psychic trauma and a crisis of faith for him. His teacher and mentor John Faustus (Professor of Philosophy) has decided at long last to make an honest woman of his paramour, Helen, a former nun who is now one of the Continent's most sought-after courtesans. And Faustus' colleague and Hamlet's instructor and priest, Martin Luther (Professor of Theology), is dealing with the spiritual and medical consequences of his long-simmering outrage at certain abusive practices of the Church. Tavern disputes, tennis duels, 16th century lounge hits, and the slings and arrows of outrageous wit will tickle your brain into overdrive." Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, including show times: upstreamtheater.org.

The Wolves
Photo by Jon Gitchoff

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the St. Louis premiere of The Wolves by Sarah DeLappe through February 3. "Nine teenage girls prepare for battle on a soccer field. As they stretch and warm up together, the teammates' nonstop banter reveals how a collection of disparate personalities bonds to form a team. With its engrossing flow of dialogue and authentic characters, DeLappe's acclaimed new play distills the raw passion, confusion and wonder of adolescence into exhilarating theatre." Performances take place in the studio theatre at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information: repstl.org.

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 Events Calendar.

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.

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of January 28, 2019

Concerts this week include an all-Mozart program at the Sheldon, the American Spiritual Ensemble at the Cathedral Basilica, and a rarely-heard piano concerto at Powell Hall.

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The American Spiritual Ensemble

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St. Louis Cathedral Concerts presents the American Spiritual Ensemble on Friday, February 1, at 8 pm. "Comprised of some of the finest classically trained singers in the United States, the mission of the American Spiritual Ensemble is to keep the American Negro spiritual alive. Since its inception by Dr. Everett McCorvey in 1995, the vocalists have thrilled audiences around the world with their dynamic repertoire ranging from spirituals to classical to jazz and Broadway numbers highlighting the Black experience. The American Spiritual Ensemble is unique in that over 90% of the members are accomplished soloists who have sung in theaters and opera houses world wide. The resulting sound of this group is something that choral groups with two or three featured soloists cannot duplicate." The performance takes place at The Cathedral Basilica on Lindell in the Central West End. For more information: cathedralconcerts.org.

The Chamber Music Society of St. Louis presents its Amadeus on Monday and Tuesday, January 28 and 29, at 7:30 pm. The all-Mozart concert consists of the String Quintet No. 1 in Bb Major, K. 174, the Sonata for Fortepiano in A Major K331 'Alla turca,' and the Quintet for Horn and Strings in Eb Major, K. 407. The concert takes place at the Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington in Grand Center. For more information: chambermusicstl.org.

Kirill Gerstein

Matthias Pintscher conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and panist Kirill Gerstein Friday and Saturday at 8 pm, February 1 and 2. The concerts will consist of Rachmaninoff's The Isle of the Dead, Scriabin's Piano Concerto, and Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 3 ("Scottish"). The concerts take place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

The Town and Country Symphony Orchestra presents the 2018 - 19 Ritenour HS Scholaship Concert on Friday, February 1, at 7:30 pm. The soloist for the program, which includes a performance of Beethoven's Wellington's Victory, is baritone Dr. Richard Bell. The performance takes place at Ritenour High School, 9100 St. Charles Rock Road. For more information: tcsomo.org.

Chuck's Choices for the weekend of January 25, 2019

New shows this week include a Rossini comedy at Winter Opera, contemporary cabaret at Jazz St. Louis, and a biographical one-woman musical at Max and Louie.

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New This Week:

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L'Italiana in Algeri

Winter Opera St. Louis presents Rossini's comic opera L'Italiana in Algeri Friday at 7:30 PM and Sunday at 3 PM, January 25 and 27. Performances take place at the Dale Williams Fine Arts Center at Missouri Baptist University. For more information, visit winteroperastl.org.

My take: It's easy to forget that Opera Theatre of St. Louis is not the only opera company in town. Union Avenue Opera and Winter Opera don't have OTSL's budget, but Winter Opera does have the advantage of an auditorium designed for musical theatre, complete with a respectable orchestra pit, and their shows generally feature fine singers and a decent orchestra. The company has a pretty good track record with operetta as well, with a charming Student Prince last November and a truly delightful Merry Widow in 2016. And Rossini's 1813 comic opera isn't seen nearly as often as his other big hits.

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Lea DeLaria
Photo: Sarah Stone

Jazz St. Louis and The Cabaret Project present Lea DeLaria on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 and 9:30 pm, January 25 and 26. "Lea DeLaria seems to have achieved overnight stardom with her two - time, SAG Award winning, stand-out role as Carrie 'Big Boo' Black in the Netflix hit series Orange is the New Black. However, DeLaria's multi-faceted career as a comedian, actress, and jazz musician has, in fact, spanned decades. DeLaria has five records on the Warner Jazz and Classics label, and her book, Lea's Book of Rules for the World, is in its third printing at Bantam Doubleday and Dell." Performances take place at the Ferring Jazz Bistro on Washington just east of the Fox in Grand Center. For more information: thecabaretproject.org.

My take: Yes, Lea DeLaria is probably best known for her role in Orange in the New Black. But, as I wrote in my review of her appearance here in December 2017, she has had an impressive career in stand-up comedy, theatre, and music for many years now. With five jazz albums to her credit, she's a powerful vocalist with a great ear and an unfailingly accurate feel for what makes both musical and theatrical sense. She's also engaging and funny as hell as long as you're not put off by the f-bomb being dropped liberally.

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Love, Linda
Photo: Dunsai Dai

Max and Louie Productions presents Debby Lennon in the one-woman show Love, Linda through January 27. "Linda Lee Thomas was the Southern beauty who married and was the driving force behind legendary song writer Cole Porter at the dawn of the roaring twenties. Though Cole Porter was gay, their companionship and love lasted through 35 years of marriage and a spectacular, glamour-filled life. With innovative jazz arrangements, the timeless music and lyrics of Cole Porter weave through "Love, Linda" examining the darker sides of their life, while also celebrating the deep love that blossomed through their unconventional relationship." Performances take place at the Marcelle Theatre in Grand Center. For more information: maxandlouie.com

My take: Honestly, I'd be willing to recommend this simply on the basis of the many Cole Porter songs. But it also appears to be an excellent production. At Ladue News, Mark Bretz writes that "Debby Lennon shines under the tender guidance of director Ken Page in this classy, intriguing one-woman show about the socialite wife of songwriter Cole Porter in a well-wrought, musically rich presentation by Max & Louie Productions." Ms Lennon is, indeed, a local treasure, as anyone who had the pleasure of seeing her in Max and Louie's Souvenir can attest.

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The Wolves
Jon Gitchoff

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the St. Louis premiere of The Wolves by Sarah DeLappe through February 3. "Nine teenage girls prepare for battle on a soccer field. As they stretch and warm up together, the teammates' nonstop banter reveals how a collection of disparate personalities bonds to form a team. With its engrossing flow of dialogue and authentic characters, DeLappe's acclaimed new play distills the raw passion, confusion and wonder of adolescence into exhilarating theatre." Performances take place in the studio theatre at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information: repstl.org.

My take: "Director Melissa Rain Anderson," writes Mark Bretz at Ladue News, "shepherds her smartly collected cast in a whimsical ensemble effort which captures the spontaneity of youth with poignancy, charm and frequently funny dialogue in refreshing fashion." "DeLappe has an original voice that cries out to be heard," says Calvin Wilson at STLToday, "and 'The Wolves' is an experience unlike anything you've seen before." The studio theatre season at the Rep, brief though it may be, consistently delivers high quality theatre in an intimate setting.

Held Over:

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Alabama Story
Photo by John Gitchoff

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the drama Alabama Story running through January 27th. "A determined librarian and a segregationist senator face off over an innocent children's book in 1959 Montgomery. Depicting the marriage of two rabbits – who happen to have different-colored fur – the story has Sen. E.W. Higgins calling for a book ban. But even as the pressure mounts, librarian Emily Wheelock Reed refuses to yield to censorship. Inspired by true events, Alabama Story is a stirring testament to free expression." Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information: repstl.org,

My take: This is a splendid production of a show that reminds of us (and though we needed reminding these days) of the need to be vigilant against lunatic racism and attacks on free thought. Critics have expressed reservations about the credibility of a fictional subplot in the show, but overall Alabama Story is getting a big thumbs-up. "Director Paul Mason Barnes and the cast bring these topics to life," writes Kevin Brackett at ReviewSTL, "in a way that not only enlightens – yet entertains and truly captivates. It’s a show that should be seen, and one that we honestly need to see right now.

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Canfield Drive
Photo by Peter Spack

The Black Rep presents the world premiere of Canfield Drive running through January 27. "In this World Premiere production, two high-powered news reporters from across the aisle are thrown together during a ratings frenzy in Ferguson, Missouri, following the shooting of unarmed teenager Michael Brown. As they untangle the real cause of Brown's death, they struggle to keep their own secrets out of the spotlight. Created from diverse interviews of people from around the corner and around the world, Canfield Drive shines a light of hope as it wrestles with the greatest questions of our age. Canfield Drive, written by Kristen Adele Calhoun and Michael Thomas Walker, is a National Performance Network (NPN) Creation and Development Fund Project co-commissioned by 651 Arts in partnership with The St. Louis Black Repertory Company, and NPN." Performances take place at the Edison Theatre on the Washington University campus. For more information: theblackrep.org.

My take: No doubt about it, the death of Michael Brown turned over some big rocks in our national psyche, and some pretty nasty things came crawling out--in come cases, right into elected offices. As Paul Friswold writes in his review for the Riverfront Time, the playwrights "show more courage than most, walking right into the bloody mess of America's festering Achilles heel, racism. It's painful and honest and, ultimately, cathartic to watch because it doesn't take the easy way out." As Ann Lemmons Pollack writes on her blog, "this is our story. We have to be able to listen to what other people are saying about their experience. It may be uncomfortable to hear, but these things not only must be said, they must be heard."

Review: New kids on the block

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

Karina Canellakis
Photo: Chris Christodoulou

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This weekend's St. Louis Symphony Orchestra concerts gave us some notable local debuts, both on the stage and on the page.

[Find out more about the music with my symphony preview.]

On stage, Saturday night's concert (January 19, 2019) was a triumph for guest conductor Karina Canellakis, the newly appointed Chief Conductor of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. In her first appearance with the orchestra, she showed an impressive grasp of a wide range of music, from Mozart's 1775 Violin Concerto No. 5 ("Turkish") to Paul Hindemith's 1944 "Symphonic Metamorphosis on Themes of Carl Maria von Weber." In his own local debut, Ray Chen (a last-minute substitute for an ailing Renaud Capuçon) made an equally strong impression as the soloist in the Mozart.

On the page, the new kid in town was Richard Strauss's "Symphonic Fantasy from Die Frau ohne Schatten." First performed in 1919 but making its first appearance with the SLSO, this 22-minute orchestral synthesis of scenes from the composer's massive fairy tale opera neatly captures the drama and fantastic atmosphere of the original. It's a typically Straussian exercise in orchestral excess, with over 100 musicians (including an expanded percussion section and an organ) delivering a captivating kaleidoscope of orchestral color.

It was all beautifully played and conducted with great authority by Ms. Canellakis, whose interpretation provided a cohesive view of this potentially very episodic work. In an interview for the SLSO program, she describes the music of "Die Frau ohne Schatten" ("The Woman Without a Shadow") as "unbelievable, impressive, and beguiling." You could hear that happy enthusiasm for the music in every minute of this stunning performance.

Ray Chen
Photo: John Mac

I heard and saw that same joy and sense of fun in the way both she and Mr. Chen delivered the Mozart concerto. The last of the composer's violin concertos, the Fifth is filled with unexpected turns of phrase, including the so-called "Turkish" interlude of the finale in which the cellos and basses strike their strings, col legno, to produce an exotic percussive effect. This was an interpretation that bubbled over with sheer delight in music making, and it was impossible not to smile in response. A violinist herself, Ms. Canellakis clearly had a strong connection with both this work and with Mr. Chen.

Enthusiastic applause moved Mr. Chen to return to the stage and play an encore: Paganini's Caprice No. 21--a nice contrast to the Mozart and expertly played.

The concert opened with a performance of Beethoven's "Lenore Overture No. 3" that covered a wide emotional range, from the hushed introduction to a coda that crackled with energy. Ms. Canellakis's conducting was incisive, with neatly shaped phrases and a fine sense of the drama of this very theatrical work. Associate Principal Tom Drake provided the authoritative offstage trumpet.

The evening ended with a virtuoso romp through the Hindemith "Metamorphosis." Originally intended (but never used) as a ballet score, the four-movement work is, like the Strauss piece that preceded it on the program, a riot of vivid orchestral color. Hindemith's transformations on Weber's original themes is striking in its originality and filled with great solo moments, performed with great polish here by (among others) Principal Flute Mark Sparks, Principal Oboe Jelena Dirks, and Principal Clarinet Scott Andrews. The brass section was in fine form, as was the percussion section, most notably in the "Chinoiserie" of the second movement, based on themes from incidental music for Schiller's play "Turandot."

It's always a pleasure to see new, young performers at Powell Hall. Based on their strong showing Saturday night, I would think both Ms. Canellakis and Mr. Chen would be strong contenders for more appearances with the SLSO in the future.

Next at Powell Hall: Gemma New conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in "Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert" Thursday through Saturday at 7 pm, and Sunday at 2 pm, January 24-27. Performances take place at Powell Hall in Grand Center. At this time, only "limited view" tickets are available.

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of January 21, 2019

We have new shows this week from (among others) New Jewish, Upstream, and Winter Opera, along with a return of the raucous and brilliant Lea DeLaria.

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Bread and Roses Missouri presents The 2019 Workers' Opera on Sunday, January 27, at 1 pm. "The show consists of new and revised sketches about laborers, unions, and workers' rights in the past and the present. Directed by Kathryn Bentley. Featuring music directed by Colin McLaughlin." The performance takes place at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park. For more information: breadandrosesmo.org.

Circus Harmony presents Accelerando - A Circus Spy Thriller Saturdays at 12 and 2 pm and Sundays at 2 pm through January 27. "The annual show features Circus Harmony's flying children with all new acts including Chinese Pole and Hoop Diving, some coached by Circus Harmony graduates who are touring the world performing these acts with Cirque du Soleil and les 7 Doigts de la Main!" Performances take place at City Museum, downtown. For more information www.circusharmony.org/accelerando.

Alabama Story
Photo by John Gitchoff

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the drama Alabama Story running through January 27. "A determined librarian and a segregationist senator face off over an innocent children’s book in 1959 Montgomery. Depicting the marriage of two rabbits – who happen to have different-colored fur – the story has Sen. E.W. Higgins calling for a book ban. But even as the pressure mounts, librarian Emily Wheelock Reed refuses to yield to censorship. Inspired by true events, Alabama Story is a stirring testament to free expression." Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information: repstl.org,

The Playhouse at Westport Plaza presents the musical Avenue Q opening on Friday, January 25 at 7:30 pm, and running through March 3. "Part flesh, part felt and packed with heart, AVENUE Q is a laugh-out-loud musical telling the timeless story of a bright-eyed college grad named Princeton. When he arrives in the city with big dreams and a tiny bank account, he has to move into a shabby apartment all the way out on AVENUE Q. Still, the neighbors seem nice. There, he meets Kate (the girl next door), Lucy (the slut), Rod (the Republican), Trekkie (the internet entrepreneur), superintendent Gary Coleman (yes, that Gary Coleman) and other new friends! Together, they struggle to find jobs, dates, and their ever-elusive purpose in life." The Playhouse at Westport Plaza is at 635 West Port Plaza. For more information: www.playhouseatwestport.com.

The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents Bullets in the Bathtub through April 13. The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com.

Canfield Drive
Photo by Peter Spack

The Black Rep presents the world premiere of Canfield Drive running through January 27. "In this World Premiere production, two high-powered news reporters from across the aisle are thrown together during a ratings frenzy in Ferguson, Missouri, following the shooting of unarmed teenager Michael Brown. As they untangle the real cause of Brown's death, they struggle to keep their own secrets out of the spotlight. Created from diverse interviews of people from around the corner and around the world, Canfield Drive shines a light of hope as it wrestles with the greatest questions of our age. Canfield Drive, written by Kristen Adele Calhoun and Michael Thomas Walker, is a National Performance Network (NPN) Creation and Development Fund Project co-commissioned by 651 Arts in partnership with The St. Louis Black Repertory Company, and NPN." Performances take place at the Edison Theatre on the Washington University campus. For more information: theblackrep.org.

CSZ St. Louis presents The ComedySportz Show on Saturday nights at 7:30 pm. The show is "action-packed, interactive and hilarious comedy played as a sport. Two teams battle it out for points and your laughs! You choose the winners the teams provide the funny!" Performances take place on the second floor of the Sugar Cubed, 917 S Main St. in St Charles, Mo. For more information: www.cszstlouis.com.

New Jewish Theater presents District Merchants: An Uneasy Comedy Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays at 2 and 8 pm, and Sundays at 2 pm, January 24 - February 10. "In District Merchants, love, litigation, deep passions and predatory lending are taken to a new level. The play wades fearlessly into the complexities of life in America. It is set among Black and Jewish populations in an imagined time and place, simultaneously Shakespearean and post- Civil War Washington, D.C. In Posner's reimagining, the play becomes less about the quality of mercy and more about how flexible a supposedly egalitarian society can be to the varied tribes struggling to find partners in America. Aaron Posner expertly blends humor, emotional truths and topics that make people think. He is able to create characters who are deeply flawed, like we are. In his “uneasy” comedy, he wants us to look at a snapshot in time, the Reconstruction Era, but what he has written is relevant to audiences today." 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.

Winter Opera St. Louis presents Rossini's comic opera L'Italiana in Algeri Friday at 7:30 PM and Sunday at 3 PM, January 25 and 27. Performances take place at the Dale Williams Fine Arts Center at Missouri Baptist University. For more information, visit winteroperastl.org.

The Looking Glass Playhouse presents the musical Jesus Christ Superstar Thursdasy through Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2 pm, January 24 - February 3. A global phenomenon that has wowed audiences for over 40 years, Jesus Christ Superstar is a timeless work set against the backdrop of an extraordinary and universally-known series of events but seen, unusually, through the eyes of Judas Iscariot." Performances take place at 301 West St. Louis Street in Lebanon, Ill. For more information, visit www.lookingglassplayhouse.com.

Jazz St. Louis and The Cabaret Project present Lea DeLaria on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 and 9:30 pm, January 25 and 26. "Lea DeLaria seems to have achieved overnight stardom with her two - time, SAG Award winning, stand-out role as Carrie 'Big Boo' Black in the Netflix hit series Orange is the New Black. However, DeLaria's multi-faceted career as a comedian, actress, and jazz musician has, in fact, spanned decades. DeLaria has five records on the Warner Jazz and Classics label, and her book, Lea's Book of Rules for the World, is in its third printing at Bantam Doubleday and Dell." Performances take place at the Ferring Jazz Bistro on Washington just east of the Fox in Grand Center. For more information: thecabaretproject.org.

Love, Linda
Photo: Dunsai Dai

Max and Louie Productions presents Debby Lennon in the one-woman show Love, Linda through January 27. "Linda Lee Thomas was the Southern beauty who married and was the driving force behind legendary song writer Cole Porter at the dawn of the roaring twenties. Though Cole Porter was gay, their companionship and love lasted through 35 years of marriage and a spectacular, glamour-filled life. With innovative jazz arrangements, the timeless music and lyrics of Cole Porter weave through "Love, Linda" examining the darker sides of their life, while also celebrating the deep love that blossomed through their unconventional relationship." Performances take place at the Marcelle Theatre in Grand Center. For more information: maxandlouie.com

Hard Road Theatre Productions presents The Marvelous Wonderettes Fridays and Saturdays at 7 pm and Sundays at 2 pm through January 26. "The pop doesn't stop in this smash hit musical! A high school prom in 1958 and a 10-year reunion in 1968 provide the backdrop for some of the biggest hits of both decades, performed by an irrepressible quartet of young women. Featuring a stacked playlist that includes "Mr. Sandman," "It's in His Kiss," "Respect," "Son of a Preacher Man" and "Lollipop," it's a joyous snapshot of a musical era." Performances will be held at the Highland Elementary School auditorium in Highland IL. For more information: www.hardroad.org.

R-S Theatrics presents the St. Louis premiere of The Motherf*Cker With The Hat Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, and Sundays at 7 PM, January 25 - February 1. "How do you know where you're going...if you don't know who has been in your home? The seriocomedy explores how 5 people in New York navigate loyalty, trust, and duty through friendship, love and the challenges of adulthood. And how no one should ever underestimate the importance of cleaning up their accessories. Performances take place at the .ZACK, 3224 Locust in midttown. For more information: r-stheatrics.com.

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents Nursery Crimes through May 9. The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com.

Alton Little Theater presents the drama On Golden Pond Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2 pm through January 27. " The touching play takes place at a summer lake home and focuses on a daughter's turbulent relationship with her father and the trials of a loving couple in the twilight years of a long marriage. A testament to the power of love and family and redemption." Performances take place at 2450 North Henry in Alton, IL. For more information, call 618.462.6562 or visit altonlittletheater.org.

Wittenberg
Photo: ProPhotoSTL

Upstream Theater presents the St. Louis premiere of Wittenberg Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 7 pm (except for February 10, which is at 2 pm), January 25 - February 10. "It's October 1517, and the new fall semester at the University of Wittenberg finds certain members of the faculty and student body at personal and professional crossroads. Hamlet (senior, class of 1518) is returning from a summer in Poland spent studying astronomy, where he has come in contact with a revolutionary scientific theory that threatens the very order of the universe, resulting in psychic trauma and a crisis of faith for him. His teacher and mentor John Faustus (Professor of Philosophy) has decided at long last to make an honest woman of his paramour, Helen, a former nun who is now one of the Continent's most sought-after courtesans. And Faustus' colleague and Hamlet's instructor and priest, Martin Luther (Professor of Theology), is dealing with the spiritual and medical consequences of his long-simmering outrage at certain abusive practices of the Church. Tavern disputes, tennis duels, 16th century lounge hits, and the slings and arrows of outrageous wit will tickle your brain into overdrive." Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, including show times: upstreamtheater.org.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the St. Louis premiere of The Wolves by Sarah DeLappe through February 3. "Nine teenage girls prepare for battle on a soccer field. As they stretch and warm up together, the teammates' nonstop banter reveals how a collection of disparate personalities bonds to form a team. With its engrossing flow of dialogue and authentic characters, DeLappe's acclaimed new play distills the raw passion, confusion and wonder of adolescence into exhilarating theatre." Performances take place in the studio theatre at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information: repstl.org.

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 Events Calendar.

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.

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of January 21, 2019

The concert scene this week includes a Star Wars movie event at Powell Hall and a chamber music concert inspired by the moon landing 50 years ago.

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The Kim Portnoy Trio

Eliot Unitarian Chapel presents a Friends of Music concert featuring the Kim Portnoy Trio plaing jazz and the Linjadi Trio playing Dvorak's Piano Trio No. 3 on Sunday, January 27, at 3 pm. The concert takes place at Eliot Unitarian Chapel is at 100 South Argonne in Kirkwood. For more information: fomcstl.org.

The Sheldon Concert Hall presents the St. Louis Brass Band in a Low Brass Spectacular on Tuesday, January 22, at 7:30 PM. “The Saint Louis Brass Band is pleased to return to The Sheldon Concert Hall again this season. We are also please to feature as Guest Artist St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Bass Trombonist Gerry Pagano! The intimate setting of the Sheldon is perfect for the Brass Band to present soloists and give the audience an opportunity to hear them and meet them up close and personal. This will be an exciting evening of low brass extravaganza!” The Sheldon is at 3648 Washington in Grand Center. For more information: thesheldon.org.

Peter Henderson

The Sheldon Concert Hall presents the 1969 - The Moon Landing on Wednesday, January 23, at 8 pm. “Pianist Peter Henderson and the Ilex Trio, with violinist Kristin Ahlstrom and cellist A ne Fagerburg, commemorate the wonder and significance of the moon landing 50 years ago with lunar-themed pieces such as Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, Debussy's Suite Bergamasque with its Clair de lune movement, and a new composition by Peter Henderson written for this concert entitled Sun Valley: Sunset, Moonrise, and Milky Way.” The Sheldon is at 3648 Washington in Grand Center. For more information: thesheldon.org.

Gemma New conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert, Thursday through Saturday at 7 pm, and Sunday at 2 pm, January 24-27. " Journey to a galaxy far, far away and relive the intergalactic adventure of Star Wars: A New Hope In Concert like never before as the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra performs the score live. Experience the iconic film on the big screen at Powell Hall for the most epic space adventure of all time!" Performances take place at Powell Hall in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

Xiomara Mass

The Washington University Department of Music presents a faculty recital by Xiomara Mass, oboe, with Peter Henderson, piano, on Sunday, January 27, at 7:30 p.m. The concert includes music by Loeffler and Saint-Saëns and takes place in the E. Desmond Lee Concert Hall at the 560 Music Center, 560 Trinity in University City. For more information, music.wustl.edu.

The Washington University Department of Music presents The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, St. Louis District, on Saturday, January 26, from 10 am to approximately 4 pm. "The St. Louis District typically hosts up to 35 singers. Each participating singer is expected to prepare five arias, two of which they will perform at the audition- one of their choosing and one chosen by the judges. Typically there are three District winners who go on to compete in the regional competition with the hope of continuing to the national level in New York." The event takes place in the E. Desmond Lee Concert Hall at the 560 Music Center, 560 Trinity in University City. For more information, music.wustl.edu.