St. Louis classical calendar for the week of March 9, 2020

This week brings us the return of Opera Tastings from Opera Theatre, chamber music from the Chamber Project, and a Berlioz blockbuster at the SLSO.

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The artistic directors of The Chamber Project

The Chamber Project St. Louis presents Tenacity on Tuesday, March 12, at 7:00 pm and Saturday, March 14, at 7:30 pm. "Beautiful, haunting, and inspiring music for flute, harp and strings expresses the full range of human experience. TENACITY explores works by composers dealing with subjects almost too painful to bear, coupled with composers on the other side of tragedy, revealing the hope beyond the pain. Nilou Nour, a young Iranian-American composer, dives into humanity's psychological depths in a piece that reflects upon the work of the White Helmets in Syria. After serving in the front lines of both World Wars, the composer Laszlo Lajtha was responsible for the return of radio broadcasts to post-war Budapest. In his Harp Quintet, we hear the relief following the war and the survival of spirit through conflict. Opening the program is Perkinson's last unfinished work, Elegy, a symbolic finish to the work of a great African-American composer. Beautiful, haunting, and inspiring music for flute, harp and strings expresses the full range of human experience." The Tuesday concert takes place at the World Chess Hall of Fame, 4652 Maryland Avenue. The Saturday concert takes place at The Chapel Venue, 6238 Alexander Drive. For more information: www.chamberprojectstl.org.

The Metropolitan Orchestra

The Metropolitan Orchestra performs on Sunday, March 15, at 7 pm. "Come to the final concert of the eighth season of The Metropolitan Orchestra of Saint Louis. This highly acclaimed professional/ educational orchestra has a unique 'Share the Music Stand' program where students are able to play alongside seasoned professional musicians. This concert will feature Conductor Wendy Lea and Elgar's Cello Concerto in E minor with cellist Bjorn Ranheim and Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 2" The concert takes place at First Presbyterian Church, 100 E. Adams in Kirkwood. For more information: moslmusic.org.

Kuzu

The New Music Circle presents Kuzu on Wednesday, March 11, at 8 pm. "Comprised of Tashi Dorji (electric guitar), Tyler Damon (drums), and Dave Rempis (saxophone), KUZU creates a sound that straddles free-jazz, improvised music, and noise-rock. Collectively, members have collaborated or toured with the likes of Joe McPhee, Joshua Abrams, Circuit Des Yeux, Godspeed You Black Emperor!, and David Grubbs. Influences range from jazz icons like Pharaoh Sanders and Yusef Lateef to Scandinavian black metal bands like Craft and Darkthrone." The performance takes place at Joe's Cafe, 6014 Kingsbury. For more information: newmusiccircle.org.

Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents Opera Tastings on Wednesday, and Thursday March 11 and 12 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. "Join us to expand your palate - and your love of music! Delight all your senses as opera is paired with delicious food and drink. Each culinary experience takes place at a different venue and features a unique menu crafted to complement the flavors of the music. What happens when you combine great singers with the region's best chefs and sommeliers? Pure mixology magic." The Wednesday event takes place Das Bevo, 4749 Gravois Ave in South City. The Thursday event takes place at Moulin Events, 2017 Chouteau Ave in Lafayette Square. For more information: www.opera-stl.org.

Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents its annual Sing for Siteman benefit concert on Saturday, March 14, at 7 pm, preceded by a reception at 6 pm. All proceeds benefit the Siteman Cancer Center. The concert takes place at the Performing Arts Center at John Burroughs School, 755 South Price Road. For more information: www.opera-stl.org.

Mezzo Isabel Leonard

Stéphane Denève conducts The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and Chorus Children's Choirs, and vocal soloists Isabel Leonard, mezzo-soprano (Marguerite); Michael Spyres, tenor (Faust); John Relyea, bass (Méphistophélès); and Anthony Clark Evans, baritone (Brander) on Friday and Saturday at 8 pm, March 13 and 14. The program consists of Berlioz's "légende dramatique" The Damnation of Faust. "We've all had Berlioz's experience with a good book. 'I couldn't put it down. I read it at meals, in the street.' Berlioz transformed this book by Goethe into a concert opera, The Damnation of Faust. It is among Stéphane Denève's favorite works, and he brings a “dream cast” to tell its story of love, death and the devil." Performances take place at Powell Symphony Hall in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.