A holly and jolly holiday with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

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Seven Jarvi
stevenjarvi.com

Who: The St. Louis Symphony conducted by Steven Jarvi
What: Macy's Holiday Celebration
When: December 19-21, 2014
Where: Powell Symphony Hall, St. Louis

The Macy's Holiday Celebration concerts with the St. Louis Symphony have, over the past several years, fallen into a pattern that's as familiar and cozy as a bulky red woolen sweater. This year, I'm happy to report, is no exception.

As always, Symphony IN UNISON® Chorus director Kevin McBeth's Holiday Festival Chorus sings some familiar carols, including a wonderfully precise arrangement of the traditional Ukrainian "Carol of the Bells". I was also very taken with their performance of the delicate arrangement of "Silent Night" by Mormon Tabernacle Choir music director Mack Wilberg. The use of harp and celesta gives it a wonderfully transparent texture. Mr. McBeth does an impressive job getting very polished performances out of these singers, who all hail from local high schools.

Also, as always, the orchestra plays pops favorites like Leroy Anderson's "Christmas Festival" (a piece I have loved since I played it in high school), the audience participates in a sing-along, and Santa (the always reliable Whit Reichert, if my ears do not deceive me) shows up with a child plucked from the audience to "conduct" Leroy Anderson's "Sleigh Ride." Friday night's munchkin was so charming that she threatened to steal the show.

Santa also has some banter with the vocal soloist. This year it's the charming Chelsea Packard, who does fine work throughout and knocks "Let It Go" (from "Frozen") out of the park. Her musical theatre background is apparent in her engaging performances, although I rather wish she had done Adolphe Adam's "O Holy Night" without the ornamentation that so many younger singers seem compelled to bring to their vocal lines these days.

Chelsea Packard
chelseapackard.com

Equally traditional at these concerts is Randol Alan Bass's setting of "The Night Before Christmas" for narrator and orchestra, with a local celebrity in the speaking part. This year it was radio broadcaster Charles Brennan, who is competent but (at least on Friday night) looked a bit uncomfortable.

There are a few surprises on the program this year, the most welcome of which is Louis Richman's "Hannukah Festival Overture." It's apparently quite popular with holiday pops events around the country, but this was my first exposure to it. Richman's orchestration is clever and inventive and the piece is a nice counterpart to Anderson's "Christmas Festival."

The final two pieces on the program were also a welcome addition: a suite from Alan Silvestri's music for the film "Polar Express" (arrangement by Jerry Brubaker, Chief Arranger of the US Navy Band for 13 years) and "Christmas Eve Finale" from Dimitri Tiomkin's score for that Christmas chestnut "It's a Wonderful Life." The arrangement for orchestra and chorus by Patrick Russ and Paul Henning (part of their "Suite from It's a Wonderful Life") is big and colorful and brings the evening to an appropriately celebratory end.

Steven Jarvi conducts and narrates the entire affair with panache. He also put his own stamp on the music. His "Christmas Festival," for example, brings out some of woodwind parts in ways that previous readings have not.

Holiday cheer, in short, abounds at Powell Hall this weekend, assisted by the fact that drinks can be brought into the hall. I recommend the Poinsettia Punch—refreshing and not too sweet.

There are three more chances to catch this tasty musical sugarplum Saturday at 2 and 7:30 pm and Sunday at 2 pm. Post-holiday cheer continues next week with "Pixar in Concert" on Saturday and Sunday, December 27 and 28, and the annual New Year's Eve gala on the 31st.
For ticket information, visit the symphony web site.

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of December 15, 2014

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St. Louis Chamber Chorus in 2011

The Kirkwood Public Library presents the Bella Corda and Musica Viva guitar ensembles in a Christmas concert on Monday, December 15, at 7 p.m. The library is at 104 E. Jefferson in Kirkwood, MO. For more information: kirkwoodpubliclibrary.org.

The St. Louis Chamber Chorus presents Concert Three: Palestrina and Herbert Howells "A joyous mass for Christmas by Rome's 'Prince of Music' — Palestrina is interlaced with achingly beautiful carols by a towering figure of the English Musical Renaissance, Herbert Howells." The concert takes place on Sunday, December 21 at 3 PM at First Presbyterian Church of Kirkwood, 100 E. Adams in Kirkwood, MO. For more information: www.chamberchorus.org

Kevin McBeth conducts the St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON® Chorus in A Gospel Christmas on Thursday, December 18, at 7:30 p.m. "Gospel sensation Oleta Adams joins the STL Symphony and IN UNISON® Chorus led by director Kevin McBeth for a night of soul-stirring Gospel music to celebrate the most joyous of seasons." The concert takes place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand in Grand Center. The concert is sold out, but standing room tickets are still available. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

Chelsea Packard

Steven Jarvi conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra along with the Holiday Festival Chorus and vocalist Chelsea Packard in the Macy's Holiday Celebration Friday and Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., December 19-21. "Old and young, naughty and nice are all invited to enjoy St. Louis' annual holiday tradition in a splendidly decorated Powell Hall. Enjoy a visit from Santa and your favorite carols and holiday tunes, including the Polar Express Suite, The Night Before Christmas narrated by KMOX's Charlie Brennan, music from It's a Wonderful Life and the 2014 Academy Award® Winner for Best Original Song, "Let It Go" from Frozen. See why more than 10,000 St. Louisans make Powell Hall home for the holidays." 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 Marie Halley, vocals; Lisa Gilbert, wooden flutes; and Bran Vihan, guitar and vocals, in A Concert of Celtic Carols on Thursday, December 18, 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 Tavern of Fine Arts presents a Winter Solstice Concert by guitarist Todd Mosby on Friday, December 19, 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 Tavern of Fine Arts presents soprano Rebecca Drury and tenor/pianist Jon Garrett in a concert of music for the holiday season. on Saturday, December 20, 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.

Winter Opera presents Holidays on the Hill on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 16 and 17, at 7 p.m. "Treat someone special to the unique gift of music and fine dining this December. Includes a four-course dinner at Dominic's on the Hill as well as a concert sung by Winter Opera artists. Gift certificates available." The event takes place at Dominic's On the Hill, 200 1501 Wilson. For more information: www.winteroperastl.org.

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.