St. Louis classical calendar for the week of January 12, 2015

The Bach Society at Powell Hall

The Bach Society of St. Louis presents a Young Artist Recital featuring 2013-2014 Young Artists and pianist Sandra Geary on Sunday, January 18, at 4 PM at Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church, 9450 Clayton Road. "The 2014-2015 Young Artists are joined by pianist Sandra Geary for an afternoon featuring Bach solo arias and duets, as well as personal favorites from operatic and recital repertoire. Enjoy hearing soprano Mary Beth Freitag, mezzo soprano Lori Hoffman, tenor Anthony Heinemann and bass Ravi Raghuram on their path to careers as soloists. Presented jointly with the music department of Ladue Chapel. Free admission." For more information: www.bachsociety.org

Chamber Project St. Louis presents an open rehearsal and conversation with award-winning composer Lansing McLoskey on Thursday, January 15, at 6 p.m. "CPSTL will be putting the finishing touches on his work Quartettrope for their performance the following evening at the Chapel. Don't miss this unique opportunity to get inside the creative process!" The vent takes place at the Tavern of Fine Arts, 313 Belt in the DeBaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

The Chamber Project St. Louis presents Roots, featuring works by Noon, McLoskey, Hartley, and Beethoven on Friday, January 16, at 8:00 PM. "Music takes inspiration from many sources and may stray far from tradition, but there is always a link to the past." The performance takes place at The Chapel, 6238 Alexander Drive in Clayton. For more information: www.chamberprojectstl.org.

The New Music Circle presents an open rehearsal of "Les Moutons de Panurge" by Frederic Rzewski for any number of musicians and audience participation on Saturday, January 17, at noon. Cellist and NMC board member Tracy Andeotti will lead the rehearsal, which takes place place at The Tavern of Fine Arts, 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

Johanna Ballou
Photo: Von McKnelly

New Music Circle presents pianist Johanna Ballou and soprano Stella Markou in concert on Saturday, January 17, at 8 PM. "Johanna Ballou is a young American pianist who has been engaging American and European audiences with her magnetic stage presence and dynamic interpretations. Ballou’s January concert will include selections that employ a variety of modern classical approaches." The event takes place at the 560 Music Center, 560 Trinity in University City. For more information: www.newmusiccircle.org.

The St. Louis Symphony’s Crescendo Circle presents Sips and Symphonies on Thursday, January 15, at 7:30 PM. "What is Sips and Symphonies? It is a great way to learn about music in a fun, casual environment. January's Sips and Symphonies brings musicologist Alex Stefaniak back to the Tavern for an entertaining and informative discussion of Mozart's Symphony No. 41, "Jupiter."" A special cocktail is created for each event to accompany the music. The event takes place at The Tavern of Fine Arts, 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

Richard Goode
Photo: Steve Riskind

David Robertson conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra along with pianist Richard Goode Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m., January 17 and 18. The program features Lutoslawski's "Dance Preludes," Michael Tippet's "Fantasia concertante on a Theme of Corelli," and Mozart's "Piano Concerto No. 17" and "Symphony No. 41" ("Jupiter"). "Exuberant and introspective, charming and complicated, Mozart’s final symphony, " Jupiter," foreshadows the work of Beethoven and sums up what had happened in symphonic music up to that point. Hailed for music-making of tremendous emotional power, Richard Goode joins the orchestra for Mozart’s sublime Piano Concerto No. 17. " 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 a classical open stage night on Monday, January 12, from 7:30 – 9 PM. "Come by yourself or bring your quartet. Sight read through a Beethoven quartet or use this as an opportunity to put the finishing touches on that Hindemith Viola Sonata you have been working on. All ages and skill levels are welcome. We have a 6' grand piano and an accompanist." The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents The Karp Family Quartet in a program of music by Mozart, Mendelssohn, and Dvorak on Saturday, January 17, at 2 p.m. The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents soprano Christine Johnson and pianist Jon Garrett in an all-request show on Saturday, January 17, at 5 p.m. The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents saxophonist Jessica Knopf and pianist Diana Umali in dance-inspired program featuring music by Piazzolla, Whitney, Schulhoff, Milhaud, and Francaix on Saturday, January 17, at 8 p.m. The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of February 24, 2014

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The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra presents a brass quintet concert featuring symphony members on Monday, February 24, at 6 PM as part of the Symphony in Your College program. The concert takes place at 1 Hairpin Drive at on the Southern Illinois University campus in Edwardsville, IL. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra presents a Pulitzer Series concert on Wednesday, February 26, at 7:30 PM. David Robertson will conduct members of the orchestra in a program of music by Steve Reich. The performance takes place at the Pulitzer Center for the Arts, 3716 Washington. For more information: stlsymphony.org

Benedetto Lupo

Juanjo Mena conducts The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra with piano soloist Benedetto Lupo in a program of music by Ginastera, Rachmaninoff, and Elgar. Performances take place on Friday and Saturday at 8 PM and Sunday at 3 PM, February 28 – March 2, at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand. "Spanish conductor Juanjo Mena makes his STL Symphony debut leading Elgar 's Enigma Variations. Created by the composer as a musical puzzle, this work will astonish and delight with its unforgettable melodies including the famously noble 'Nimrod.' The centuries-old theme from Rachmaninoff 's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini comes to life as pianist Benedetto Lupo showcases an outstanding technical display against a gorgeous orchestral backdrop." For more information: stlsymphony.org.

The Sheldon Concert Hall presents St. Louis Symphony Concertmaster David Halen and folk singers Dave Para and Cathy Barton in a program of music of the Civil War era on Wednesday, February 26, at 8 PM. "Two cherished Missouri folk singers, Dave Para and Cathy Barton, join David Halen for music from the Civil War era. The folk duo are multi-instrumentalists and helped found the Missouri Folk Festival over 20 years ago. Halen and members of the Symphony perform classical music from the era and also 'Ashokan Farewell,' written for the PBS Civil War series." The Sheldon is at 3648 Washington in Grand Center. For more information: thesheldon.org.

The St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra presents a Next Generation Chamber Music Concert on Tuesday, February 25, at 7 PM. The performance takes place at the Tavern of Fine Arts, 313 Belt. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

The Snow Trio

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents The Snow Trio on Friday, February 28, at 8:00 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 Christine Johnson and pianist Jon Garrett on Saturday, March 1, at 2 and 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.

Chuck's Choices for the weekend of February 8, 2013

As always, the choices are purely my personal opinion. Take with a grain (or a shaker) of salt.

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Winter Opera St. Louis presents Douglas Moore's The Ballad of Baby Doe Friday at 8 PM and Sunday at 3 PM, February 8 and 10. This remarkable American opera enjoyed quite a vogue back in the 1960s when Beverly Sills made the title role something of a signature piece. I haven't seen it for decades, so I'm looking forward to this production. Performances take place at The Skip Viragh Center for the Arts at Chaminade College Preparatory School, 425 S. Lindbergh. For more information, visit winteroperastl.org.

Photo by John Lamb

The West End Players Guild continues their 102nd season with the comedy of Engaging Shaw by John Morogiello Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, February 8-17. There will also be a show on Thursday, February 14, at 8 PM. “The story follows the real-life courtship of George Bernard Shaw and Charlotte Payne-Townshend, the woman he pursued until she caught him. The play brims with the wit and ego of Shaw, creating what the New York Times called 'a charming romantic comedy featuring four razor-sharp tongues. If there's a minute of the play that's less than clever, you'll be hard-pressed to find it.'“ I did the sound design for this one, so I've read the script and can attest to the fact that Morogiello has done a nice job of writing a Shavian comedy about Shaw, which is a neat trick. Performances take place at the Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 North Union at Enright in the Central West End. For more information, call 314-367-0025 or visit www.westendplayers.org.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents soprano Christine Johnson in Fyne Ayres, an evening of 16th and 17th century songs, with Jeffrey Noonan on lute and theorbo, on Saturday, February 9, at 8 PM. Mr. Noonan is one of the finest lutenists around and Ms. Johnson has both an impressive vocal instrument and a good sense of theatre, which is essential for this music. The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt at Waterman in the Central West End. There's free parking in the lot across the street. For more information, visit tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com or call 314-367-7549.

Photo by John Lamb

Stray Dog Theatre presents Charles Busch's comedy Psycho Beach Party Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM, February 7-23. There will be a matinee on the closing Saturday at 2 PM in addition to the evening show. “Comedy meets horror in this wacky, campy retro-fusion of teenage surfer flicks and slasher sagas. Set in 1962, teen tomboy Chicklet Forrest desperately wants to belong to the surfer crowd on Malibu Beach. Unfortunately her many split personalities get in the way, while her most dangerous alter ego has nothing less than world domination in mind.” Advance word is that this is a pretty hilarious production. Performances take place at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee. For more information, visit straydogtheatre.org or call 314-865-1995.

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The Duck Variations

Mustard Seed Theatre presents Christopher Durang's Mrs. Sorken and David Manet's The Duck Variations through February 10 at the Fontbonne Fine Arts Theatre, 6800 Wydown Blvd. “These two one-act plays are comic explorations of the meaning of theatre, the challenges of aging, and the importance of friendship.” In her review for 88.1 KDHX, Tina Farmer says the "engaging cast, complemented by an appropriately nondescript set and technical design, are seasoned veterans who inhabit their characters with a light, cheery touch and deft sense of timing." For more information, call (314) 719-8060 or visit the web site at www.mustardseedtheatre.com.

The Fox Theatre presents the musical Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert through February 10. "This OUTRAGEOUSLY fun show tells the uplifting story of a trio of friends, on a road trip of a lifetime, who hop aboard a battered old bus searching for love and friendship in the middle of the Australian outback and end up finding more than they could ever have dreamed." This is pretty lightweight stuff but, as I note in my review for 88.1 KDHX, "it’s so openly and cheerfully tacky and so stuffed with lavish, precisely executed dance numbers that only a dedicated curmudgeon could fail to smile at it." The Fox Theatre is at 527 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: fabulousfox.com.