Review: Dancing in the dark

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

Daniel Radcliffe and Imelda Staunton in
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Photo courtesy of CineConcerts

I've said it before, but it bears repeating: nothing can quite match the experience of seeing a big, flashy fantasy film like "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" on the Very Wide Screen at Powell Hall with the orchestral score performed live by the fine musicians of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.

The showing this weekend (April 12-14, 2019) was the latest entry in the SLSO's complete Harry Potter film cycle. As has been the case for the earlier programs, the orchestra was conducted by composer and film music guru Justin Freer whose company, CineConcerts, produces the Harry Potter film series. Once again, the quality of the print was excellent, with crisp, clear dialog tracks and captioning for the hard of hearing. It looked great on that big screen.

In this 2007 film, directed by David Yates, a dark tide is rising in the wizarding world. Key positions of power are being taken over by members of a fascist cult whose leader demands absolute personal loyalty while giving none in return. Their campaign of fear, paranoia, fake news, and racial animus threatens to tear the magical realm apart. The Order of the Phoenix, under Dumbledore's leadership, hopes to stop them.

These days it all looks rather prescient, although when J.K. Rowling wrote the original novel on which the movie is based back in 2003 she wasn't trying to predict the future so much as recall the past. The tropes of fascism haven't really changed that much since the 1930s.

The score for "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" is the work of British composer Nicholas Hooper. It was his first high-profile project and to my ears it lacks some of the more interesting orchestral details of the ones John Williams wrote for the earlier movies. Still, it has the heroic sweep and eerie touches that are the hallmarks of the Harry Potter films and the darker orchestration mirrors the more ominous look and feel of the movie. The use of Japanese Taiko drums in the percussion section adds serious muscle to some dramatic moments, and the strings are more prominent throughout.

Conductor Justin Freer

I also like the way Hooper uses the higher orchestral voices (woodwinds and strings, primarily) to accompany the sadistic Dolores Umbridge, the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher who is clearly more interested in practicing those arts than fighting them. Her music suggests that, evil as she is, she is also a fool. It's a nice touch.

As have noted in the past, Mr. Freer conducted with the assurance of someone who is entirely comfortable with the unusual demands of leading a large orchestra through a synchronized account of a film score. The musicians responded with the kind of virtuosity that is standard procedure for them. The night we attended, the ovation was long and enthusiastic.

Next at Powell Hall: Leonard Slatkin returns to conduct the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and Chorus Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday at 3 pm, April 27 and 28. The program consists of Loren Loiacono's "Smothered by the Sky," Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 1 with soloist Olga Kern, and Bernstein's Symphony No. 3 ("Kaddish") with narrator Charlotte Blake Alston. Performances take place at Powell Symphony Hall in Grand. Center.

Review: Merrie melodies

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

Poster by Columbia Artists

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It's always nice to have a big, family-friendly event at this time of the year, and right now Grand Center is playing host to a pair of them: the musical "Anastasia" at the Fox and, just up the street at Powell Hall, "Walt Disney Animation Studios: A Decade in Concert."

I reviewed the former a couple of days ago. Last night (Friday, December 28) I had the pleasure of watching the latter as, under the expert direction of Resident Conductor Gemma New, an expanded roster of St. Louis Symphony Orchestra musicians (eighty of them, including Steve Schenkel and Kirk Hanser on electric guitar and Kelly Karamanov on synth) delivered slam-bang performances of music from a dozen recent Disney animated films while selections from movies played on the big screen above them. I found it delightful, and I've never even seen most of those movies; for the many fans, young and old, in the audience, it was obviously a bit of pure heaven.

The clips were artfully selected, so that even a relative newbie like me (I had seen only two of the twelve films) was able to get a feel for the story lines. The clips also represented a nice variety of animation styles, from the mid-1960s feel of "Winnie the Pooh" (2011), to the early-1990s look of "The Princess and the Frog" (2009) with its emphasis on caricature, to the more common 3-D design of "Moana" (2016) and the other films in the program.

Gemma New

There was plenty of variety in the music as well. I especially enjoyed Randy Newman's score for "The Princess and the Frog," with its pastiches of early 20th-century sentimental tunes, ragtime, and Dixieland, as well as Mark Mancia's percussion-heavy music for "Moana." Principal Percussionist Will James and the rest of his crew got quite a workout on that one.

Alan Menken's Celtic-themed score for "Tangled" (2010) generated plenty of excitement, and the comic hijinks of "Winnie the Pooh" were vividly illustrated by the equally comical score by Henry Jackman. And it's always a pleasure to hear the music Robert Lopez wrote for "Frozen" in 2013. "Let It Go," the Big Hit from the film, got a virtuoso performance (not credited, I'm sorry to note) by St. Louis's own Debby Lennon as the evening's encore.

All too often, phrases like "family entertainment" and "recommended for all ages" are euphemisms for "dull and unimaginative," as though children were simply very dim adults who could only be trusted with the performing arts equivalent of safety scissors. "Walt Disney Animation Studios: A Decade in Concert" was, I'm happy to say, none of those things. The little princesses (and princes) in the audience were obviously having a great time, as were the adults accompanying them. Let's hope some of them come back when the regular concert season resumes next month.

Next at Powell Hall: Former Resident Conductor Ward Stare returns to lead the orchestra and soloists in the BMO Private Bank "New Year's Eve Celebration" on Monday, December 31. As always, the actual program won't be known until the concert starts, so expect lots of surprises and even some Mystery Guests, musical and otherwise.

Review: Strangers on a train

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

Cary Grant dodges the law in Grand Central Station

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I don't know whether Alfred Hitchcock's 1959 thriller North by Northwest ever played Powell Hall back when it was a movie theatre. If so I doubt that Bernard Herrmann's score ever sounded as good as it did this past Saturday (February 24, 2018) when the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra performed it live to accompany a showing of the movie.

Herrmann had a long and productive relationship with Hitchcock, scoring seven of the director's films, including hits such as Vertigo, Psycho, and the 1956 remake of The Man Who Knew Too Much. His score for North by Northwest is remarkable, though, for its economy. There are basically only three themes: a triple-meter "action" theme first heard in the main title sequence and repeated whenever the tension ratchets up; a lyrical love theme that could almost have been written by Richard Strauss; and a short "suspense" motif that shows up primarily in low strings and brass now and then. Some of the most memorable sequences have no music at all, such as the famous "crop duster" chase scene in which besieged New York advertising executive Roger Thornhill (Cary Grant) is pursued by a biplane with murderous intent across an Illinois cornfield. The score doesn't kick in until the very end, when a giant orchestral crash underscores the explosion of the plane.

Herrmann gets a lot of mileage out of those themes, making small changes in orchestration and tempo to mirror the action in the film. A notable example is the way he changes the love theme. We first hear it when Thornhill, on the run from mysterious thugs and from the police for a murder he didn't commit, encounters Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint) on the 20th Century Limited to Chicago. In that first version, it's played mostly by a single clarinet and then later by solo oboe and flute. Later, when Kendall is apparently getting ready to betray Thornhill to spy Phillip Vandamm (James Mason), the orchestration is darker. It's subtle but effective.

Herrmann's orchestra is also economical, at least in comparison to the massive ensembles that have become typical of suspense/adventure films in the last few decades. North by Northwest has a beefed-up brass section, a contrabassoon, and two harps, but on the whole it's a band that wouldn't look out of place in the late 19th century.

Gemma New

Resident Conductor Gemma New was at the podium, delivering a crisp reading of the music, which was performed with the virtuosity that I have come to expect from the SLSO musicians. The brass section had impressive power and the woodwinds delivered the love theme with a swooning beauty. Ms. New looked entirely comfortable with the daunting process of conduting in synch with the film, just as she was with the orchestra's Jurassic Park showing last November.

I have been to most of the SLSO's film evenings since they started showing silent movie classics many years ago, and have nearly always fond them to be vastly entertaining. They seem to attract sizeable crowds, which is certainly good for the orchestra's bottom line. My only complaint remains the tinny sounds of film dialog tracks on Powell Hall's sound system. I'm starting to think that the companies that produce the prints for these live film events might want to give serious consideration to adding captions.

Next at Powell Hall: Christian Arming conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and piano soloist Rémi Geniet in works by Smetana, Tchaikovsky, and Schumann on Friday and Saturday at 8 pm March 2 and 3. Gemma New conducts the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra on Sunday, March 4, at 3 pm in Britten's Soirées musicales, Tchaikovsky's Capriccio Italien, and Sibelius's Symphony No. 2. Members of the SLSO will also perform chamber works by Miyoshi, Britten, and Takemitsu Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:30 pm, February 27 and 28.

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of December 18, 2017

The Bach Society at Powell Hall

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The Bach Society of St. Louis presents the annual Christmas Candlelight Concert on Tuesday, December 19, at 7:30 PM. "This year, the Bach Society Chorus and Orchestra will present Handel's Messiah along with favorite holiday carols, joined by the St. Louis Children's Choirs and soloists: Scott Kennebeck, Martha J. Hart and Sari Gruber." The performance takes place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: www.bachsociety.org.

David Robertson conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in The Music of John Williams on Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 2:30 p.m., December 21 - 23. The program includes music from ET, Schindler's List, The Cowboys, Superman, Star Wars, and other classic film scores. The concerts take place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

The Washington University Department of Music presents The 442s Holiday Spectacular with special guests Peter Martin, Christine Brewer, Erin Bode, Brian Owens, and Montez Coleman on Tuesday, December 19, at 7:30 pm. "Back by popular demand, The 442s are joined by some of the brightest stars of the local and national music scene in presenting a not-to-be-missed holiday spectacular. Performing traditional and original favorites that break down boundaries between jazz, soul, pop and classical music, this concert will get you in the perfect holiday spirit!" The concert takes place in the Lee Concert Hall at the 560 Music Center at 560 Trinity in University City. For more information, music.wustl.edu or call 314-935-5566.

Chuck's Choices for the weekend of November 3, 2017

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

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New This Week:

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Will Bonfiglio in Balloonacy

COCA presents the Will Bonfiglio in Balloonacy Saturday and Sunday at 1 and 5 p.m., November 4 and 5. "A grownup discovers the fun, imagination and companionship of childhood with the help of a red balloon. This sensory-friendly production packed with physical comedy, intended for young audiences, is a great introduction to live theatre. Written by Barry Kornhauser." COCA is at 524 Trinity in University City. For more information: cocastl.org.

My take: Looking for something fun for the kids this weekend? Look no farther then this production from the folks at COCA, starring local theatre star Wil Bonfiglio. Think of it as the omega to YoungLiars' alpha (see below). Or vice-versa.

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Farah Alvin and William Michals

The Gaslight Cabaret Festival presents Farah Alvin and William Michals in Broadway's Greatest Hits of All Time on Friday and Saturday, November 3 and 4, at 8 p.m. "The show that every musical-theater lover has been waiting for. The songs that made Broadway great, that made your heart soar, that you sing leaving the theatre and in the shower! You will hear many of the greatest Broadway songs of all time performed by two of Broadway's most acclaimed voices. The Gaslight is the first stop outside of New York for Scott Siegel's critically acclaimed and wildly popular concert series, which has been playing for 18 months at at Feinstein's/54 Below." The performances take place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information: gaslightcabaretfestival.com.

My take: How can any musical theatre fan resist a show with this title? Grab a drink at the bar and shamelessly immerse yourself in the best the Great White Way has to offer.

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The Gaslight Cabaret Festival presents singer Ken Haller and pianist Marty Fox in Happy Hallerdays on Thursdays, November 2 and 9, at 8 p.m. . "In his take on the holidays, Ken promises to be surprising,funny, personal, moving, great company and just a little exasperating. Just like all our holidays! The very well done video below by Paul Schankman takes you into the world of Ken's shows. " The performances take place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information: gaslightcabaretfestival.com.

My take: In my review of Ken's last production, The Medicine Show, I noted that he "delivered the goods with that combination of theatrical smarts and vocal authority that has made him one of our town's principal cabaret exports." Here's your chance to confirm that I know what I'm talking about.

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Conductor Gemma New
Photo: Roy Cox

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Resident Conductor Gemma New leads the orchestra in John William's score for Jurassic Park, accompanying a showing of the film. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., November 3-5, at Powell Hall in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

My take: No, it's not theatre, but it's entertaining as hell and I will definitely be there on Friday night to see it. The SLSO movie events are always a good time and always very well attended. The screen on which the movies are shown is huge and no matter how good the sound system is at your local megaplex, there's nothing quite like the sound of a live orchestra. The usual rules are relaxed a bit, allowing the audience to bring drinks and food (including, of course, popcorn) into the auditorium. So if you attend, be careful not to spill anything, OK?

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Titus Androgynous

YoungLiars presents Titus Androgynous opening on Friday, October 27, and running through November 11. "Did you know that Shakespeares most brutal tragedy is actually a comedy? YoungLiars aim to prove the point with a vengeance in this riotous reimagining of Titus Andronicus - where the Italian Commedia smashes into All-American Splatter, and Shakespeare comes along for the ride. Titus Androgynous is YoungLiars deliciously deranged deep-dive into the perverse passions and vaudeville violence of the Bard's bloodiest play." Performances take place in in the hundred-year-old basement of the Centene Center for the Arts, 3547 Olive Street in Grand Center. For more information: brownpapertickets.com.

My take: I'm not a fan of grand guignol theatre in general, but if (say) Evil Dead: The Musical is your particular cup of stage blood, you might want to take a look at this unapologetically outrageous revision of Shakespeare's most violent play (which, to be fair, is often cited as an early example of grand guignol). Over at Ladue News, Mark Bretz praises the production's "inspired silliness" and says this Hallowe'en-themed show is "as much treat as trick."

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Held Over:

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Windsor Theatre Group presents the musical revue Broadway: The Early 1900's - Victor Herbert and His Contemporaries at 2 and 7 p.m. on Sunday, November 5; 7 p.m. on Friday, November 10; and 2 and 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, November 11 and and 12. "Talented professional singers and dancers will take the audience to an era that was very interesting for music lovers. Fantastic shows were staged on Broadway, and jazz, blues and tango began receiving mainstream recognition. Broadway tunes include the great male chorus numbers from Rose-Marie, The Student Prince, The Merry Widow, and The New Moon. There will be solo and duet performances of more Broadway selections and the other genres gaining fame. In addition, highlights of plots or other interesting facts about a song will enhance the enjoyment of the attendees." Performances take place at the historic Ozark Theatre, 103 E. Lockwood in Webster Groves. For more information call 314-832-2114 or visit the group's Facebook page.

My take: I'm putting this on the list for the simple reason that I'm very fond of music from the early years of the 20th century. Heck, I even created an entire show around it. Herbert and his contemporaries aren't heard that much these days, which is a pity. Thanks to Windsor for bringing us a full evening of this classic stuff.

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of October 30, 2017

The Metropolitan Orchestra of St. Louis

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The Metropolitan Orchestra of Saint Louis presents a concert featuring Astor Piazzola's Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, along with music by Chabrier and De Falla, Sunday, November 5, at 7 p.m. The concert takes place at First Presbyterian Church in Kirkwood. For more information: metro-orch.org.

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Resident Conductor Gemma New leads the orchestra in John William's score for Jurassic Park, accompanying a showing of the film. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., November 3-5, at Powell Hall in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

The Touhill Performing Arts Center presents The Arianna String Quartet: Poetry in Motion on Friday, November 3, at 8 p.m. "In an evening dedicated to irrepressible rhythms and poetry in sound, the Arianna Quartet presents Franz Joseph Haydn's Quartet in F Major, Op.74, No.2, and Robert Schumann's magnificent Quartet in A Major, Op.41, No.3. Highlighting the evening is a performance of Cuban composer Leo Brouwer's Quartet No.3, a riveting work featuring Afro-Cuban lyricism, dance and percussive rhythms." The Touhill Performing Arts Center in on the University of Missouri at St. Louis campus. For more information: touhill.org.

Washngton University's Danforth University Center Chamber Music Series presents a concert by violinists Silvian Iticovici and Eva Kozma, on Sunday, November 5, at 7:30 p.m. The concert includes music by Leclair, Rózsa, and Ysaÿe, and takes place at the Goldberg Formal Lounge in the Danforth University Center on the Washington University Campus. For more information: music.wustl.edu/events.

The St. Louis classical calendar for the week of May 8, 2017

The American Chamber Chorale

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The American Chamber Chorale and the Salem St.-Louis Chamber Orchestra present Bring We Garlands, a concert of music by Vivaldi, Eric Whitacre and Gerald Finzi, on Saturday, May 13, at 7:30 p.m. "Love will be in bloom at our season finale! Music for this concert includes Gerald Finzi's beautiful “Romance” and Eric Whitacre's hauntingly beautiful “Five Hebrew Love Songs”, which sets the poetry of his wife Hila Pitmann. Also, we will will perform Gerald Finzi's charming song cycle “Let Us Garlands Bring”, featuring baritone Christopher Stanfill, and music by James Mulholland. The Salem-St. Louis Chamber Orchestra will perform Vivaldi's “Summer” from “The Four Seasons” and will accompany the ACC." The concert takes place at Salem United Methodist Churh, 1200 S. Lindbergh. For more information: americanchamberchorale.com.

The Bach Society of St. Louis presents a master class on The Art of the Baroque Recitative on Monday, May 8 at 3 p.m. "Every singer of Baroque music has to deal with a highly stylized form of musical speech called 'recitative.' Bach Specialist David Gordon has performed and taught Baroque recitative around the world, and in this lecture/masterclass he will show us how to study, learn, and perform this difficult vocal style. Most of all, he will teach us to love it! Presented in collaboration with Saint Louis University's music program in the department of Fine and Performing Arts." The free event takes place at the St. Francis Xavier College Church on the St. Louis University Campus, 3628 Lindell in Grand Center. For more information: bachsociety.org.

Guitarist Steve Schenkel

The Bach Society of St. Louis presents Bach at the Bistro on Tuesday, May 9 at 6 p.m. "Bach was known as the master of improvisation. At this one-of-a-kind event, concert-goers will experience the similarities between improvised jazz and Bach's music, giving the listener a better understanding of how the Master of Baroque music continues to influence modern jazz. Presented at Jazz at the Bistro, this event features guitarist Steve Schenkel, pianist Kim Portnoy and tenor David Gordon." The takes place at the Harold and Dorothy Steward Center for Jazz, 3536 Washington in Grand Center. For more information: bachsociety.org.

New Music Circle presents The New Musc Circle Showcase on Saturday, May 13, at 9 p.m. "Our annual NMC showcase will feature regional and local electronic musicians, DJ's, and video artists. The performance takes place at The William A. Kerr Foundation, 21 O'Fallon St, downtown. For more information: newmusiccircle.org. The Pulitzer Arts Foundation presents members of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra performing music by Philip Glass, Gérard Grisey, and Steve Martland on Wednesday, May 10, at 7:30 p.m. The performance takes place in the newly renovated space at the Pulitzer Arts Foundation, 3716 Washington. For more information: pulitzerarts.org/program/st-louis-symphony-concert-series.

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra presents a showing of the classic musical Singin' in the Rain, with the original score performed live by the orchestra, on Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m., May 13 and 14. "Topping the American Film Institute's list of 25 Greatest Movie Musicals of all time, this masterpiece comes to life on the big screen at Powell Hall. Join us as we celebrate its 65th Anniversary and enjoy the award-winning on-screen performances by Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds with the STL Symphony performing the score live." The event takes place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

Vidwan Prince Rama Varma

Sangeetha presents a South Indian (Carnatic) style vocal concert by Vidwan Prince Rama Varma accompanied by artists on the violin and two percussion instruments (mridangam and ghatam) on Sunday, May 14, at 5 p.m. The concert takes place at the Chesterfield Community Theatre at the West County YMCA, 16464 Burkhardt Place. For more information: sangeetha.org.

The Sheldon Concert Hall presents the contemporary chamber ensemble Alarm Will Sound on Wednesday, May 10, at 8 p.m. “The ensemble performs the newest music being composed today with energetic virtuosity and a sense of adventure, creating programs that not only span a wide range of styles, but also transform the traditional concert experience itself.” The Sheldon is at 3648 Washington in Grand Center. For more information: thesheldon.org.

The Town and Country Symphony Orchestra performs Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 and Stensgaard's Concierto Mexicano for marimba and orchestra on Sunday, May 14, at 2:30 p.m. Jeff Barudin is the soloist for the concerto. The performance takes place in Ridgway Auditorium at The Principia, 13201 Clayton Road. For more information: tcsomo.org.

The Washington University Department of Music presents the DUC Chamber Music Series: Allison Nyquist, violin, Stephanie Hunt, cello, and Charles Metz, fortepiano, on Wednesday, May 10, at 7:30 p.m. The program includes music by Mozart and Haydn. The free event takes place in the Goldberg Formal Lounge in the Danforth Center on the Washington University campus. For more information, music.wustl.edu.

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of March 13, 2017

The Confluence Chamber Orchestra

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The Confluence Chamber Orchestra presents Scott Joplin: The King of Ragime on Sunday, March 19, at 1 p.m. "Scott Joplin's music still lifts hearts, entertains audiences and inspires young artists, 150 years after his birth. The Confluence Chamber Orchestra presents a musical guidebook through Joplin's life, from the Rosebud Cafe and World's Fair in St. Louis to the premiere of his ragtime opera in New York City. Highlights are enduring favorites such as Maple Leaf Rag, The Entertainer, and especially The Cascades, which was composed and published in St Louis for the 1904 World's Fair, as well as two little known gems, Ragtime Dance and A Real Slow Drag. Narration, historic photographs and local pianists are featured, along with a lively array of related pieces influenced by the King of Ragtime, such as Alexander's Ragtime Band by Irving Berlin. Admission is free." The concert takes place at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park. For more information: confluencechamberorchestra.org.

The Gateway Men's Chorus presents a selection of choral music on Sunday, March 19, at 7 p.m. The accompanist will be John Cargile, organist and music associate at Manchester United Methodist Church. The concert takes place at Manchester UMC, 129 Woods Mill Rd. in Manchester. For more information: gmcstl.org.

Erik Friedlander's Black Phoebe Trio

New Music Circle and KDHX present Erik Friedlander's Black Phoebe Trio on Thursday, March 16, at 8 p.m. “'It's not your skill level, it's how much you communicate,' cellist Erik Friedlander suggests. 'It's how much you express that the audience really wants to hear. They come to hear you be real.' Friedlander, however, is clearly not a musician lacking for chops. The years of training and gigging he did to establish himself in New York City's avantgarde jazz scenes, through his distinct approach to cello, has taken him all over the genre map by collaborative efforts with artists like Laurie Anderson, Mike Patton, The Mountain Goats, and extensive duties in John Zorn's Masada groups. Recently he has focused on his own soloist and composer work, releasing a series of albums on ECM. In these works Friedlander displays an underlying sonic curiosity and ability to aurally convey deep emotional experience that shapes the ongoing evolution of his work. In Black Phoebe Trio, Friedlander brings together the talents of emerging talents Shoko Nagai (piano) and Satoshi Takeishi, (percussion)." The performance takes place at The Stage at KDHX, 3524 Washington. For more information: newmusiccircle.org.

The Pulitzer Arts Foundation presents members of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra performing Morton Feldman's Piano and String Quartet on Wednesday, March 15 at 7:30 p.m. The performance takes place in the newly renovated space at the Pulitzer Arts Foundation, 3716 Washington. For more information: pulitzerarts.org/program/st-louis-symphony-concert-series.

Sangeetha presents a vocal concert of South Indian Classical Music by Dr. Sanjay Subramanian, accompanied by Arun Ramamurthi on the violin and Nirmal Narayan on tbe mridanga on Saturday, March 18, at 7 p.m. The concert takes place at the Midwest Music Conservatory, 15977 Clayton Road in Ballwin, MO. For more information: sangeetha.org.

Bjorn Ranheim

The Sheldon Concert Hall presents The Four Bs: Bach, Bolling, Bjorn and Bliznik on Wednesday, March 15, at 8 p.m. "Cellist Bjorn Ranheim and new St. Louis Symphony principal trumpeter Karin Bliznik playfully celebrate two other 'Bs' - the great Johann Sebastian Bach and French composer Claude Bolling." The Sheldon is at 3648 Washington in Grand Center. For more information: sheldonconcerthall.org.

The St. Louis Low Brass Collective presents a concert by the Stiletto Brass Quintet on Sunday, March 19, at 7 p.m. "Performers include faculty members from McKendree University, SIUE, SWIC, UMSL, Washington University and Webster University and The Trombones of the St. Louis Symphony" The event takes place at the Keating Center on the Kirkwood High School' campus, 801 West Essex in Kirkwood, MO. For more information: www.stllbc.org.

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra presents a showing of the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark, with the John Williams score performed live by the orchestra, Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., March 17-19. Performances take place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

Forward into the past with "Back to the Future" at the St. Louis Symphony

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It's another movie weekend at Powell Hall as the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra plays the score of the 1985 science fantasy film "Back to the Future" to accompany a complete showing of the movie. It is, as they say, fun for the whole family (all three generations in my party had a good time) and also a reminder of how much film music has changed in three decades.

Specifically, it's a reminder that most moves have a lot more music these days. Composer Alan Silvestri has added an additional 20 minutes of music for this version, but even this is a refreshing reminder that there was a time when not every single minute of a commercial film had to be underscored. Hearing large blocks of unaccompanied dialog now seems almost retro, and the score that much more impact when it kicks in.

Alan Silvestri
alansilvestri.com

Not that it needs that much more impact, of course. Silvestri's music has that brass and percussion-heavy sound that seems to have become the norm for fantasy and adventure films. It's also, to my ears, highly derivative of the big orchestral scores of John Williams. That's not necessarily a knock on Silvestri, though. Williams brought that big Hollywood sound back almost single-handedly with his "Star Wars" scores and by the mid-eighties it was casting a long acoustic shadow that you can hear clearly in the big, heroic main theme here.

Resident Conductor Steven Jarvi demonstrates once again that he's a dab hand at the specialized type of music direction required for these projects and the orchestra plays beautifully. Conducting for a live showing of a movie is, as I have noted before, a fairly specialized skill. It’s probably not part of the basic training of most classically educated conductors. Nevertheless Mr. Jarvi, aided by an audio click track and a podium-mounted screen, did an excellent job and the musicians sounded as fine as always.

As an added bonus, BTF co-creator Bob Gale was on hand to introduce the event Friday night. Mr. Gale, it turns out, was a St. Louis native (University City High School, class of '69), a fact that went down very well with the opening night crowd, as did his revelation that the idea for the movie sprang from a visit to his old hometown. Go figure.

St. Louis actor Jeffrey M. Wright as
Marty McFly at Powell Hall

There are two more showings of "Back to the Future" on Saturday and Sunday, October 31 and November 1, at 2 p.m. If you're looking for a Halloween weekend treat that adults can enjoy as much as kids, give this serious consideration. The movie itself holds up remarkably well after all these years and the Mahler-sized live orchestra adds considerable punch.

Tickets for these film events at Powell tend to go fast (the house was packed Friday night), so point your DeLorean to the symphony web site and enjoy before (you should pardon the expression) time runs out. Note that snacks and drinks are allowed in the hall for movie nights—a good thing considering how long the lines at the Powell Hall bars can be for these big events.

Next at Powel Hall: Nicholas McGegan conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, with piano soloist Orli Shaham, in an all-Mozart program on Friday at 10:30 a.m. and Saturday at 8 p.m., November 6 and 7. Powell Symphony Hall is at 718 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

TPTBT (The Place to be Today): Sunday, March 3

Richard Kaufman

Who: The St. Louis Symphony conducted by Richard Kaufman
What: Afternoon at the Oscars
Where: Powell Symphony Hall
When: 3 PM

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Why: It's a celebration of film music by (among others) John Barry, John Williams, Nino Rota, Miklos Rózsa, Randy Newman, and Jerry Goldsmith. Relive classic moments from Ben Hur, Casablanca, The Godfather, Star Wars, and The Natural with still images from the sets and behind-the-scenes moments from these and other classic films. And, since it's a movie event, you can by popcorn and drinks at the bar and take them into the hall with you.