Review: Around the world in 120 minutes with Denève and the SLSO

When David Robertson was the Music Director, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra's New Year's Eve Celebration concert was characterized by light, celebratory music, dashes of comedy, and surprise guest appearances. This year was the first such concert to be conducted by our new Music Director Stéphane Denève. Would it differ noticeably from Mr. Robertson's approach, I wondered, and would it be as much fun?

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

Stéphane Denève

The answer to both questions was an emphatic "yes." This year there were fewer surprises (although the works on the program were, as usual, a secret until concert time), less visual comedy, and more dance-oriented music-all of which was fine with me. The bottom line is that the experience was just as entertaining and effervescent as the bubbly being served at the bar, and I loved every minute of it.

Like Mr. Robertson, Mr. Denève prefaced each piece with some informative and often very witty comments from the podium, starting with an explanation for the theme of the evening. Since the new year actually starts far to the east and gradually works its way west, he noted, the music on the program would start in the east and work its way around to the Americas before ending with some Viennese New Year's Day favorites.

Andrea Jarrett
Photo courtesy of the SLSO

The evening began with a pair of works from Japan and China, respectively, that were totally new to me: the "Waltz" from the 1966 film "The Face of Another," by Toru Takemitsu, and the overture to the "Spring Festival Suite," composed between 1955 and 1956 by Li Hanzhi. The former had that tinge of darkness I associate with (say) the waltz from Khachaturian's "Masquerade Suite," while the latter was reminiscent of the Westernized music produced during China's Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), albeit with more adventurous harmonies and considerably less bombast. Li's work was particularly upbeat, with a real workout for the percussion section, but both had the right celebratory feel.

Up next was a pair of old musical friends: the "Polonaise" from Tchaikovsky's opera "Eugene Onegin" and the "Dance of the Hours" from Ponchielli's 1876 opera "La Gioconda." Mr. Denève put his own stamp on both works, finding more variety of expression than is sometimes heard in performances of these old warhorses. This was especially true in his "Dance of the Hours" with its hushed, delicate opening and wide emotional range. That didn't stop the audience from chuckling at the overly familiar melody of the first section (thanks a lot Walt Disney and Alan Sherman), but Mr. Denève took it all in good-humored stride.

Next the spotlight shifted to SLSO second violinist Andrea Jarrett, who gave us a lovely rendition of Fritz Kreisler's sentimental "Liebesleid" (literally, "Love's Sorrow") and then to Opera Theatre alumna Elizabeth Sutphen for a delightfully theatrical performance of "Mein Herr Marquis" (a.k.a. "Adele's Laughing Song") from Johann Strauss Jr.'s "Die Fledermaus." The latter got an unexpected comic vocal assist from Mr. Denève and the orchestra.

Elizabeth Sutphen
Photo; elizabethsutphen.com

A spirited run through a couple of selections from "Gaîté Parisienne," the 1938 Manuel Rosenthal ballet based on the music of Jacques Offenbach, sent us out to the lobby for a libation with the sounds of the "Galop infernal" (a.k.a. the "Can-Can") from "Orfée aux enfers" still ringing in our ears.

Dance music dominated the second half of the concert, beginning with a somewhat muted performance of the "Ritual Fire Dance" from Falla's "El amor brujo" followed by the return of Ms. Sutphen for "I Could Have Danced All Night" from Lerner and Loewe's "My Fair Lady." Mr. Denève introduced the latter with the tongue in cheek comment that we were now "leaving Europe to go to England," which produced one of the biggest laughs of the evening. Clearly, this was a crowd that was up on its Brexit news.

Crossing the Atlantic to the Americas, we next got two of the most dramatic and sensual works of the evening, the "Libertango" by Argentina's Astor Piazzolla (orchestrated by Federico Mondelei) and the "Danzón No. 2" by contemporary Mexican composer Arturo Márquez.

For "Libertango" the orchestra was joined by Dustin Crumbaugh and Ellen Reed of the Big Muddy Dance Company, expertly executing fluid and subtly sexy choreography by Big Muddy artistic director Brian Reed. It owed more to classical ballet and modern dance than to the tango, but it worked perfectly with the music nevertheless.

Dustin Crumbaugh
Photo: Carly Venderheyden

The "Danzón" turned out to be one of those works I didn't know I knew until the band began playing it, at which point I realized I'd heard it several times on American Public Media's "Performance Today". The piece begins slowly and sensually, eventually building to an irresistibly energetic and rhythmically complex finale. There were some fine solo moments in the SLSO's dynamic performance from Associate Principal Trumpet Tom Drake, Concertmaster David Halen, Principal Clarinet Scott Andrews, and Peter Henderson on piano.

A chorus or two of J.K. Shannon and John Valentine Eppel's 1914 "Missouri Waltz" (our official state song) was next, although when he invited the audience to sing along, Mr. Denève seemed a bit bemused by the fact that almost nobody in the house (including yours truly) knew the lyrics.

Ellen Reed
Photo: Carly Venderheyden

The festivities concluded with a more familiar waltz, Strauss Jr.'s "Beautiful Blue Danube," followed by a truly electrifying reading of the "Farandole" from Bizet's "L'Arlésienne" incidental music-very appropriate for the season, given that it includes the 13th-century French carol "La Marche des Rois Mages" (usually translated as "The March of the Kings"). As Mr. Denève pointed out, the Strauss waltz is part of the traditional close of the Vienna Philharmonic's New Year's concert, as was the final work of the evening, Strauss Sr.'s "Radetzky March." With Mr. Denève cueing us, we all clapped along in Viennese style.

While introducing the Bizet, Mr. Denève pointed out that the farandole is an old French line dance in which everyone joins hands. It brings people together, he said, in the same way he believes music can bring us all together. In a world in which those in positions of power and influence are doing their best to drive us apart, that sounds like a fine hope for the new year.

A sing-along of "Auld Lang Syne" (to which everyone did know the words) sent the audience out with smiles on their faces and, I would like to believe, hopes for a new year in which Mr. Denève's conviction is realized. It certainly did that for me, anyway; if you were there, I hope it did the same for you.

Next at Powell Hall: Stéphane Denève conducts the orchestra and pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet in Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 2, along with Wagner's "Siegfried Idyll," a suite from Richard Strauss's opera "Der Rosenkavalier," and Anna Clyne's "This Midnight Hour." Performances are Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday at 3 pm, January 18 and 19. Mr. Thibaudet will also join SLSO musicians for a program of chamber music by Poulenc and Shostakovich on Friday, January 17, at Washington University's 560 Music Center.

Review: So this is Christmas

No matter how much resentment, spite, and general bad behavior pollutes the Internet in general and social media in particular I always find it easier, at what Dickens calls this "kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time" of year, to believe that there still might be hope for some "tidings of comfort and joy."

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

Stuart Malina
Photo courtesy of the SLSO

That's especially true in the afterglow of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra's annual "Mercy Holiday Celebration" (which we saw Friday night) with guest conductor Stuart Malina. With its thoughtful mix of sacred and secular holiday tunes (including a nod to Chanukah), a dusting of classical selections, and the concluding "Holly and Jolly Sing-Along," it was a program likely to warm the Scroogiest (is that a word?) of hearts.

While the music mix varies from year to year, some things (like the sing-along) are as reliable as the Christmas fruitcake. To begin with, there's always a featured singer who joins the orchestra and the Holiday Festival Chorus for a few numbers and some repartee with Whit Richert's jovial Santa--another reliable element of the celebration.

This year it's Rachel Potter whose career started on Broadway but has since moved to Nashville and whose warm and flexible voice does, indeed, sound a bit "country" every now and then. Past editions have featured performers with classical and musical theatre backgrounds, but I think this is the first time we've had someone with a Music City connection. It was a pleasant change of tone. I was especially taken with her "White Christmas," in which she sang the verse a cappella, and her soaring "O Holy Night" with the Festival Chorus.

I was, by the way, happy to see that David T. Clydesdale's arrangement included this often omitted verse from John Sullivan Dwight's 1885 translation:

Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is love and His gospel is peace. Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother; And in His name all oppression shall cease.

It felt like a particularly important reminder these days.

Rachel Potter
Photo courtesy of the SLSO

The Holiday Festival Chorus, made up of singers from area high schools and colleges, sounded especially solid this year--a tribute to the work of long-time chorus director Kevin McBeth. They got a bit of electronic amplification as always, but it was done with a subtlety that made it almost unnoticeable. Their "Silent Night," was an elegant arrangement by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Mack Wilberg, was a thing of beauty. The use of harp and celesta--expertly played by Allegra Lilly and Henry Palkes, respectively--gave it a wonderfully transparent texture.

I also loved the work of this year's guest conductor. The man or woman with the baton is expected to act as MC as well as orchestra leader, and Mr. Malina excelled in both roles. His chatty and informative comments on each number were very engaging, and the choice of music was a nice blend of the familiar and the unusual. The latter included Irving Berlin's "Snow" (which appears to have been prescient, given the current weather forecast), a rarely heard number from the popular film "White Christmas," and two of contemporary composer Terry Mizesko's dances from "A Chanukah Celebration."

The latter cleverly combined traditional classical and Klezmer elements, including a wonderfully idiomatic duet by Principal Clarinet Scott Andrews and Associate Concertmaster Heidi Harris. Neither of the traditional tunes that formed the basis for the piece was familiar to me, although a brief violin passage in the second dance sounded an awful lot like the Klezmer-esque section of the third movement of Mahler's Symphony No. 1.

There's a final performance of the "Mercy Holiday Celebration" at Powell Hall tonight (Sunday, December 15) at 7 pm. Weather permitting, it's a great way to celebrate the solstice holiday of your choice. Get a glass of Poinsettia Punch at the bar and enjoy. Holiday events continue this coming week at Powell Hall with "A Gospel Christmas" on Wednesday and Thursday, December 18 and 19, a showing of the film Home Alone with the SLSO playing the score on Friday and Saturday, December 20 and 21, and the Compton Heights Concert Band's annual holiday show on Sunday, December 22.

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of June 3, 2019

It's a short calendar this week, featuring the St. Louis Symphony and the Friends of Music.

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Eliot Unitarian Chapel presents a Friends of Music concert on Tuesday, June 4, at 7:30 pm. . The program will feature string quartets performed by young artists participating in the Arianna Chamber Music Festival (ACMF), an international summer festival in St. Louis dedicated to the intensive study of chamber music under the guidance of the Arianna String Quartet. The concert takes place at Eliot Unitarian Chapel is at 100 South Argonne in Kirkwood. For more information: fomcstl.org

Kevin McBeth

Kevin McBeth conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in An Evening With Ledisi on Friday, June 7, at 7:30 pm. "American R&B and jazz recording artist Ledisi joins the SLSO for an inspired evening spotlighting her unique sound and "amazing vocal gift" (Rolling Stone). Nominated for twelve Grammy Awards and a mainstay on Billboard's R&B charts, the prolific New Orleans native artfully channels gospel, blues and funk influences with style. This program also features a special celebration of the incomparable Nina Simone and her enduring influence over Ledisi and a generation of artists." The performance takes place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

Kevin McBeth conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in Unforgettable: Nat and Natalie on Sunday, June 9, at 3 pm. "Two legendary performers-father and daughter. One incredible afternoon of timeless hits with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole put their stamp on the jazz and pop music of their day, winning multiple Grammys along the way. Enjoy an “Unforgettable” concert featuring vocalists Denzal Sinclaire and Dee Daniels as they join the SLSO to perform the best of Nat and Natalie Cole." The performance takes place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of May 27, 2019

The week after Memorial Day features a new Friends of Music concert and a special preview from the St. Louis Symphony.

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Eliot Unitarian Chapel presents a Friends of Music concert on Sunday, June 2, at 7:30 pm. The program will feature string quartets performed by young artists participating in the Arianna Chamber Music Festival (ACMF), an international summer festival in St. Louis dedicated to the intensive study of chamber music under the guidance of the Arianna String Quartet. The concert takes place at Eliot Unitarian Chapel is at 100 South Argonne in Kirkwood. For more information: fomcstl.org.

Brent Havens

Brent Havens conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in Music of Led Zepplin on Saturday, June 1, at 7:30 pm. 'A one-of-a-kind performance comes to Powell Hall that bridges the gap between rock 'n' roll and classical music. Experience the SLSO and a full rock band performing the Music of Led Zeppelin featuring favorites including “Kashmir,” “Black Dog,” “Immigrant Song” and more.' The performance takes place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

Gemma New conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in a 2019/2020 Season Preview Concert on Sunday, June 2, at 3 pm. "Join the SLSO and Resident Conductor Gemma New for a 60-minute sneak peek of the 2019/2020 season highlighting selections from throughout the year. The matinee concert will explore musical themes from the 19/20 season crafted by incoming Music Director Stéphane Denève including the arch connecting French and American musical cultures, composers of our time, new concert experiences, and the music of dance. After the performance, you can visit with SLSO musicians, who can answer your questions and share recommendations for the upcoming season." The performance takes place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of May 28, 2018

The St. Louis Symphony dominates the concerts this week, with two "pops" events and the final Youth Orchestra concert of the season.

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The Chamber Project St. Louis

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The Chamber Project St. Louis presents Choice on Saturday, June 2, at 8 p.m "Always fun, this program is chosen by you, our audience. All of the favorites it one giant concert, determined by YOUR votes throughout the season. The program is a secret, so find out what won!" The concerts take place at The Chapel Venue, 6238 Alexander Drive. For more information: www.chamberprojectstl.org.

Kevin McBeth conducts The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and vocal group Boyz II Men on Thursday, May 31, at 7:30 pm. "One of the most iconic R&B groups in music history-Boyz II Men-joins the SLSO for a one-night-only concert event at Powell Hall. The four-time Grammy Award-winning trio has redefined popular R&B with hits including 'End of the Road,' 'I'll Make Love to You,' 'One Sweet Day,' 'Motownphilly' and more. Don't miss this concert event featuring twenty years of timeless hits and smooth harmonies all in one night." The performance takes place at Powell Symphony Hall in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

Brent Havens conducts The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and vocalist Tony Vincent in A Tribute to Tom Petty on Saturday, June 2, at 7:30 pm. "The SLSO pays homage to the life and success of the legendary musician-Tom Petty-in a one-night-only concert experience. From lead singer of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers to his memorable solo career, the beloved rock star has created timeless hits including 'American Girl,' 'Free Fallin'' and 'Learning to Fly.'” Hear the music of one of the best-selling artists of all time, while honoring the late rock 'n roll icon." The performance takes place at Powell Symphony Hall in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

Gemma New conducts the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra on Sunday, June 3, at 3 pm The program consiste of Mozart's "Marriage of Figaro" Overture, Walton's Viola Concerto, and Berlioz's "Symphonie Fantastique." The performance takes place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of May 14, 2018

The St. Louis Chldren's Choirs present a special 40th anniversary concert, featuring 5 newly commissioned works by notable choral composers, on Saturday, May 19, at 7 pm. Current singers ranging in age from 6 - 18 years old will be joined onstage by an Alumni Chorus of singers from previous years, and SLCC founder Diane Finley will be honored for her vision and contributions to choral music education. The performance takes place at Powell Symphony Hall in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

Conductor Brent Havens

Brent Havens conducts The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and vocalist Josh Olsen in A Tribute to George Michael on Friday, May 18, at 7:30 pm. "Celebrate the life of one of the best-selling music artists of all time when the SLSO pays tribute to George Michael. Relive your favorite George Michael memories as the SLSO takes you on a journey through some of his biggest hits including 'Careless Whisper,' 'Faith,' 'Father Figure' and more!" The performance takes place at Powell Symphony Hall in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

The Town and Country Symphony Orchestra presents Music of the Americas on Sunday, May 20, at 2:30 p.m. The performance takes place in Ridgway Auditorium at The Principia, 13201 Clayton Road. For more information: tcsomo.org

Review: "Disney in Concert: Tale as Old as Time" is powerful entertainment for all ages

Conductor Aram Demirjian
Photo: David Bickley

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For some time now, the last weekend in December has been the time for the St. Louis Symphony to present a family-friendly concert--often with a cinematic theme--designed to pull in big audiences and contribute to the economic bottom line.

This year was no exception with Disney in Concert: Tale as Old as Time. A production of Symphony Pops Music, the concert package provides clips from animated Disney films, both classic and contemporary, accompanied by live music played by the SLSO and orchestrated by a regular army of arrangers. Also included are a scripted narrative and a quartet of singers to deliver that narrative along with a cornucopia of songs from the movies.

The result, as the Thursday night (December 29) concert clearly demonstrated, was an entertainment powerhouse, in which the lively and precise performance by the SLSO musicians under the baton of guest conductor Aram Demirjian (Associate Conductor of the Kansas City Symphony) was more than matched by the theatrically on-target work of the singers. I often found myself more drawn to their smart and well-choreographed stage show than to the film clips which, after all, were already familiar to many of us in the audience.

As was the case with The Magical Music of Disney (the last Symphony Pops production I saw at Powell back in 2012), the featured singers were all experienced and engaging musical theatre professionals who were always completely in the moment and in character.

Whitney Claire Kaufman, who has appeared as the guest soloist in previous SLSO holiday concerts, once again demonstrated an impressive combination of vocal power and theatrical conviction in songs like "When Will My Life Being" (Tangled) and "Reflection" (Mulan). Lisa Livesay was also a sparkling presence in Randy Newman's "Almost There" (The Frog Prince), among others. She and Ms. Kaufman did an excellent job sharing the various princess roles throughout the evening.

L-R: Aaron Phillips, Lisa Livesay, Andrew Johnson
Whitney Claire Kaufman

Andrew Johnson and Aaron Phillips displayed great versatility as well in a wide variety of male roles, from dashing princes to evil magicians. Mr. Johnson's "Under the Sea" (The Little Mermaid) was lively fun and his "Friends on the Other Side" (The Frog Prince) deliciously evil. He was also a powerful presence in the "The Circle of Life" (The Lion King), an unlisted but obviously scheduled encore that brought the audience to its feet for the second standing ovation of the evening--the first having been generated by the rousing medley of tunes from Frozen that finished the official program.

Mr. Phillips had some of the best character songs, including the lyrically flashy "Friend Like Me" (Aladdin) and "Be Our Guest" (Beauty and the Beast). He did some of the best character voices, which is what you might expect from an actor with so many animation and voiceover credits.

All too often the phrase "family entertainment" equates to "suitable only for preschoolers." Not so with Disney in Concert: Tale as Old as Time. This was a program that entertained all three generations in our party but, judging from the response, the rest of the standing room only crowd as well. The opening "Disney Memories Overture" was especially moving for me, with its musical and visual clips from classics like Snow White and Seven Dwarfs, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, and Fantasia. For a few moments, I was once again that enraptured child who made his long-suffering Italian uncle sit through three successive showings of Lady and the Tramp.

Now there's some movie magic for you.

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is taking a much-deserved break right now, but the regular season returns the weekend of January 13 when David Robertson conducts Dvorak's Symphony No. 9 ("From the New World") and the Korngold Violin Concerto with Gil Shaham as the soloist.

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of June 13, 2016

Brent Havens

Brent Havens conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in A Tribute to Davd Bowie on Friday, June 17 at 7:30 p.m. "The STL Symphony, guest conductor Brent Havens and a full rock band will take you on a symphonic odyssey paying tribute to the legendary musician and epic storyteller, David Bowie. Including music spanning across five decades, this concert brings the best of Bowie's collection to the Powell Hall stage. Experience this one-of-a-kind tribute recognizing the innovative artist with “Space Oddity,” “Changes,” “Golden Years,” “Rebel Rebel” and more!" The performance takes place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

Steven Jarvi conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra with vocalist Terry Mike Jeffrey in The Music of Elvis on Sunday, June 19 at 3 p.m. "This Father's Day, veteran singer and songwriter Terry Mike Jeffrey joins the STL Symphony for a tribute to one of the greatest music icons that ever lived. Bringing his band to Powell Hall for an extraordinary celebration of the King of Rock and Roll, Jeffrey will perform “Suspicious Minds,” “Don't Be Cruel,” “Burning Love” and more chart-topping hits." The performance takes place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents a classical open stage night on Monday, June 13, 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.

Flute Society of St. Louis Adult Flute Choir

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents the Flute Society of St. Louis Adult Flute Choir on Saturday, June 18, at 2 p.m.. "The Adult Flute Choir is comprised of flutists (college age and above) from the St. Louis community of varying careers and musical backgrounds. The choir performs regularly during the season (September through May) at venues such as nursing homes, FSSL events, church services, school tours, flute recitals, etc." 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 saxophonists Jessica Knopf and Jeffrey Collins in a program of music by Poulenc, Hindemith, and Wilhelm Friedemann Bach on Saturday, June 18, 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.

The University City Summer Band presents a concert on Tuesday, June 14, at 7 p.m. "Concerts last about 80 minutes, and include a short intermission. Seating is on the lawn. Bring a lawn chair or blanket as available seating is limited. Bring your children! Bring a picnic!" The concert takes place in Heman Park, 1028 Midland in University City. For more information: ucsummerband.org.

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of June 6, 2016

The Bach Society

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The Bach Society of St. Louis presents 75th Anniversary Gala and Benefit Concert on Thursday, June 9, at The Sheldon Concert Hall. “The evening begins at 5:45 p.m. with cocktails and hors d’ouvres. Guests will gather in the Concert Hall at 7:00 p.m. for a performance by St. Louis Symphony Concertmaster David Halen, soprano Miran Halen, and the internationally known Calidore String Quartet. Fifty glorious voices from the Bach Society of Saint Louis chorus will also join in for a portion of this concert, featuring familiar favorites from light operetta to the brilliance of Bach. A formal dinner will be served at 8:15 p.m. in the Louis Spiering Room.” For more information: www.bachsociety.org.

Brent Havens conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in Music of Led Zepplin on Friday, June 10 at 7:30 p.m. "Bridging the gap between rock ‘n’ roll and classical music, Brent Havens and a full rock band return to Powell Hall to perform the Music of Led Zeppelin, riff for riff and note for note. This one-of-a-kind performance captures Zeppelin’s power and features favorites amplified from the Powell Hall stage, including “Kashmir,” “Black Dog,” “Immigrant Song” and more." The performance takes place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

Michael Cavanaugh

Steven Jarvi conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra with pianist and vocalist Michael Cavanaugh in a concert of the music of Billy Joel on Sunday, June 12 at 3 p.m. "One of Broadway’s best joins the STL Symphony for an evening devoted to the legendary Piano Man. Hand-picked by Billy Joel for the starring role in the Broadway-musical, Movin’ Out, Grammy and Tony nominated Michael Cavanaugh has won the hearts of audiences and critics. In his tribute to Billy Joel, audiences will hear many of the Piano Man’s biggest hits including “She’s Got a Way,” “New York State of Mind,” “Uptown Girl,” “Only the Good Die Young” and more!" The performance takes place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents students from the Arianna String Quartet Chamber Music Festival on Tuesday, June 7, at 7 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 The Synergies Quartet on Friday, June 10, at 8 p.m. The concert features music by Bach, Dohnanyi, and Mozart. The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

Concert Review: Getting the Christmas spirit back with Steven Jarvi and the St. Louis Symphony, December 18-20, 2015

Whitney Claire Kaufman and friend at Powell

What with El Niño, global warming, and the relentless drumbeat of hate and fear from the rightward end of the political spectrum, it hasn't felt much like Christmas lately for me. But walking into a bright, wreath-bedecked Powell Hall Friday night for the first of the St. Louis Symphony's Macy's Holiday Celebration concerts changed all that. I'm starting to feel like a right jolly old elf.

If you've been to any of these concerts, you know what to expect: yuletide classics, a guest performer, and a visit from St. Nick himself. Santa's visit was a bit shorter than usual, but otherwise this musical evening was as comfortable and familiar as a favorite Christmas sweater.

Speaking of being comfortable, when Resident Conductor Steven Jarvi took over these concerts back in 2013 it seemed to me that, while his work at the podium was impeccable, he seemed a bit less at ease with the MC role. Two years later, he looks and sounds entirely relaxed up there, chatting with guest performer Whitney Claire Kaufman and cracking jokes about his "Star Wars" obsession.

It was nice to see Ms. Kaufman back on the stage this year. When she first appeared here in 2013, I noted that her singing showed the kind of emotional investment in the lyrics that made the pop standards she sang sound fresh. She did that again this year, with lovely renditions of "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," and "White Christmas."

Her considerable theatrical talents were on display in Jeff Tyzik's clever "The Twelve Gifts of Christmas," in which sections of the orchestra replace the original presents (as in: "three French horns, two clarinets, and a glockenspiel and a bell tree"). The piece itself is great fun, filled with in-jokes and musical quotes from Mozart, Vivaldi, Brahms, Beethoven, Rimsky-Korsakov, and (appropriately) lots of Tchaikovsky.

The area high school and college students of the Holiday Festival Chorus (directed by Kevin McBeth) are always a joy to hear, and this year was no exception. They sounded clear and robust in the arrangements of "Joy to the World" and "Silent Night" by Mormon Tabernacle Choir music director Mack Wilberg, and were particularly impressive in the syncopated, whimsical arrangement of "Jingle Bells" by Jack Gold, Marty Paich, and Mack Hayes, with its many rhythmic and key changes. With Mr. McBeth at the podium, they also did a fine job with André Thomas's brief "African Noel" for six-part chorus and percussion.

A few of my favorite things this year were the classical orchestral selections, led by a simply gorgeous prelude to Engelbert Humperdinck's opera "Hansel and Gretel." Humperdinck was a protégé of Richard Wagner, so it's not surprising that his prelude sounds more than a little bit like the one his mentor wrote for "Die Meistersinger." Mr. Jarvi's performance brought out all of the contrapuntal richness of this music and the orchestra did full justice to the composer's lush orchestral landscape.

It was also fascinating to find a work I'd never heard of on the program: the overture to the ballet "Der Schneemann" ("The Snowman"), written at the ripe old age of eleven by Erich Wolfgang Korngold and orchestrated by the composer's teacher Alexander von Zemlinsky (no slouch as a composer himself). It's surprisingly mature-sounding music, with all the ripe harmonies that would characterize Korngold's later work for films and the concert stage.

I've seen a number of the "Holiday Celebration" concerts over the years and have rarely been disappointed. They're always festive events, with the orchestra and hall decked out in seasonal finery and a selection of music calculated to appeal to both adults and all but the youngest kids. There's also a special drink at the bar: a bright-red Poinsettia Punch. And you can take your drinks to your seat with you, allowing you to savor them during the show.

The Macy's Holiday Celebration concerts continue through Sunday, December 20, after which Powell Hall gets turned over to the Compton Heights Concert Band and the Bach Society for their annual holiday concerts on December 21 and 23, respectively. The SLSO returns on New Year's Even for the annual musical party under the baton of David Robertson. For more information: stlsymphony.org.