ST. LOUIS SYMPHONY RETURNS FROM SUCCESSFUL CALIFORNIA TOUR
David Robertson and orchestra play to full houses and receive impressive reviews
(ST. LOUIS)—The STL Symphony returned from its four-city, five-concert California Tour on Wednesday evening, February 3. David Robertson and the orchestra received numerous accolades from the California press for programs that included John Adams’ Saxophone Concerto, with guest soloist Timothy McAllister, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 performed at three venues—Soka University in Alisa Viejo, McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert, and Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley; and Messiaen’s Des Canyons aux étoiles… (From the Canyons to the Stars…) with a visual installation by photographer Deborah O’Grady performed at Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall and Los Angeles’ Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Los Angeles Times: “Robertson’s performance was so impressive that there were other times when I might have been tempted to close my eyes. He found God in the complexity of Messiaen’s details, and he found natural wonder in Messiaen’s divinity. The members of the St. Louis Symphony could have been mistaken for a world-class new music ensemble.” –Mark Swed
San Francisco Chronicle: “Canyons,” which got a brilliant and vividly colored performance in Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall on Sunday afternoon by conductor David Robertson and the St. Louis Symphony, is one of the composer’s most expansive and all-encompassing expressions of that wonderment…Sunday’s performance boasted a powerhouse soloist in Peter Henderson, whose energetic and keenly etched playing only underscored the blocky, kinetic fervor of the score. His star turn was supplemented by heroic solos by French hornist Roger Kaza and percussionists William James and Thomas Stubbs. Robertson and the orchestra, meanwhile, cemented the growing impression that this is an artistic partnership that continues to yield remarkable results.” – Joshua Kosman
San Jose Mercury News: “It’s too early to start assembling best of 2016 lists, but it’s a pretty safe bet that, come December, music lovers will still be talking about the St. Louis Symphony’s Berkeley appearances…The results were tremendous. After intermission, the orchestra gave an urgently dramatic performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 in C-sharp minor. Everything about it was right…Here again, the St. Louis ensemble sounded first-rate. Best of 2016? It’s already on my list.” – Georgia Rowe
Tour schedule and programs:
Soka Performing Arts Center Wednesday, January 27, 2016, 7:30 pm
Aliso Viejo, CA
St. Louis Symphony
David Robertson, conductor
Timothy McAllister, saxophone
JOHN ADAMS: Saxophone Concerto
MAHLER: Symphony No. 5
McCallum Theatre Thursday, January 28, 2016, 7:30 pm
Palm Desert, CA
St. Louis Symphony
David Robertson, conductor
Timothy McAllister, saxophone
JOHN ADAMS: Saxophone Concerto
MAHLER: Symphony No. 5
Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley Friday, January 29, 2016, 8 pm
Berkeley, CA
St. Louis Symphony
David Robertson, conductor
Timothy McAllister, saxophone
JOHN ADAMS: Saxophone Concerto
MAHLER: Symphony No. 5
Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley Sunday, January 31, 2016, 3 pm
Berkeley, CA
St. Louis Symphony
David Robertson, conductor
Deborah O’Grady, video
MESSIAEN: Des canyons aux étoiles…
Walt Disney Concert Hall Tuesday, February 2, 2016, 8 pm
Los Angeles, CA
St. Louis Symphony
David Robertson, conductor
Deborah O’Grady, video
MESSIAEN: Des canyons aux étoiles…
Founded in 1880 and now in its 136th season, the St. Louis Symphony is the second-oldest orchestra in the country and widely considered one of the world’s finest. In September 2005, internationally acclaimed conductor David Robertson became the 12th Music Director, the second American-born conductor to hold that post in the Orchestra’s history. The St. Louis Symphony strives for artistic excellence, fiscal responsibility and community connection while meeting its mission statement: enriching people’s live through the power of music. The Symphony presents a full season of classical programs and Live at Powell Hall concerts and hundreds of free education and community programs each year. Media partners include St. Louis Public Radio, 90.7 –KWMU, which broadcasts the Symphony’s Saturday night subscription concerts live, and The Nine Network, which features STL Symphony performances on its Night at the Symphony program.
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