Mary Edwards

The St. Louis Symphony concluded its 2011-2012 subscription series season with “Rach Fest” featuring Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concertos 1, 2 and 3 with Stephen Hough as soloist in six concerts over two weekends. 

The programs on Fridays, April 27 and May 4 featured the first Rachmaninoff concerto.  Hans Graf conducted the St. Louis Symphony on April 28 and 29 in a program including Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Skazka,” Op. 29, Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 1 in F minor, Op. 10 and Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, in C minor, Op 18.

David Robertson conducted the St. Louis Symphony in concerts April 14 and 15 in Powell Hall in a program including Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances, Op. 45, Ravel’s Piano Concerto for the Left Hand in D Major featuring pianist Leon Fleisher, and Prokofiev’s “Scythian Suite,” Op. 20.

Following a rehearsal On April 12, the St. Louis Symphony’s Eddie Silva spoke with Leon Fleisher about his association with the orchestra, the history of the Ravel concerto, his career after losing the use of two fingers on his right hand, and repertoire for left hand piano:

Did you catch our St. Louis Symphony broadcast on March 31? Well, whether you did, or didn't, we have a few fascinating interviews for you from behind the scenes of that performance of Bach's Mass in B Minor.

We know, we know. No St. Louis Symphony broadcast this weekend. We'll miss it Saturday night, too. But, we're not leaving you completely void of your Symphony fix!

David Robertson conducted the Symphony in concerts March 2 and 3 in Powell Hall in a program including Debussy’s Printemps, Kaija Saariaho’s Quatre Instants featuring soprano Karita Matilla, and Stravinsky’s The Firebird.  The orchestra will perform the same program on Saturday, March 10 in New York’s Carnegie Hall.

Stanislaw Skrowaczewski conducted the St. Louis Symphony in concerts February 3 and 4 in Powell Hall in a program including Weber's Oberon Overture, Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64 with St. Louis Symphony concertmaster David Halen as soloist, and Schubert's Symphony No. 9 in C major, D. 944, The Great.