Mary Edwards

The St. Louis Symphony announced plans for its 2014-15 season at a town hall meeting on Thursday, January 23.  It is a season highlighted by many significant anniversaries: David Robertson’s 10th as music director, David Halen’s 20th season as concertmaster, Amy Kaiser’s 20th season as chorus director, the 20th anniversary of the In UNISON Chorus, the 45th season of the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra  and the 135th anniversary of the St. Louis Symphony, and all these take place while the city celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founding.

St. Louis Symphony Music Director David Robertson sat down with Cityscape host Steve Potter for a year-end reflection on the accomplishments in the first four months of the 2013-14 season as well as a look at what is still in store.

Topping Robertson’s list of Fall highlights is the Carnegie Hall performance of Britten’s opera “Peter Grimes” which received much critical acclaim including being named in the top five classical concerts in 2013 by New York Times classical music critic Anthony Tommasini.

Vocalist Kim Massie and pianist Peter Martin performed a concert before a sold-out audience in the UMSL at Grand Center Community Room on December 6.  

The entire concert and an interview with Kim Massie will air on Arch City Radio Hour at 9:00 a.m. Monday, December 23 on St. Louis Public Radio’s HD2 Channel, The Gateway. Beginning at that time, the concert and interview will also be available on demand at the St. Louis Public Radio and the Beacon website.

Mezzo-soprano Kate Lindsey and tenor Nicholas Phan are two of the soloists that join David Robertson and the St. Louis Symphony and Chorus in Cantatas 1-3 of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio on December 6 and 7. The two singers also performed in the St. Louis Symphony's performance of Bach's Mass in B Minor in April, 2012.

David Robertson conducted the St. Louis Symphony and Chorus as well as a roster of vocal soloists in a concert version of Benjamin Britten’s opera “Peter Grimes” in Carnegie Hall on November 22, the 100th anniversary of the composer’s birth.  St. Louis Symphony goers had the opportunity to preview that performance the previous Saturday in Powell Hall.  Both performances received accolades from audience members and critics.

When Jeremy Segel-Moss, guitarist with the Bottoms Up Blues Gang, conceived the idea of the Baby Blues Showcase, he probably didn’t think about the fact that his group would one day age out of the annual event. But that’s exactly what happened. The original intent was to give blues musicians under the age of 30 a chance to shine for one night at BB’s Jazz, Blues and Soups.

David Robertson, the St. Louis Symphony and Chorus and a cast of vocal soloists led by tenor Anthony Dean Griffey and soprano Susanna Phillips traveled to New York City this week to perform a concert version of Benjamin Britten’s “Peter Grimes.”  The November 22nd performance marks the 100th anniversary of the composer’s birth. St. Louisans were treated to a preview performance on November 16 in Powell Hall.

On Saturday, November 16, David Robertson conducted the St. Louis Symphony and Chorus and a cast of vocal soloists in a concert version of Benjamin Britten’s “Peter Grimes.” These same forces will reprise that performance in Carnegie Hall on Friday, November 22, the 100th anniversary of the composer’s birth.

American tenor Anthony Dean Griffey has performed to great acclaim in opera houses and concert halls around the world.  But when he appears in the title role of the St. Louis Symphony’s concert version of Britten’s opera “Peter Grimes,” it will be another opportunity to sing the role that is near and dear to his heart.  Not only was it his first major role when he first performed it while a student at Tanglewood, but because Griffey grew up as a shy, misunderstood child, he feels a real connection to the character.