Leonard Slatkin | St. Louis Public Radio

Leonard Slatkin

'A Feeling Of Home About It': Leonard Slatkin Returns To St. Louis And To The SLSO

By • Apr 23, 2019
Leonard Slatkin joined "St. Louis on the Air" Tuesday. April 23, 2019
Evie Hemphill | St. Louis Public Radio

Leonard Slatkin’s career as a conductor has taken him to nearly every corner of the classical music world: from Lyon and Hong Kong to Washington, D.C.

But despite all of that traveling, he still considers St. Louis—where he debuted with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra as an assistant conductor in 1968 and served as music director from 1979 to 1996—to be his home base.

“My grandparents on my father's side emigrated here from Russia in 1911; my dad was born here and was assistant concertmaster when he was 19 years old; I was here for 27 years altogether and then retained this title of music director laureate and then my son was born here—so four generations of Slatkins are here,” he explained to St. Louis Public Radio reporter Jonathan Ahl on Tuesday’s St. Louis on the Air.

St. Louis Symphony Hopes To Build 'Franco-American Arch' In Denève's First Season As Director

By • Feb 5, 2019
Incoming music director Stéphane Denève will begin his first season at the helm of St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. 2/5/19
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s first season under the artistic leadership of incoming music director Stéphane Denève will include two world premieres, a selection of French composers and artists, and a world-renowned artist-in-residence.

The orchestra announced its 2019-2020 season Tuesday. Denève was announced in 2017 as the orchestra’s next music director, following the departure of David Robertson at the end of last season.

Chamber Music Society celebrates St. Louis icons Leonard Slatkin and Ozzie Smith at upcoming gala

By & • May 2, 2018

Producer's note: Chamber Music Society of St. Louis executive director Marc Gordon announced on May 4 that Leonard Slatkin had to cancel his May 21 appearance due to unexpected heart bypass surgery. On May 8 Gordon reported the surgery was successful and Slatkin is expected to make a full recovery. However, since Slatkin is such an integral part of the Gala program, it has been postponed until the Fall when he can participate. Those who hold tickets for the original May 21 date are invited to a free concert. 

When Leonard Slatkin left his position as music director of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in 1996, he still retained many ties to the city he had called home for more than two decades. In his role as conductor laureate he has returned regularly to conduct the symphony.

He also serves as a board member of the Chamber Music Society of St. Louis, has appeared on several of its programs and has advised the organization on educational activities.

Leonard Slatkin talks about his new book, his years with the SLSO and more

By • Oct 7, 2017
Leonard Slatkin

Leonard Slatkin spent 27 years with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, 17 of them as music director. When he left that post in 1996 the SLSO gave him the title Conductor Laureate. Since leaving St. Louis in 1996, he has been music director of the National Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestre National de Lyon and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, a post he will give up at the end of the current season.

19-Year-Old Pianist Makes Second St. Louis Symphony Appearance

By • Apr 28, 2014

Young pianist Conrad Tao was scheduled to make his St. Louis Symphony debut in concerts April 25-27, 2014 led by Conductor Laureate Leonard Slatkin. But when illness forced Markus Groh to cancel his appearances on February 1 and 2, 2013, Tao stepped in as soloist in Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 on less than 3 days’ notice and wowed audiences.

St. Louis Symphony Extra - Slatkin Conducts Copland 3

By Kelsey Proud • Apr 24, 2014
Courtesy of Columbia Artists Management

We continue our live broadcasts of the St. Louis Symphony for the 2013-2014 season this weekend, and you can be right there with us from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, April 26.

On select Saturday evenings, St. Louis Public Radio broadcasts the Symphony's performance over the air, bringing you a live classical music experience wherever you are.

Here's what's planned for you this weekend:

SIERRA   Fandangos
SAINT-SAËNS   Piano Concerto No. 2
COPLAND   Symphony No. 3

Leonard Slatkin Remembers Stan Musial

By • Jan 20, 2013
Columbia Artists Management

St. Louis Symphony Conductor Laureate Leonard Slatkin returned to St. Louis this week to conduct the orchestra he led for 17 years.  Slatkin was Robert Peterson's guest during the intermission of St. Louis Public Radio's live broadcast of the St. Louis Symphony concert on Saturday, January 19.  During the conversation, Slatkin commented on building audience for the St. Louis Symphony to make it as well known as the St.

St. Louis Symphony Extra - January 19, 2013

By Kelsey Proud • Jan 19, 2013
Courtesy of Columbia Artists Management

The St. Louis Symphony continues its 2012-2013 season this weekend, and you can be right there with them from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 19.

On select Saturday evenings, St. Louis Public Radio broadcasts the Symphony's performance over the air, bringing you a live classical music experience wherever you are.

Here's what's in store for you this weekend:

Leonard Slatkin On 'Conducting Business'

By , & • Jan 15, 2013
Sean Sandefur

Leonard Slatkin has strong ties to St. Louis. His father, conductor and violinist Felix Slatkin, was born in St. Louis and joined the St. Louis Symphony when he was still a teen.  The younger Slatkin’s first conducting position with a major symphony orchestra came in 1968 when he was named Assistant Conductor of the St.

Leonard Slatkin Joins The Chamber Music Society of St. Louis For ‘Notes From Hollywood’

By & • Jan 4, 2013
Courtesy of Columbia Artists Management

Leonard Slatkin is well known to St. Louis audiences because of his long tenure at the helm of the St. Louis Symphony.  He returns to St.

Youth orchestra remains strong after 40 years

By • Dec 3, 2010

At noon on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, the 90 members of the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra are on stage at Powell Hall getting ready to rehearse German composer Paul Hindemith's "Symphonic Metamorphosis."

Typical Thanksgiving break plans for trombonist David Lindsay, a junior at Pattonville High School who's in his first year with the orchestra, don't include an hour and a half rehearsal.