Leonard Slatkin courtesy of SLSO
On January 12, Slatkin leads the orchestra and violinist Kelly Hall-Tompkins in her SLSO debut in the world premiere of Jeff Beal’s Body in Motion; concert also includes music from George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, George Antheil’s A Jazz Symphony, and Duke Ellington’s The Three Black Kings
On January 13, clarinetist Victor Goines makes his SLSO debut in Igor Stravinsky’s Ebony Concerto; concert also includes Darius Milhaud’s Le Création de Mond, Kurt Weill’s Suite from The Threepenny Opera, and George Gershwin’s An American in Paris
On January 21, pianist Aaron Diehl and the Aaron Diehl Trio make their SLSO debuts in the first SLSO performances of Mary Lou Williams’ Zodiac Suite; pianist Jeffrey Siegel returns to perform George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue 50 years after he recorded it with the SLSO; concerts also include Paul Turok’s A Joplin Overture and John Alden Carpenter’s Krazy Kat
(December 5, 2023, St. Louis, MO) – Today, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra announced details of a three-concert exploration of the relationship between jazz and the classical forms, all led by Conductor Laureate Leonard Slatkin. The concerts—January 12, 13, and 21—include the debut of two instrumentalists and a jazz trio; the world premiere of a violin concerto; the first SLSO performances of three more works; and performances of three classic George Gershwin works recorded by the orchestra in the 1970s. All concerts take place at the Touhill Performing Arts Center at the University of Missouri–St. Louis.
Tickets start at $15 and are available for purchase at slso.org or by calling the Box Office at 314-534-1700. A full concert calendar is available at slso.org or on the SLSO’s mobile app available for iOS or Android. Broadcasts of these concerts will take place on January 13, 20, and 27 on 90.7 FM KWMU St. Louis Public Radio, Classic 107.3, and online. Audiences can attend a Pre-Concert Conversation, an engaging discussion about the music and artists on the program, one hour before each concert in the auditorium.
Shuttle service will be available starting at $15 per seat, departing from Plaza Frontenac. Free parking is available on the UMSL campus.
Porgy and Bess
Friday, January 12, 10:30 am CST*
Touhill Performing Arts Center at the University of Missouri–St. Louis
1 Touhill Circle, St. Louis, Missouri, 63121
Leonard Slatkin, conductor
Kelly Hall-Tompkins, violin (SLSO debut)
George Antheil A Jazz Symphony (First SLSO performance)
Jeff Beal Body in Motion, for violin and orchestra (World premiere)
Duke Ellington The Three Black Kings
George Gershwin Porgy and Bess: A Symphonic Picture
Presented by the Whitaker Foundation.
*Refreshments courtesy of Kaldi’s Coffee and Eddie’s Southtown Donuts.
The three-concert exploration begins with an overview of American originality, reflected in the soulful and sumptuous music of George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, which has stood the test of time, depicting the environment and lives of 1920s Charleston, South Carolina. George Antheil’s Jazz Symphony is one of the first works of orchestral jazz, and Duke Ellington’s final work, The Three Black Kings, was written as a eulogy for Martin Luther King, Jr. Violinist Kelly Hall-Tompkins makes her SLSO debut in a new violin concerto by Jeff Beal, a jazz trumpeter and Emmy Award-winning composer best known for his music for film and television.
An American in Paris
Saturday, January 13, 7:30pm CST
Touhill Performing Arts Center at the University of Missouri–St. Louis
1 Touhill Circle, St. Louis, Missouri, 63121
Leonard Slatkin, conductor
Victor Goines, clarinet (SLSO debut)
Darius Milhaud Le Création du monde
Igor Stravinsky Ebony Concerto (First SLSO performance)
Kurt Weill Suite from The Threepenny Opera
George Gershwin An American in Paris
The series takes a detour through jazz-mad Europe in the second installment. Darius Milhaud, Igor Stravinsky, and Kurt Weill all fell in love with American jazz, and their music bears its stamp. Victor Goines, jazz clarinetist and president of Jazz St. Louis, rocks and wails in Stravinsky’s Ebony Concerto, which receives its first SLSO performances in this concert. Kurt Weill’s Suite from The Threepenny Opera includes hits like “Mack the Knife.” The program ends with the honking horns and swaggering tunes of Gershwin’s An American in Paris, originally recorded by the SLSO in 1974, one of the first U.S. orchestras to record Gershwin’s concert works.
Rhapsody in Blue
Sunday, January 21, 3:00pm CST
Touhill Performing Arts Center at the University of Missouri–St. Louis
1 Touhill Circle, St. Louis, Missouri, 63121
Leonard Slatkin, conductor
Aaron Diehl Trio (SLSO debut)
Jeffrey Siegel, piano
Paul Turok A Joplin Overture
Mary Lou Williams Selections from Zodiac Suite (First SLSO performance)
John Alden Carpenter Krazy Kat
George Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue
This concert is sold out.
The three-concert series’ finale returns to jazz’s American home for a program featuring Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Premiered in 1924 and recorded by the SLSO in 1974, this concert marks a double milestone for the piece. The Aaron Diehl trio makes its debut in Mary Lou Williams’ Zodiac Suite, paying homage to an underperformed mid-20th-century composer. John Alden Carpenter’s ballet Krazy Kat was one of the first to incorporate jazz, while Paul Turok channels a St. Louis icon in A Joplin Overture.
About the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
Celebrated as one of today’s most exciting and enduring orchestras, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is the second-oldest orchestra in the country, marking its 144th year with the 2023/2024 season and its fifth with Stéphane Denève, The Joseph and Emily Rauh Pulitzer Music Director. Widely considered one of the leading American orchestras, the Grammy® Award-winning SLSO maintains its commitment to artistic excellence, educational impact, and community collaborations—all in service to its mission of enriching lives through the power of music.
The transformational expansion and renovation of its historic home, Powell Hall, slated to be completed in 2025, builds on the institution’s momentum as a civic leader in convening individuals, creators, and ideas, while fostering a culture welcoming to all. Committed to building community through compelling and inclusive musical experiences, the SLSO continues its longstanding focus on equity, diversity, inclusion, and access, embracing its strengths as a responsive, nimble organization, while investing in partnerships locally and elevating its presence globally. For more information, visit slso.org.
About the University of Missouri–St. Louis Touhill Performing Arts Center
Designed by the renowned architectural firm I.M. Pei, Cobb, Freed and Partners, the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center is a landmark performance facility on the campus of the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL). The Center hosts an average of 120 events, 200 performances, and 90,000 visitors per year.
The Touhill staff manages several collaborative relationships and programs that, along with campus and community partners, bring together a diverse season of dance, theatre, music, festivals, and special events.
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