Chamber Music Society of St. Louis Announces 10th Anniversary Season

CMSSL adds gala honoring Leonard Slatkin to their celebration of international classical music during their milestone 2018-19 season.

St. Louis, MO – The tenth season of the Chamber Music Society of St. Louis (CMSSL) once again promises classical connoisseurs an international array of musical offerings along with a special gala celebration – “Notes from Hollywood – The Sequel.”  St. Louis icon Ozzie Smith will join the festivities honoring Leonard on Monday, December 10 in the Sheldon Concert Hall.  Executive and Artistic Director, Marc Gordon is “looking forward to our 10th Anniversary Season which holds a celebratory Gala in December, a number of events featuring students from CMSSL education programs, a new series of Saturday matinee concerts at the 560 Music Center and a look back to some of the more popular repertoire from previous seasons.”

On October 8-9, the season gets a spicy start with “España,” focusing on the warm, seductive musical flavors of the Iberian Peninsula, courtesy of Falla, Albeñiz, Granados, Sarasate, Halffter and Bizet. 

Renowned British conductor Nicholas McGegan returns for his annual visit October 22 to lead “Go for Baroque,” an entertaining program of harp concerto and harpsichord suite by Handel, and Bach’s 4th Brandenburg Concerto.  McGegan previously taught at Washington University and currently serves as Music Director for the Bay Area’s Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra.

Their November 5-6 program is “For the Birds” and features some of the appealing results of composers’ fascination with our feathered friends.  A variety of compositions by Haydn, Vaughan-Williams, Daquin, Saint-Saëns, Schumann and Grieg will be performed.

“Elegance and Romance” will satisfy the passion in all of us with the most beloved compositions from both Mozart and Tchaikovsky on Saturday, December 1.  This performance also introduces the Saturday matinee option to their programming.

The December 10 gala, “Notes from Hollywood – The Sequel” will reprise the 2013 St. Louis and 2014 Chicago performances, featuring an evening of chamber music written by Hollywood film composers. In addition to the musical entertainment, Slatkin – now a permanent St. Louis resident - will share stories and the history of the music and composers, many of whom were regular visitors in the Slatkin home as he was growing up in Los Angeles. Slatkin has a plan to involve St. Louis Cardinals icon, Ozzie Smith, in some of the fun. Maestro Slatkin’s ties to our city began with his father, Felix Slatkin, who was born in St. Louis and served as an Assistant Concertmaster in the St. Louis Symphony in the 1930s.  Leonard Slatkin has garnered much positive attention for the city, including his role as the St. Louis Symphony’s Music Director on their first European tour in 1982, which garnered rave reviews. VIP packages for the event are available and include valet parking, pre-concert cocktails, post-concert dinner by Butler’s Pantry, and a copy of Slatkin’s book “Leading Tones in addition to the main concert program.  Gala tickets are on sale now and can be purchased through their website.

2019’s first offering pays homage to “Amadeus” with an enchanting and inspiring all-Mozart program, highlighting his works with horn, viola and fortepiano.   “Endless Lovefest,” CMSSL’s annual salute to romance through music, offers two chances for date night with your Valentine on February 11 and 12.

Delight in the collective “Brilliance” of Robert and Clara Schumann, Mendelssohn and Brahms, one of the most extraordinary circles in music history, March 4-5.  CMSSL turns “A Night at the Opera” into an afternoon of entertainment, with performances of the most treasured music from classical opera, arranged for wind octet in their second Saturday matinee on March 23.

Their “Foolproof” concert April 1-2 offers a fun celebration featuring selections that play to the theme of this holiday.  “Pulling Strings” is the culmination of their 10^th Anniversary Season with a trio of string compositions by Barber, Mendelssohn and Haydn on April 29.

CMSSL offers two performances of each regular season program in the Sheldon Ballroom (3648 Washington Blvd., Grand Center, St. Louis, MO 63108) on Monday and Tuesday evenings at 7:30 p.m. (unless otherwise noted).  Subscriptions are on sale now and information is available online or by phone at 314-941-6309. Single tickets are now available via phone and will be released online August 15, 2018. CMSSL performances are also part of the Concert Pass Collaborative discount program for students.

In addition to performances, CMSSL hosts programs to further educate area musicians. The Master Class Series offers students the chance to prepare and perform solo and chamber works, guided by a CMSSL artist. The CMSSL and The Community Music School of Webster University’s Preparatory Program have partnered for the Young Artists Chamber Program, which nurtures the next generation of chamber music ensembles. Both programs are open to St. Louis area students and are free to qualified students. Visit chambermusicstl.org for more information.

Chamber Music Society of St. Louis Mission:

To present chamber music of the highest quality, support educational activities that encourage more students and adults to appreciate the art form, and nurture exceptional emerging chamber music performers and ensembles.