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REVIEW: “Cinco de Mayo” Concert

Chamber Music Society Serves Tasty Mexican-Flavored Music for Cinco de Mayo, by Chris King, The St Louis American First Bank, Concert Sponsor. The rousing show closer was Panamanian Dances by William Grant Still, whom impresario Marc Gordon described as “the dean of African-American composers.” Credit: Photo from CSO Programming a chamber music concert on May 5 with Cinco de Mayo as an amorphous organizing principle came off brilliantly in the hands of the Chamber Music Society of St. Louis, who packed the Pillsbury Theatre at 560 Music Center for a long night of lively music on Monday. The generous heaping of varied and tasty music cinched the connection to a holiday of Mexican descent for me. At our many beautiful local Mexican restaurants, I need the pozole and a chorizo torta, for starters; a chicken mole, if you have it; ceviche, if you have that; chips and salsa, of course; some pork tamales; I don’t want to stop! Marc Gordon, the society honcho, took a similar ravenous approach to curating this glut of delicious compositions from every corner of the Latin American musical menu. Perhaps the most distinctly Mexican-sounding piece over two solid hours of music was the rousing show closer, Panamanian Dances by William Grant Still. Clearly, this is a pan-Latin American menu – Panama, in this case – and influence is acceptable in a composer, not only national origin. Gordon described Still as “the dean of African-American composers,” and this smoking hot workover of folk music that Still learned from an ethnomusicologist friend shows why this crafty composer belongs in repertoire. Panamanian Dances was performed by the most familiar musical grouping we heard that night, a string quartet, though Still shifted the register of what was possible for strings further south and off the grid. Siyu Zhang led the quartet on violin, with Seul Lee also on violin, Chris Tantillo on viola and Alvin McCall on cello – all masterful St. Louis Symphony Orchestra musicians playing at top form. The program’s second half that ended with Still opened with music by another Black genius, a brother from our block, Scott Joplin. Solace – A Mexican Serenade shows a more ruminative Joplin than his most beloved ragtime numbers, yet the irresistible gaiety of his rhythm rolled right along under the sadness in the nimble hands of pianist Shen Wen, a decorated performer and coordinator of keyboard studies at Saint Louis University. Wen accepted the tough assignment of playing two sets of two-song medleys on solo piano. Joplin’s Mexican siesta was paired with Juventino Rosas, whose name is mostly lost to history (Gordon taught it to me), but whose waltz Sobre Las Olas will start singing in your head after half a bar and you’ll be challenged not to scat along. Charles Chaplin and Chuck Jones (as Bugs Bunny) drilled this ear worm into my brain. I did not know it was written by an indigenous striver who ended up a Mexico City street musician and died young at 26. Wen’s medley in the program’s first half was Teresa Carreño (La cesta de flores) mashed up with Manuel Ponce (Gavota). Ponce was a Mexican composer who found Latin American folk forms just as fertile for innovation as did Still, but French Baroque dance inspired him on this one. Carreño was a prolific Venezuelan prodigy who, Gordon told us, once performed for Abraham Lincoln at the age of nine. Speaking of prodigy, the Chamber Music Society of St. Louis opens its programs with a young artist performance. Zoe Baldwin did a prodigious turn on violin (with Wen, herself a former prodigy who performed on Chinese national TV at age eight, accompanying) on Zigeunerweisen by Pablo Sarasate. This is the old-as-the-hills vagabond mountain music – though this term for Rom people is now considered insulting, to the Spanish composer these were “Gypsy Airs.” Baldwin – assistant concertmaster at Clayton High School and a member of the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra – burned on these wild tunes, which call for both crazy dexterity and outer-soul energy. I thought of the great fiddler Alicia Svigals. All of that – and a star turn by a quietly featured artist, quietly in the sense that she was not billed as such: Alice Dade on flute. Various groupings led by Dade –a world-traveled soloist and professor at the University of Missouri School of Music – carried the first half of the program. After the Zoe Baldwin surprise on the Sarasate, Dade led a trio you don’t hear every season: flute with viola (Tantillo) and harp (Megan Stout). They performed Trio by Carlos Chavez, another Mexican composer who innovated from folk forms – but, in this case, he was writing for an American harp player, Edna Phillips. She was the Philadelphia Orchestra’s principal harpist — the first woman to occupy such a position with a major American orchestra, Gordon told us. The first half of the concert closed with Impresiones de La Puna by Alberto Ginastera, an Argentine composer, where Dade’s flute was joined by the string quartet. McCall’s lyrical flights on cello leapt out at me here – that, and solid, sweet, intricate ensemble playing. Dade really was put to the test by Heitor Villa-Lobos‘ Jet Whistle, which falls somewhere in between the invention of industrial music on acoustic instruments and a novelty tune. The musicians – Ranheim on cello but especially Dade on flute – were challenged by the Brazilian composer to whistle like a jet roars. Villa-Lobos was another street musician who became a composer, though he busked the streets of Rio, not Rosas’ Mexico City. His Jet Whistle is a study in writing for a duet. The flute and cello have such different sonic resources and technical challenges, it was fascinating to watch the flute and cello trade off figure and ground, melody and rhythm. Flute holding down a repetitive rhythm for the cello to solo over was an especially choice challenge that these musicians enjoyed rising to. On a cool night in St. Louis, thinking of the sizzling temperatures far to our south (though coming

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FROM SUBLIME TO IRREVERENT

Dear Friends, This weekend, many churches will resonate with the traditional sounds of Easter music emanating from various brass ensembles. Then, Monday brings us to the first day of April and of course, April Fools’ Day where we will shift the musical focus from triumphant to irreverent. Every few years, the calendar favors us with a concert night to highlight the lighter side of composers with whom we are familiar but on a more serious basis. This Monday “A Frivolous First” will offer works by Mozart, Haydn, Strauss (arr. Hasenoehrl), Hindemith, and Shostakovich……but not what we normally expect from them. As usual, beverages will be available for purchase from STL Barkeep in the lobby. Just be sure they don’t pour your drink into a glass with a hole in it. TICKETS Last September, The Chamber lost a treasured and devoted listener, supporter and Board member. If you knew Dr. Robert Packman, you knew his sense of humor rivaled his personal warmth, compassion and skills as a physician. We felt that this April 1 concert was the perfect program to celebrate the life of this wonderful man. So the music on Monday may be frivolous, but our respect and affection for Bob is not. Our Prelude segment Monday will feature the 2023 Rader Young Artist Competition winner, violinist Micky Chyu.  As for the rest of the evening….WHO KNOWS????? Current subscribers should receive renewal information shortly as it was mailed out this week. You can also renew securely online HERE. Renewals and subscriptions will be processed in the order received and every effort will be made to honor requests for table preferences. It is suggested that to you submit your renewals by April 30. After that date, all subscriptions will be available directly through our e-ticketing system. See you Monday for some irreverent fun, Marc

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Vintage Gala

Chamber Music Society of St. Louis presented our Vintage Gala, celebrating Maestro Leonard Slatkin’s 80th Birthday and our milestone 15th Anniversary Season. Special guests included internationally renowned pianist Olga Kern, violinist Cho-Liang Lin and Baseball Hall of Fame Legend Ozzie Smith. With a special appearance by Vocalist Sylvia McNair.Sheldon Concert Hall, Monday, September 9, 2024 VIP Package included: Your name listed in program as VIPVIP package for the event includes:Valet Parking6:00 pm Pre-Concert Cocktails7:00 pm “Vintage” Concert, VIP seatingDinner, provided by Butler’s Pantry Read More: MEDIA by Joan Berkman / Photos by Suzy Gorman Author: ksdk.com by Chris King, St. Louis American by Ashley Klein, Ladue News by Stephanie Wallace, Town & Style Noémi K. Neidorff, Presenting Sponsor Mary Strauss, Thomas and Carol Voss, Honorary ChairsMiran Halen, Event ChairBecky Domyan and Amalia Pfannenstiel, Co-ChairsJasmine Huda, EmceeSpecial Appearance by Baseball Hall of Fame Legend Ozzie Smith, “The Wizard” Dr. Tai Lin, Ariel Premium Supply, Artists Sponsor Our Kick-off Event for the Gala Event Host Committee was May 16. Click HERE to view Kickoff photos. 7:00 CONCERT PROGRAM Rachmaninoff- 3 PiecesMoment Musical #4 in e minor, Op.16Etude-tableaux, Op.33 No. 8 (No. 7 in modern edition) in g minorPolichinelle in f# minor, Op. 3 No. 4Joan Tower Birthday Wishes (encore)Gershwin–Three Preludes for PianoGershwin- “Fascinating Rhythm”Olga Kern, Piano Elgar- Chanson de MatinBrahms-  S.A.E. Sonata in c minor, WoO 2 (Scherzo)Lukas Foss- Three American Pieces (‘Composer’s Holiday’)Cho-Liang Lin, ViolinOlga Kern, Piano Brahms- Piano Quintet in f minor, Op. 34 (Scherzo)Rubenstein- Romance (encore)McTee- Happy Birthday (second encore)Olga Kern, PianoCho-Liang Lin, ViolinXiaoxiao Qiang, ViolinSusan Gordon, ViolaBjorn Ranheim, Cello READ PROGRAM BOOKLETPROGRAM SHELL DONATE with a tax-deductible gift, if you cannot attend Your support of the Vintage Gala enables our continued commitment to the St. Louis community through extraordinary concerts, creative collaborations, and impactful education programs. Thank you so much for your support as we look to the next 15 years—together! Only the best things that last through time can be called Vintage. Our programs endeavor to inspire and enchant audiences with chamber music performed in our signature cabaret-style. We also offer unique education opportunities with a Master Class Series, serving students from more than 30 area schools, and our Rader Young Artist Program, which has nurtured exceptional student performers in St. Louis for more than a decade. Internationally acclaimed conductor Leonard Slatkin is active as a composer, author, and educator. A Chamber Music Society of St. Louis Board Member since our founding, he leads an ensemble annually at concerts and serves as an inspiration for CMSSL and our musicians. Pianist Olga Kern is recognized as one of her generation’s greatest artists. With her vivid stage presence, passionatelyconfident musicianship, and extraordinary technique, this striking pianist continues to captivate fans and critics alike. Since his debut as soloist with Zubin Mehta and the New York Philharmonic, Taiwanese violinist Cho-Liang Lin has performed with virtually every major orchestra in the world. A devoted chamber musician and educator, Mr. Lin founded the Taipei Music Academy & Festival and currently serves on the faculties of The Julliard School and Rice University. CMSSL is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation.For tax deductible information, please consult your tax professional. An IRS advisory letter is available upon request.

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THE RESULTS ARE IN! All About You Part 4 Program is…

In partnership with Classic 107.3FM. Pillsbury Cookie Concert Ed & H Pillsbury Foundation, Pillsbury Cookie Concert Series Sponsor Gerald and Judith Jehling, Concert Sponsors Not yet on our friends list? Click here to join. The repertoire for this concert is chosen by you, friends of The Chamber and our friends at Classic 107.3, the Voice for the Arts in St. Louis. Our April 22 “All About You Part 4” program is indeed all about your choices for the works to be performed, and is based on the results from the balloting. Stay tuned, and watch for E-Blast announcements! On the Ballot: (vote for one in each category) STRING ENSEMBLE Shostakovich- Two pieces for String Quartet Puccini- Chrysanthemums WINNER! Dvořák- Nocturne for Two Violins, Viola, Cello, and Bass, Op. 40 Albinoni- Sinfonia in G Major for Strings PIANO AND STRING ENSEMBLE WINNER! Beethoven- Piano Quartet #3 in C Major, WoO 36 Haydn- Piano Trio # 39 in G Major “Gypsy” Hob. XV:25 Schubert- Notturno for Piano Trio in E-flat Major, Op. 148 / D.897 Shostakovich- Piano Trio No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 8 MIXED ENSEMBLE WINNER! Mozart – Quintet for Horn and Strings in E Flat Major, K. 407 Copland- Sextet for String Quartet, Clarinet and Piano Debussy- Sonata for Flute, Viola & Harp Saint-Saëns- Fantaisie for Violin and Harp, Op. 124 SOLO PIANO Debussy- Clair de Lune Gershwin- Three Preludes for Piano WINNER! Rachmaninoff- Prelude Op 3 No 2 in C # Minor Schubert- Impromptu #2 in Ab, Op. 142 D935 Click here for tickets to the concert!

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CABARET IS BACK!

We are enthusiastically looking forward to the return of our cabaret-seating format, November 20 thru May 6, in the Pillsbury Theatre at the 560 Music Center. The first concert, “Chamber Music For People In A Hurry,” has a program theme affectionately borrowed from delightful astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson’s book Astrophysics for People in a Hurry. Libations to enjoy during the concerts will be available for purchase from STL Barkeep. On December 4 we celebrate the seasons with “Holiday Wingding,” conducted by Darwin Aquino. Choose from available cabaret concerts tables and get e-tickets HERE.

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Press Release- CMSSL 2022-23 Season

2022-23 Season,  a New Name for its Concert Series, And a New Performance Home. ST. LOUIS (September 7, 2022) – The Chamber Music Society of St. Louis (CMSSL) is excited to announce a new performance venue and new concert series name along with its 2022-23 Season lineup. Our 2022-23 Season concert venue is the E. Desmond Lee Concert Hall, located in the 560 Music Center, 560 Trinity Avenue, University City, MO 63130. CMSSL performances will be held in the concert hall on Monday evenings. The concert series also has a new name. The series is now called the Michael F. Neidorff Chamber Concert Series. “Chamber Music Society of St. Louis is honored to pay tribute to the long legacy and generosity of Michael F. Neidorff with the naming of our concert series in his memory,” said Marc Gordon, Executive and Artistic director of CMSSL. “There is always an air of excitement when we start a new Season, and this year the anticipation is palpable as we announce not only the season lineup, but also our new performance home and series name.” Pre-season events: FREE CONCERT “St. Louis works” Outdoor Concert at Enterprise Holdings Pavilion in Shaw Park    https://www.chambermusicstl.org/concerts/st-louis-works-free-concert/ Lineup for the Michael F. Neidorff Chamber Concert Series, to be performed in the E. Desmond Lee Concert Hall on Mondays at 7:30 p.m.: On October 3, the season opens with “Some Royal Noise,” a celebration of music by and for the “Crowned Heads.” October 24, CMSSL presents “Without Borders,” a concert featuring music from a variety of countries, and to be performed on United Nations Day. November 7 features Maestro Leonard Slatkin, leading CMSSL musicians in music by Dvorák, Gounod and Stravinsky in “The Winds Blow Back.” Chamber music icons are offered on “Playing Favorites,”  November 28 On December 6, Beethoven’s birthday is celebrated with “Write on Ludwig,” a program of music inked by Beethoven, and including a work by one of his students. “A Visit to Vienna” on January 23 offers music written by composers who called this music capital home. “Lovefest Goes to The Movies” on February 13 with CMSSL’s annual salute to romance through music. The program includes CMSSL musicians playing the music to a screening of the Buster Keaton silent movie One Week. February 20 brings back our musical game show “Guess Who – The Return,” where the audience can win prizes by correctly guessing the composers of the presented works. Renowned British conductor and St. Louis favorite Nicholas McGegan returns to CMSSL for his annual visit on March 6 with a journey “From Baroque to Classical.” The concert features cellist Bjorn Ranheim in Haydn’s C Major Cello Concerto, and includes music by Vivaldi, C.P.E. Bach and a Mozart symphony made famous in a movie. CMSSL string players welcome spring April 24 with “Spring String Fling.” May 8 is “Jazzing Up the Day for Mom” celebrating moms everywhere with a jazzy work about cuisine, and featuring the jazz piano duo of Stephanie Trick and Paolo Alderighi. The season closer on May 22, 2023, is “All About You Again,” a program of repertoire chosen from votes cast by CMSSL and Classic 107.3 listeners. To learn more about the Michael F. Neidorff Chamber Concert Series, visit chambermusicstl.org/concerts. The 2022-23 CMSSL season also holds a number of events featuring students from CMSSL education programs, the fourth year of our Pillsbury Cookie Concert series at the 560 Music Center as well as our education outreach concerts and the 12th year of our Master Class Series. This series of eight classes serves more than 30 St. Louis area schools and is free to students as well as the public to observe. 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.  

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Sad News

Painting CMSSL commissioned for Michael F. Neidorff by artist Stefan Geissbühler READ The St Louis Community and the country has lost a great philanthropist. Michael F. Neidorff passed away here in St. Louis. Michael and Noémi Neidorff have been great friends and supporters of the Chamber from our very early days. From the 9 straight years before COVID of hosting our annual Donor Appreciation Concert in Centene Plaza to a transformative multi-year financial commitment, they both loved and believed in the power of music. Their commitment to the arts and music in particular has made St. Louis a better place to live. From the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra to Opera Theatre of St. Louis to Radio Arts Foundation-Classic 107.3 to Chamber Music Society of St. Louis and so many others, we are indebted to Michael and the Neidorff family. I will never forget the wisdom Michael imparted to me in 2010, early in my tenure as Executive & Artistic Director of CMSSL. In a meeting with this visionary leader in his office, he gave me a version of the give someone a fish and they eat for a day…….teach them to fish and they eat for a lifetime philosophy. Our friend, former Clayton Mayor Harold Sanger, called Michael a “magnificent human being.” To say that Michael will be missed is a monumental understatement. As we wind down the 2021-22 Centene Charitable Foundation Chamber Concert Series, we keep Michael and the Neidorff family in our thoughts. CLICK HERE for some information about Michael.

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