Summer is in full swing for the St. Louis Philharmonic Orchestra. Founded in 1860, the oldest symphony orchestra west of the Mississippi River is going patriotic with “From the Heart of America,” its annual summer pops concert held on Aug. 1 at the Purser Auditorium on the campus of Logan College.
Filled with pomp and pageantry, the concert aligns with the orchestra’s mission to present concerts to diverse audiences across the region at little to no cost. Throughout the year, musicians of the philharmonic play new and infrequently heard works, some of which feature a full choir.
This recital serves as a prelude to the launch of the orchestra’s 165th season later this year. In addition to four subscription concerts annually, the musicians let their hair down with two pops concerts, one in the late summer and one for the holidays.
With a legacy that includes decades of shows at Queeny Park, St. Louis Philharmonic has brought generations of St. Louisans to its pop concerts.
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Different from classical performances, pops concerts are lighter in tone and often feature music from musicals, films or more familiar works from the classical repertoire.
St. Louis Philharmonic board secretary and musician Julie Hoffman, who has been with the organization since 1986, spoke of how the summer pops concert builds a relaxed, communal experience.
“The variety of music we play attracts a wide range of patrons. It brings them joy and a sense of excitement. It gives them a casual orchestral experience with familiar tunes.”
Daniel Shavers, vice-president, librarian and bassoonist for the St. Louis Philharmonic, also noted that with nearly 90 musicians playing onstage, the St. Louis Philharmonic’s pops concert offers melodious sounds for all kinds of audiences.
“With this particular concert, there is something for everyone. It’s not the typical classical stuff that people have feelings about. This is music people are familiar with. I think this one is more accessible to the public.”
With music programmed for a varied audience. Shaver and his colleagues are excited about this year’s concert.
“’From the Heart of America’ features a variety of (works), including selections from some musicals, ‘Oklahoma’ being one of them. We’re also doing a piece called ‘Slaughter on 10th Avenue,’ which is from a musical called ‘On Your Toes.’
“There is also patriotic music to honor our veterans, including music from the film ‘Saving Private Ryan’ and John Philip Sousa’s triumphant march, ‘The Stars and Stripes Forever,’” he says.
More traditional works scheduled for performance include Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” and Dvorák’s Ninth, “New World Symphony.” The orchetra is also playing a rousing favorite with a local connection, “St. Louis Blues” by W.C. Handy.
Hoffman is also enthusiastic about the variety of this year’s pops programming.
“It’s an eclectic program with something for everybody. We love doing this concert every year. The public loves it and comes out for it. So, we are planning to continue doing it for the foreseeable future,” she says.
Conducting the performance is Christopher Kelts, who is making his debut with the St. Louis Philharmonic. Kelts also serves as the music director and conductor of the Kansas City Civic Orchestra and the Kinnor Philharmonic Orchestra, the director of orchestras at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory, as well as conductor and music director of the Saint Joseph Symphony.
Shavers says the orchestra worked with the maestro to set the repertoire.
“We have a music selection committee that comes up with a pot of music that we can select from for each of our concerts. For this one, we came up with a theme and tapped Christopher’s brain about what he would like to do. He created a list of things he wanted to do and sent it back to us. Then, we tweaked that. It was a very collaborative effort between him and us.”
In addition to soaking in the lively music, audience members will have an opportunity to perform with the philharmonic. The orchestra will raffle off a chance to play the bass drum during the cannon finale of the “1812 Overture.”
For Hoffman, watching the audience is the best part of performing.
“I see them leave chatting in anticipation of the next pops concert. Family and friends join us year after year, looking forward to the adventure we are taking them on,” she says.
“Live music is a heartfelt experience. Our orchestra takes great pleasure in making music, and we enjoy presenting ourselves to our audience. Their enthusiasm is contagious.”
The St. Louis Philharmonic is already planning for its 165th season: Highlights include Mahler’s First Symphony, Beethoven’s Sixth, and Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony.
Leonard Slatkin, conductor laureate of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, talks about his love for American music and his legacy in St. Louis, during an interview at his home in Clayton.
