OTSL announces a new commission for 2013

BY SARAH BRYAN MILLER • sbmiller@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8249

Opening night may still be a few days away, but Opera Theatre of St. Louis is already looking forward to 2013: the company has just announced a new commission by composer Terence Blanchard (a five-time Grammy winner) and Pulitzer-winning playwright Michael Cristofer, to open next year on June 15.

May 16, 2012 | 10:42 am | (Loading… ) comments.

St. Louis Ballet announces 2012-13 schedule

BY CALVIN WILSON • calvinwilson@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8346

"Romeo & Juliet," "The Nutcracker" and a program of new works are among the offerings.

May 15, 2012 | 5:15 pm | (Loading… ) comments.

Stewards host gala kick-off for the Stl Symphony's upcoming Red Velvet Ball

BY DEB PETERSON • dpeterson@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8276

RICH AND RED: Even though it may have been a bit decadent for a mid-morning brunch, the gala kick-off for the St. Louis Symphony's upcoming Red Velvet Ball hosted by David and Thelma Steward featured red velvet tablecloths and Godiva Red Velvet Cake truffles.

May 15, 2012 | 4:19 pm | (Loading… ) comments.

SLSO: David Robertson adds a second orchestral gig - in Sydney

BY SARAH BRYAN MILLER • sbmiller@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8249

Australia’s Sydney Symphony Orchestra has announced the appointment of St. Louis Symphony Orchestra music director David Robertson as its chief conductor and artistic director, effective January 2014, and with a contract to run through 2018.

May 14, 2012 | 6:10 pm | (Loading… ) comments.

Just in time for OTSL: MODOT tears up Murdoch Avenue bridge

BY SARAH BRYAN MILLER • sbmiller@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8249

Opera Theatre of St. Louis is one of the region's premiere cultural institutions, bringing thousands of opera goers to Webster Groves every season, including hundreds of out-of-town visitors who build their trips to St. Louis specifically around OTSL.

May 12, 2012 | 1:01 pm | (Loading… ) comments.

Giamatti, Straithairn, Howard to perform in Joplin

BY JUDITH NEWMARK • Post-Dispatch Theater Critic > jnewmark@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8243

Actors will read from translation of the Book of Job.

May 11, 2012 | 10:47 am | (Loading… ) comments.

SLSO becomes a Jeopardy question

BY SARAH BRYAN MILLER • sbmiller@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8249

Adam Crane, vice president for external affairs at the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, reports that a question on today's "Jeopardy" was "St. Louis has the second-oldest one of these behind the New York Philharmonic."

May 10, 2012 | 5:21 pm | (Loading… ) comments.

Opera Theatre of St. Louis adds a 'Carmen'

BY SARAH BRYAN MILLER • sbmiller@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8249

Sales are going so well at Opera Theatre of St. Louis that a tenth performance of Georges Bizet’s “Carmen” has been added, OTSL announced today.

May 09, 2012 | 7:42 am | (Loading… ) comments.

'Carmen'-themed gala for Opera Theatre

BY DEB PETERSON • dpeterson@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8276

A BIT OF BULL: Flamenco dancers, Spanish music and Timothy O’Leary sweeping through the crowd in a toreador cape – it could only have happened at Opera Theatre of St. Louis’ gala, La Habanera, in honor of the company’s upcoming production of “Carmen.”

May 08, 2012 | 4:51 pm | (Loading… ) comments.

SLSO announces California tour for March 2013

BY SARAH BRYAN MILLER • sbmiller@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8249

California dreaming, once again: Music director David Robertson and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra will return to California in the 2012-2013 season, with a tour of the state scheduled for March 15 through 20.

May 07, 2012 | 10:18 am | (Loading… ) comments.

St Louis Youth Symphony Orchestra auditions beginning soon

BY SARAH BRYAN MILLER • sbmiller@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8249

The St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra is about to begin its preliminary audition process for the ensemble's 2012-2013 season. Audition times - by appointment only - will be scheduled starting this month.

May 04, 2012 | 2:53 pm | (Loading… ) comments.

SLSO's Danny Lee in Klipsch headphone ad

BY SARAH BRYAN MILLER • sbmiller@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8249

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra's principal cello, Danny Lee, is a great musician. He's also the star (Powell Symphony Hall plays a supporting role) of a new commercial for Klipsch Mode M40 headphones: it shows Lee playing intently on Powell Hall's stage - and then sitting back out in the house …

May 04, 2012 | 2:28 pm | (Loading… ) comments.

Starcatchers Dave Barry, Ridley Pearson over the moon with Tony nominations

BY JANE HENDERSON > Post-Dispatch Book Editor • jhenderson@post-dispatch.com

St. Louis' Ridley Pearson and his writing buddy Dave Barry sounded thrilled Wednesday, even after they'd had a day to digest the news that "Peter and the Starcatcher," the play based on their book, received nine Tony nominations.

May 03, 2012 | 6:48 am | (Loading… ) comments.

• Related: Stages' Jack Lane exults in honors for 'Peter'
• Related: ‘Once’ leads Tony nominations with 11 nods

Rep to present 'Clybourne Park'

BY JUDITH NEWMARK • Post-Dispatch Theater Critic > jnewmark@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8243

Acclaimed play will open the Studio Theatre season

May 02, 2012 | 2:27 pm | (Loading… ) comments.

Stages' Jack Lane exults in honors for 'Peter'

BY JUDITH NEWMARK • Post-Dispatch Theater Critic > jnewmark@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8243

Executive producer of Stages St. Louis is also one of the producers of Tony-nominated "Peter and the Starcatcher."

May 01, 2012 | 3:30 pm | (Loading… ) comments.

• Related: ‘Once’ leads Tony nominations with 11 nods
• Related: Gallery of Tony Award nominees

Photography hall of fame raising funds for move to St. Louis

BY DEB PETERSON • dpeterson@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8276

Oklahoma City organization plans to relocate here.

Apr 24, 2012 | 4:46 pm | (Loading… ) comments.

St. Louis Zoo to reintroduce the endangered American burying beetle

BY DIANE TOROIAN KEAGGY • dkeaggy@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8343

One of nature's most effective recyclers will return to Missouri this spring. Scientists will reintroduce about 200 to 300 critically endangered American burying beetles, bred in the St. Louis Zoo, to some 4,000-acres of protected prairie in southwest Missouri. The hope is to establish a breeding…

Apr 24, 2012 | 12:01 pm | (Loading… ) comments.

• Video: Surveying for the American burying beetle (Saint Louis Zoo)

SLSO: Frübeck de Burgos out, Oundjian in for season finale

BY SARAH BRYAN MILLER • sbmiller@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8249

There’s a conductor change for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s May 4 through 6 performances: Rafael Frübeck de Burgos is out, due to unspecified health issues, and Peter Oundjian is in.

Apr 20, 2012 | 1:04 pm | (Loading… ) comments.

Last hole in SLSO European tour filled in: They're playing at the Proms

BY SARAH BRYAN MILLER • sbmiller@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8249

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra has announced the last venue on its four-concerts-in-four-days European tour in September. As anticipated, the first concert on the tour will be performed in London’s Royal Albert Hall as a part of the beloved BBC Proms music festival, on Sept. 4 in the primo 7:30…

Apr 19, 2012 | 8:27 am | (Loading… ) comments.

Santa Monica art museum deputy director will head Contemporary Art Museum here

BY DEB PETERSON • dpeterson@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8276

NEW HEAD OF CAM • Lisa Melandri, deputy director at the Santa Monica Museum of Art, has been appointed director of the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis.

Apr 18, 2012 | 3:47 pm | (Loading… ) comments.

Fringe Festival sets its acts

BY JUDITH NEWMARK • Post-Dispatch Theater Critic > jnewmark@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8243

Festival will run in June in midtown area

Apr 17, 2012 | 7:11 pm | (Loading… ) comments.

Peter Henderson to perform pianistic high-wire act at Sheldon

BY SARAH BRYAN MILLER • sbmiller@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8249

Beethoven wrote 32 piano sonatas, and pianist Peter Henderson will perform three of them, chosen by the audience. Through audience surveys and online voting, two pieces have already been selected; in a remarkable feat, Henderson will perform a third sonata, chosen by the audience on the night of …

Apr 17, 2012 | 2:30 pm | (Loading… ) comments.

Regional Arts Commission to conduct artist census

BY DIANE TOROIAN KEAGGY • dkeaggy@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8343

The Regional Arts Commission is calling upon all artists to fill out St. Louis' first artist census at artistscount.com.

Apr 17, 2012 | 10:34 am | (Loading… ) comments.

Black Rep hosts discussion of August Wilson's work

BY JUDITH NEWMARK • Post-Dispatch Theater Critic > jnewmark@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8243

Troupe is staging "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom"

Apr 16, 2012 | 5:19 pm | (Loading… ) comments.

Six St. Louis-area students win COMPs

BY SARAH BRYAN MILLER • sbmiller@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8249

The winners of the University of Missouri's annual state-wide COMP (Creating Original Music Project) contest for elementary school through high school have been announced; six of this year's 22 winners are from St. Louis.

Apr 16, 2012 | 2:37 pm | (Loading… ) comments.