After the musical heavy lifting of the Verdi Requiem on Friday and Saturday nights, David Robertson and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra turned to lighter fare in "SLSO Presents: A Broadway Valentine."

The program was divided between George Gershwin and Leonard Bernstein, for an overall feeling that landed somewhere between light classical and high-toned pops.

There were not one, not two, but three featured soloists for the afternoon — plus a couple of surprises in the encore.

Pianist Orli Shaham, who is married to Robertson, was the marquee name, offering a stylish, jazzy, technically superb performance of Gershwin's Concerto in F. She and the conductor work well together (good to know), and they brought off a fun, bravura rendition of this entertaining piece.

The second half brought a pair of Broadway-style vocalists, Rachel York and Hugh Panaro, for three Gershwin ("I Got Rhythm," "The Man I Love," "Someone to Watch Over Me") and two Bernstein ("Maria," "Somewhere") songs.

The Gershwin sat well in both voices: York's crooner-belter and Panaro's light tenor were both used to good effect. The Bernstein illustrated the differences between singing and vocalizing: Panaro was spectacular in "Maria," but York just didn't have the range or technique for "Somewhere."

The concert opened with Bernstein's Overture to "Candide," given a sparkling performance, and closed with his Symphonic Dances from "West Side Story."

There was too much scrappy playing for a group of the quality of the SLSO in the Dances, including some messy brass; one of the trumpets was having a bad afternoon. There was nice work from the acting principal horn du jour, Roger Kaza, the associate principal horn of the Houston Symphony Orchestra.

Robertson saved almost-the-best — second to the concerto — for last. As an encore, a group of women of the St. Louis Symphony Chorus (fresh from the Verdi) came on wearing colorful scarves and shawls over basic black, and sang "(I want to be in) America," also from "West Side Story." They were terrific.

The soloists were Marella Briones and Debby Lennon as Rosalia and Anita, respectively. Lennon absolutely stole the show, shimmying, dancing and having an outrageously, memorably good time.

sbmiller@post-dispatch.com | 314-340-8249