Symphony Review: SLSO offers a dazzling Holiday Celebration

Concertgoers seeking a delightful holiday musical celebration could not have done better than attend the SLSO’s annual Mercy Holiday Celebration, Saturday, December 16 at the Stifel Theatre in downtown St. Louis. The evening was meticulously programmed to showcase the familiar while keeping every moment fresh through less-familiar arrangements and engaging performances.

Central to the appeal of the program were the considerable talents, both musical and narrative, of guest conductor Stuart Malina. His confident and stirring direction of the musicians was matched by his easy-going air and charming wit as host for the evening. Mr. Malina has made guest appearances with major orchestra across America and Asia and is at home as Music Director for the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra.

Joining Malina in leading the program was soprano Scarlett Strallen, veteran star of both Broadway and West End musicals. The audience was in very good hands with these two consummate musicians and performers at the helm.

The program began with the lovely but rarely performed “Christmas Overture” by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. Unlike so many holiday medleys, the tunes here were interwoven with orchestral writing that created a really moving sound, so much more than a simple mash-up of familiar melodies.

The first half of the program also featured two other novel treatments of the familiar. First, two movements from Duke Ellington’s swing infused interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite provided a showcase for the orchestra’s brass and winds. Second, “A Charleston Christmas” put the whole orchestra through its paces with sparkling jazz and ragtime treatments of Christmas favorites.

Continuing in this pattern of presenting the familiar in a new context, orchestra English Horn soloist Cally Banham offered a lovely and unexpected version of “White Christmas,” floating the familiar tune in the wistful tones of the English horn over a tango-infused orchestral accompaniment.

Ms. Strallen brought her crystal-clear soprano to the forefront with impressive style in a series of familiar songs, including a Barbra Streisand-inspired version of “Jingle Bells” and letting her natural London accent evoke the best references to Julie Andrews in a touching treatment of “My Favorite Things.” The highlight of her contribution for the evening, though, was in her thrilling rendition of “O Holy Night” where (as I like to offer as the highest compliment possible) she really went off! This is exactly what one wants from a Holiday Pops Concert.

The second half of the concert had a somewhat lighter touch, with more contemporary classics performed by the orchestra with additional vocals from Ms. Strallen. Mr. Malina’s surprise performance of the tongue-twisting patter song by Tom Lehrer, “Chanukah in Santa Monica” brought the house down with laughter and further demonstrated the immense talents of the conductor.

Before wrapping up with an energetic Sing-Along, the orchestra contrasted two pieces evoking a sleigh ride: Sergei Prokofiev’s “Troika” from his Lieutenant Kijé Symphonic Suite and the overly familiar “Sleigh Ride” by American composer Leroy Anderson, which was “guest conducted” by a young person from the audience. It is a tribute to the great artistry of these orchestra musicians that this war horse tune, which could have easily been tossed off as trivial novelty, was presented with the same precision and energy displayed throughout the evening—perhaps the most exciting version of this piece that I have ever heard.

The orchestra played flawlessly throughout the concert as it switched effortlessly from Swing to Jazz to Broadway to Classical styles, excelling in each as if each was its specialty.

It is a great gift to the people of St. Louis that Mercy and the SLSO partner to produce this annual tradition. I can easily say that this particular edition is one of the very best holiday pops concerts I’ve had the pleasure to attend.

The series concluded with a final performance on Sunday, December 17, with a total of five concerts spread between the Stifel Theatre and the Lindenwood University.

Next up for the orchestra: showings of the film "Back to the Future" with the score performed live Thursday and Friday, December 28 and 29, followed by the New Year's Eve Celebration on December 31. Both events take place at Stifel Theatre. The regular season resumes on Janary 12 as Conductor Laureate Leonard Slatkin leads a three-concert series exploring the ways jazz has influenced classical music. For more information, visit the SLSO web site.