This orchestra was established in St. Louis, Missouri in 1880, which makes it the second oldest in the United States behind the New York Philharmonic. Resident at Powell Hall after moving from Kiel Opera House, they are also the resident orchestra for the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and regularly tour the United States as well as performing overseas.
Having many acclaimed conductors, including Hans Vonk, Walter Susskind, Rudolph Ganz and the current holder David Robertson, their name was firmly put on the map when Leonard Slatkin joined them. It was with him they toured Europe and Japan, performed at Carnegie Hall, had the St. Louis Symphony Chorus and made numerous acclaimed recordings.
After being faced with severe financial problems at the turn of the century they had to make several cost-cutting measures an the musicians all agreed to reducing their contract by 10 weeks a year and taking a pay cut to help in keeping the orchestra afloat. Through the good and bad times they have been heavily involved in the community and education and their Community Partnership Program where the orchestra members give over 300 performances ever year in St. Louis community centres, schools and churches.
Its myriad of recordings has won them six Grammy Awards and no less than 56 nominations.
Leroy Anderson recordings
Belle of the Ball
RCA 9026 68048-2 (CD: The Typewriter)
Conductor – Leonard Slatkin
Blue Tango
RCA 68048 (CD: The Typewriter)
Conductor – Leonard Slatkin
Bugler’s Holiday
RCA 68048 (CD: The Typewriter)
Conductor – Leonard Slatkin
Clarinet Candy
RCA 68048 (CD: The Typewriter)
Conductor – Leonard Slatkin
Fiddle Faddle
RCA 68048 (CD: The Typewriter)
Conductor – Leonard Slatkin
The First Day of Spring
RCA 68048 (CD: The Typewriter)
Conductor – Leonard Slatkin
Forgotten Dreams
RCA 68048 (CD: The Typewriter)
Conductor – Leonard Slatkin
Horse and Buggy
RCA 68048 (CD: The Typewriter)
Conductor – Leonard Slatkin
Jazz Legato
RCA 68048 (CD: The Typewriter)
Conductor – Leonard Slatkin
Jazz Pizzicato
RCA 68048 (CD: The Typewriter)
Conductor – Leonard Slatkin
The Penny Whistle Song
RCA 68048 (CD: The Typewriter)
Conductor – Leonard Slatkin
The Phantom Regiment
RCA 68048 (CD: The Typewriter)
Conductor – Leonard Slatkin
Plink, Plank, Plunk!
RCA 68048 (CD: The Typewriter)
Conductor – Leonard Slatkin
Promenade
RCA 68048 (CD: The Typewriter)
Conductor – Leonard Slatkin
Sandpaper Ballet
RCA 68048 (CD: The Typewriter)
Conductor – Leonard Slatkin
Sleigh Ride
RCA 68048 (CD: The Typewriter)
Conductor – Leonard Slatkin
The Syncopated Clock
RCA 68048 (CD: The Typewriter)
Conductor – Leonard Slatkin
A Trumpeter’s Lullaby
RCA 68048 (CD: The Typewriter)
Conductor – Leonard Slatkin
The Typewriter
RCA 68048 (CD: The Typewriter)
Conductor – Leonard Slatkin
The Waltzing Cat
RCA 68048 (CD: The Typewriter)
Conductor – Leonard Slatkin
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