Wednesday evening, as part of the On Stage at Powell event, the XAff department hosted a pre-show dinner with Mayor Francis Slay and members of the Board of Aldermen of the City of St. Louis. After everyone was fed and St. Louis Symphony President/CEO Fred Bronstein spoke on the state of the Symphony, we made our way to the Powell Hall stage for the concert "Celebrating Black History Month: An Evening of African and African-American Music." Also in attendance this evening were many new immigrants to our city, from countries far away and cultures different from our own. It was a wonder to see such a diverse group on stage and in the auditorium. Mayor Slay gave our new neighbors a warm welcome to their new home. Also in the house were new St. Louisans from the organization St. Louis Transplants, a group who might best be known for not having gone to high school here (I proudly qualify for this designation).
The program itself was equally welcoming to everyone. The music of Africa as it has journeyed to the Americas, the Caribbean and other cultures has transformed and been transformed on that journey and has been fully embraced by the world. One could see this on the faces of Asians, Latin Americans, Eastern Europeans, and Africans who were smiling and clapping and giving each other the international "thumbs up" sign of comfort and approval.
Brian Owens sang with the Strings of Arda, an ensemble of Symphony musicians formed by Chris Woehr that has been playing world music together for a number of years. The music was joyous, filled with the rhythms of heart and soul and mind.
After the show I spoke with one of the City Aldermen. "I wouldn't have missed this for the world," she told me.
"And then to hear Marvin Gaye," I exclaimed (Owens had sung from the essential recording What's Going On).
"Oh my," she said, "I felt that one in my knees. And then to end with Sam Cooke."
"And on the Powell Hall stage," I added.
We just nodded our heads: yes, yes, yes.
Brian Owens sang with the Strings of Arda, an ensemble of Symphony musicians formed by Chris Woehr that has been playing world music together for a number of years. The music was joyous, filled with the rhythms of heart and soul and mind.
After the show I spoke with one of the City Aldermen. "I wouldn't have missed this for the world," she told me.
"And then to hear Marvin Gaye," I exclaimed (Owens had sung from the essential recording What's Going On).
"Oh my," she said, "I felt that one in my knees. And then to end with Sam Cooke."
"And on the Powell Hall stage," I added.
We just nodded our heads: yes, yes, yes.
