ArtsWatch

A very interesting hour with a lot to chew on.
Has David Robertson indicated any extension of his tenure in St.Louis? If not, might there still be some interest in putting him back on the short list?

Writing from St. L., I have not heard any rumblings one way or the other, and there have been no official press releases since his initial contract extension. His current contract is through 2010, and contains an "evergreen" clause for annual renewal.

I heard David Patrick Stearns' comment on the tenure of Robertson in St. L. on the show. Artistically, the orchestra is quite strong, not note-perfect, but much more energetic in years since Vonk's tenure and the 3 year interim before Robertson took over. However, the programming has been very demanding for the musicians, having to learn a new score every week, and sometimes several. In addition, there can be one of the "Detours" 1-hour concerts in addition to a subscription concert, or one of the concerts at the Touhill PAC at UM-St. Louis, or a Pulitzer Foundation modern chamber concert, in any given week when Robertson is in town.

In addition, for reasons probably too complicated to untangle, attendance has plummeted this season. No doubt the weak economy and increasing gas prices have something to do with it, but also I've heard 2nd- and 3rd-hand rumblings about a portion of the audience who consider Robertson's programming "too radical" for St. Louis. Granted, that's not hard to be "too radical" here. (If you think Philly is a conservative town musically, you haven't seen St. Louis.) Things shot back up for Carmina Burana at the end of the season, no surprise given that it's Carmina Burana. Likewise, a new "Casual Classics" series that just started had very strong attendance for its first concert, an all-Gershwin gig. I missed it, but Four Seasons (Vivaldi and Piazzolla) is this Friday. If all goes well, can send a report.