SLSO Congratulates Opera Theatre of Saint Louis on 50th Anniversary
The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra congratulates Opera Theatre of Saint Louis as it celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.
Since 1978, only three years after the founding of OTSL, the SLSO and OTSL have built a treasured and unique artistic relationship.
“It is a privilege to create art alongside such an inspiring and dedicated institution—an unparalleled joint venture between an opera festival and a major orchestra in our country,” said SLSO President and CEO Marie-Hélène Bernard.
Shared accomplishments, unforgettable experiences
Bernard also highlighted the SLSO’s numerous shared accomplishments with the OTSL across our nearly 50-year history of collaboration.
“From our very first performances together, our partnership has centered on providing unforgettable experiences, showcasing new productions and works by American composers, and nurturing emerging talent,” Bernard said. “Introducing new works and productions—with more than 40 world and US premieres—has fueled our collaboration. Giving life to important new operas—including in recent years, Terence Blanchard’s Champion and Fire Shut Up in My Bones, Unsuk Chin’s Alice in Wonderland, Tobias Picker’s Emmeline and Awakenings, and Stewart Wallace’s Harvey Milk—holds a special place in our hearts as they enrich the repertory for generations to come.”
Forging the future of opera
In 2015, the SLSO and OTSL’s shared interest in propelling the future of the operatic art form took another step forward with the inauguration of the now-yearly Center Stage concert, featuring the Gaddes Festival & Gerdine Young Artists on stage alongside the SLSO. Beyond the stage, the partnership between the two institutions has expanded to schools throughout the St. Louis region. For the past five years, our Arts Intensives collaborations have given students the tools to express their creativity through the development of an original musical production.
“Together, we have witnessed and navigated great change. Like symphonic music, opera has become more inclusive through community building and learning experiences for all,” Bernard said. “Opera speaks to the core of humanity, delivering moving stories of love, life, loss, and humor. The unified vision between our two institutions elevates St. Louis as one of the finest operatic and symphonic destinations in the country.”
