The Chamber Music Society of St. Louis will honor David and Miran Halen at its annual benefit next week.
In addition to honoring the many contributions the couple have made to the community, the benefit also will mark David Halen’s 20th year as the St. Louis Symphony’s concertmaster and the 10th anniversary of his solo album “Salut D’Amour,” Chamber Music Society president Marc Gordon told “Cityscape” host Steve Potter. David will perform several of the selections from “Salut D’Amor” at Tuesday’s benefit accompanied by pianist Alla Voskoboynikova. Miran and other Chamber Music Society of St. Louis members will also perform.
Miran Halen is a soprano formerly with the Houston Grand Opera, which is where the couple met. For David, it was love at first sight. It took her longer to say yes, he said.
As concertmaster, David Halen said he has “the best seat in the house.” In addition to being the symphony’s first-chair violinist, there’s technical work to keep everyone in sync. “You try to get your colleagues to play together,” he said. “That manifests itself in the direction of the bowing and the way you play.”
With his position as St. Louis Symphony concertmaster, David Halen has come full circle. He first heard the orchestra as a youth growing up in Warrensburg, Missouri during its residency there. “I fell in love with symphonic playing because of the St. Louis Symphony and the sound of the orchestra was so magnificent,” he said. “It was just an inspiring sound for a young man like me to hear.” And now for 20 years, he’s been a leader of the organization he so admired from “the best seat in the house.”
Related Event
“Salut D’Amour” benefit
- When: 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, 2015
- Where: Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Blvd., St. Louis
- More information
“Cityscape” is produced by Mary Edwards and Alex Heuer and sponsored in part by the Missouri Arts Council, the Regional Arts Commission, and the Arts and Education Council of Greater St. Louis.
