Pianist Envy

It's an open secret in St. Louis that if you love choral music, you're going to love the Gateway Men's Chorus. Sure, the 70-plus voices of this all-male chorus are beautiful and powerful, but the GMC also puts on a show. They take their music seriously, but they have fun with it, mixing in a generous dose of humor, pop culture and surprises. So when the GMC announces their new show, Piano Men, involves two pianists and guest performances from the entire CHARIS women's chorus in order to better present the music of ivory ticklers such as Elton John, Barry Manilow, Rufus Wainwright, Stevie Wonder and Lord Rhinestone himself, Liberace — well, suffice to say one should expect not just vocal fireworks but pyrotechnics. Piano Men is a show so grand it's only going to be performed once because everyone involved is going to need a week to come down. The spectacular explodes into being at 8 p.m. at the 560 Music Center (560 Trinity Avenue, University City; 314-289-4169 or www.gatewaymenschorus.org), and tickets are $20 to $25.
Sat., March 26, 2011