There’s something about human nature that makes us desperate to be first. From first in line for the slide to first to the moon, being ahead of the game fills us with a singular sense of satisfaction. To delight in some major firstness this weekend, look no further than the Bach Society of Saint Louis’ performance. At 3 p.m. the choral group presents Premieres!, a concert full of new and new-to-us works. There’s composer-in-residence Stephen Mager’s world premiere of his Te Deum hymn, which unites choral elements with the organ, rather than honoring one over the other, making the sum more powerful than its parts and paying respect to long-ago compositions while providing a new take. The concert also offers the St. Louis premiere of Requiem by John Donald Robb, an American composer. Though completed in 1985 when Robb was 93, this composition was recently arranged for choir and organ. Premieres! is presented at Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church (9450 Clayton Road, Ladue; 314-993-4771), and tickets cost $20 to $37; visit www.bachsociety.org to learn more.
Sun., April 29, 2012