by Sarah Bryan Miller
As music director of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Stéphane Denève inherited an excellent band from his predecessor, David Robertson. He has moved quickly to make it his own, with frequent appearances, some well-chosen new members and some different musical emphases.
This weekend’s program began with the world premiere of a new SLSO commission. “Venit Illuminatio (Toward the Illumination of Colored Light)” by Aaron Jay Kernis begins with the visual imagery of the title and takes a tuneful if somewhat spiky journey to its conclusion.
From a quietly melancholy beginning it moves to big moments for brass (particularly noteworthy: principal trombone Timothy Myers and principal tuba Derek Fenstermacher) and moments of mystery. Kernis keeps the percussionists busy and ends on a hopeful note.
Denève and the orchestra gave it a well-considered, well-played reading. The piece — and the composer, who was present — received a tremendous ovation from a large audience at Powell Hall.