WCHOF Music Series: Barber's Adagio with SLSO Musicians

Welcome the dawn of our country's 250th Anniversary year with a breathtaking performance of American chamber music, presented by WCHOF Music Director Brian Woods and elite musicians from the world-renowned Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO). This celebratory program is one of the premier Saint Louis concerts of the season, hosted in the unique and inspiring setting of the World Chess Hall of Fame & Galleries—a celebrated Saint Louis museum—marking the start of a year dedicated to honoring the beauty, complexity, and enduring spirit of America.

The Program: Power, Passion, and Patriotism

This exclusive evening brings together two cornerstone works of American classical music that perfectly capture the nation's diverse emotional landscape.

Samuel Barber’s String Quartet, Op. 11: Prepare for a gripping experience with one of the most compelling works in the chamber repertoire. The quartet is most famous for its deeply moving second movement, the Adagio for Strings. This piece transcended the boundaries of classical music, becoming a symbol of national mourning and reflection, renowned for its profound sense of sorrow, hope, and eventual resolution. Hearing this masterpiece performed live by Saint Louis’s finest string players is an event not to be missed.

Amy Beach’s Piano Quintet, Op. 67: The program is completed by the powerful late-Romantic vision of Amy Beach, one of America’s first successful female composers. Her Piano Quintet is a sweeping, passionate work that defies expectations, full of soaring melodies and intricate textures. As a reflection of the American spirit—innovative, bold, and technically brilliant—Beach’s work is the perfect pairing to Barber’s reflection.

The Performers: SLSO Excellence

WCHOF Music Director Brian Woods has curated this exceptional program, featuring a hand-selected ensemble of elite SLSO musicians. These performers represent the pinnacle of classical music talent in the region, bringing the collective artistry and emotional precision of a major symphony orchestra to an intimate chamber setting.

Venue, Tickets, and Full Schedule

The World Chess Hall of Fame & Galleries provides a truly unique setting. The concert is staged within a gallery, surrounded by world-class chess, history exhibits, and related art exhibits. This intimate setup creates a truly immersive cultural experience. Tickets are extremely limited for this rare chamber music event.

Make an evening of it! Your ticket includes access to the art gallery exhibitions, a special pre-concert talk, and the main performance.

Full Evening Schedule:

• 5:30 PM: Doors Open / Gallery Access
• 6:00 PM: Artist Talk with WCHOF Music Director Brian Woods
• 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Concert Performance

Details:

• Venue: World Chess Hall of Fame & Galleries
• Tickets: $25 General Admission, $20 WCHOF Members, and includes one drink ticket
• Seating is extremely limited for this intimate performance held within our gallery, offering a rare, up-close listening experience.

The Enduring Power of the Adagio

The Adagio for Strings has secured its place in history, having been performed at key moments of national mourning, including the funerals of Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy. Its profound emotional resonance stems from its deceptively simple, gradual expansion of melodic lines, building tension and release until its achingly quiet conclusion.

It is fitting that this music is heard amidst the displays of world-class chess. Both the game and these compositions share a focus on disciplined structural planning. The period in which Beach and Barber created these works aligns with the rise of scientific, positional chess, where masters prioritized control of the center and long-term strategy. Chamber music demands the same intellectual rigor: the composer plots musical themes and movements with the disciplined, rigorous vision a grandmaster uses to command the board. These works by Beach and Barber are, in essence, masterpieces of musical strategy and form.

Purchase Tickets Here

• 20% discount for WCHOF members, students, seniors, and military personnel
• Each ticket includes one free drink

Can’t make it to the concert? Be sure to watch the livestream on the World Chess Hall of Fame & Galleries’ YouTube channel.