Thomas Ades

A much-anticipated St. Paul Chamber Orchestra debut by the renowned young British composer and conductor Thomas Ades has been scratched. Ades alerted the SPCO late last week that he had to cancel "for personal reasons." No details were given.

The Chamber Orchestra scrambled and drafted San Francisco-based Donato Cabrera (pictured below) to fill in on April 2 and 3 at Ordway Center in St. Paul. The concert program, including Ades' Chamber Symphony and his "Three Studies after Couperin," will remain the same. It also features Berlioz' "Les Nuits D'Ete," with singer Thomas Cooley,

and Milhaud's ""La Creation du Monde."

Ades,. who has been called every variation of brilliant, has composed for solo piano, opera ("Powder Her Face") and orchestras large and small. He doesn't appear to be ill, as he gave a recital March 14 at Vancouver's Chan Centre, winning yet another rave from a critic at the Sun, who said his performance was "unforgettable" and marked by "provocative originality."

The SPCO said no rain date has been set. Some observers wondered if the SPCO was eyeing Ades as a possible future Artistic Partner. Hmmm.

Go here to sample a bunch of Ades' music and his playing.