Lina Koutrakos

The show title "Torch" conjures pain. Torch songs make up about half of cabaret's DNA.

With her MD Rick Jensen, Lina's come to town the last few Augusts to teach and perform in Tim Schall's St. Louis Cabaret Conference. She is - undeservedly - not as well known as some of the other singers here this season. But do not pay any attention to that, because she is every inch the artist. Lina brings a soulful, sensual and defiant edge to songs that are elsewhere done as forlorn cries of the heart. Lina fights back, or resolves to face what is there. She summons that reserve we all want to against our pain.

Not to be missed.