Stéphane Denève begins tenure as Music Director of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

(September 4, 2019, St. Louis, MO) – Today, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra begins a new era with the start of Stéphane Denève’s tenure as Music Director. Denève begins as the 140-year-old orchestra’s 13th Music Director in a month that sees him lead the SLSO in three weekends of unforgettable concerts including the world premiere of a work by St. Louis native Kevin Puts, a program of music by the legendary film composer John Williams, the opening concert of the Lied Center’s 30th anniversary season in Lincoln, Nebraska, and the popular free concert on Forest Park’s Art Hill. The first month of this new chapter in the SLSO’s history also includes the SLSO Gala Celebration on September 20 and the introduction of several programs designed to make extraordinary music experiences with the SLSO more accessible across the St. Louis region.

Stéphane Denève, 13th Music Director of the SLSO, said: “It seems like ages since I was first named Music Director of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Now that the time for me to begin has finally arrived, I am filled with joy and anticipation for my new musical home. St. Louis is a luminous city and its people are warm and friendly. I look forward to making music with my new musical family, the immensely talented musicians of the orchestra, and to sharing extraordinary musical experiences with my neighbors in the St. Louis community. We invite everyone in the community to join us on a musical journey this season, and we hope everyone will take advantage of our new programs that make music more accessible.”

Marie-Hélène Bernard, President and CEO of the SLSO, said: “Stéphane Denève brings boundless creativity and infectious enthusiasm to the St. Louis community. His passion for music as a common thread to unite people is evident in the way he approaches programming and in the new ideas he brings to the organization. This season will be a landmark one for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and we are excited to welcome our friends and family from St. Louis, and from around the world, to join us in experiencing the power of music.”

A guest conductor of the SLSO since 2003, Denève was named the next Music Director of the SLSO in June 2017. He served as Music Director Designate during the 2018/2019 season, his engagement season with the orchestra. Denève succeeds David Robertson, who served as Music Director for 13 years, from 2005 to 2018.

Concert in Forest Park – September 12
Denève opens the 2019/2020 season by leading the SLSO in the annual free concert on Forest Park’s Art Hill. Begun more than 50 years ago, these concerts have entertained thousands of concertgoers each year and serves as the launch of the SLSO’s season. This year, Denève has invited members of the St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus to perform with the orchestra in Forest Park. The IN UNISON Chorus is a volunteer chorus dedicated to the preservation and performance of music of African and African-American origin, borne from the SLSO’s IN UNISON program. Collaborating with more members of the SLSO family, brass and percussion players of the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra, as well as members of the St. Louis Symphony Chorus will join the IN UNISON Chorus to perform alongside Denève and the SLSO in Tchaikovsky’s rousing 1812 Overture. The evening ends with Sousa’s patriotic anthem, The Stars and Stripes Forever, and a show-stopping fireworks display.

Performed in memory of longtime SLSO supporter Mary Ann Lee, the concert in Forest Park is the celebratory opening of the SLSO’s season. Attendees are encouraged to come early, bring chairs and blankets, and enjoy food trucks.

The Music of John Williams – September 13-15
Denève also leads the SLSO in the first Live at Powell Hall performances of the season: The Music of John Williams (September 13-15). A bedrock of film music composition, John Williams redefined the American music landscape with his work on some of Hollywood’s biggest films, including Star Wars, Jaws, E.T. – The Extraterrestrial, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and Harry Potter. A collaborator and personal friend of Denève’s, the SLSO will perform unpublished works from Memoirs of a Geisha and Dracula, borrowed from Williams’ personal library specifically for this program.

Opening Weekend – September 21-22
Denève’s opening program on September 21-22 represents his musical marriage to the SLSO following his engagement season and is programmed around the well-known wedding saying, “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.” His opening concert as Music Director of the SLSO (something old) begins with the world premiere of Virelai by St. Louis native Kevin Puts (something new), and features Jennifer Higdon’s blue cathedral (something blue), Debussy’s La Mer, Guillaume Connesson’s short piano concerto The Shining One featuring the Jean-Paul and Isabelle Montupet Artist-in-Residence Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G with Thibaudet, and closes with Gershwin’s An American in Paris (something borrowed).

Denève’s opening program explores the relationship between French and American musical cultures, which he has called the Franco-American Arch – a narrative thread he develops throughout his inaugural season. The program also demonstrates Denève’s commitment to music of today, with works by living composers making up half of the concert. Throughout the season, he has programmed works by 13 composers of today, with an additional piece with contributions from 10 living composers.

Opening weekend also introduces virtuoso pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet to the SLSO audience as the Jean-Paul and Isabelle Montupet Artist-in-Residence, the SLSO’s first titled artist since the 1990s. Denève’s close collaborator, friend, and best man at his wedding, Thibaudet has impressed St. Louis audiences since his debut with the orchestra in 1988. Thibaudet returns for two more engagements throughout the season, including a recital in partnership with the Washington University Department of Music on January 17, 2020, and a performance in the SLSO’s first symphonic play – Maurice Ravel: A Musical Journey, on May 1, 2020.

Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection” – September 27-28
On September 27-28, Denève collaborates with more members of the SLSO family – this time the St. Louis Symphony Chorus – for performances of Mahler’s monumental Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection.” Voted the fifth-best symphony of all time by conductors surveyed by BBC Music Magazine, Mahler’s “Resurrection” offers the composer’s view on the life and afterlife and features Denève leading massive instrumental and vocal forces. Joining the SLSO and St. Louis Symphony Chorus are renowned vocalists Joélle Harvey, soprano, and Kelley O’Connor, mezzo-soprano. O’Connor last appeared with the SLSO in November 2018, collaborating with Denève to give the acclaimed St. Louis premiere of Peter Lieberson’s Neruda Songs.

New Accessibility Initiatives and Improved Audience Experience
Denève feels strongly about making experiences at the SLSO accessible to the entire community. He believes in the power to build connections in our community through music. Aligning with the SLSO’s beliefs, he also wants to remove as many barriers for entry as possible, including making SLSO concerts more affordable and making the overall concert experience even more welcoming. The SLSO family includes the entire community and everyone should have a sense of belonging when they share a concert experience with the SLSO. As a result, the SLSO unveils a host of initiatives designed to increase accessibility to concerts and improve the audience experience, including:

• SLSO Invites
Realizing Denève’s aspiration to make music experiences more accessible, the SLSO introduces SLSO Invites, a comprehensive program to welcome people into the SLSO family. At the heart of the program is Stéphane’s Seats, a dedicated block of seats for Denève to host community partners in each of his weeks leading the SLSO. This block of seats, approximately 12 per concert, are near the stage in order for guests to see a concert up close. Denève will host special friends from the immigrant community, music educators, and others, for free in Stéphane’s Seats.

• New Pricing
A change in the SLSO’s pricing structure, tickets to classical concerts will now start at $15. Student tickets begin at $10 for each classical concert. New this year, childrens’ tickets are $10 for each classical concert for kids age 18 and younger with the purchase of an adult ticket.

• 2 for the Badge
Through the SLSO’s “2 for the Badge” program, police officers, firefighters, and first responders, as well as active and retired military personnel, can receive two complimentary tickets to any SLSO classical concert. “2 for the Badge” tickets can be obtained by showing a badge or current identification on the day of the performance at the SLSO Box Office.

• Free Education Concerts by 20/21
Placing high value on music education, Denève and the SLSO have committed to making all SLSO education concerts free for schools by the 2020/2021 season – the 100th anniversary of the SLSO’s education programs.

• New Hospitality Efforts
Inspired by Denève’s vision of making a symphonic experience welcoming to all, the SLSO has made significant changes to the audience experience in conjunction with the addition of a Director of Hospitality and Audience Experience position, including menu upgrades with more locally-sourced options, the launch of SLSO “Keep Cups” – commemorative drink containers allowed in every SLSO concert, improved signage in Powell Hall, “selfie spots”, and enhanced customer service training for SLSO staff.

Lied Center for Performing Arts’ 30th anniversary season opener – September 19
Committed to enriching lives through the power of music in St. Louis and beyond, Denève and the SLSO open the Lied Center for Performing Arts’ 30th anniversary season in Lincoln, Nebraska, on September 19. The SLSO last appeared at the Lied Center in February 2018, performing Stravinsky’s The Firebird in collaboration with the American Ballet Theatre and Principal Dancer Misty Copeland to sold-out crowds. Denève brings his intriguing mix of American and French repertoire to the Lied Center, performing works by Jennifer Higdon, Gershwin, Debussy, and Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G with SLSO Artist-in-Residence Jean-Yves Thibaudet.

Gala Celebration and Nightcap – September 20
The SLSO welcomes Denève with a Gala Celebration on Friday, September 20, beginning at 6:00pm. The event, hosted at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, includes a cocktail hour, hors d’oeuvres, dinner, and a special musical presentation by jazz trumpeter Byron Stripling, his quartet, and SLSO musicians in a performance inspired by the Hot Club of France. New this year, a special Gala Nightcap event featuring dessert and dancing to music by Stripling and a big band is available. Tickets are sold separately for the Gala Nightcap.

Gala celebration co-chairs are Nick and Judy Kouchoukos, Jean-Paul and Isabelle Montupet, and Steve and Laura Savis. Gala Nightcap co-chairs are Molly Hyland and Curt Ittner. To purchase tickets for the Gala or Gala Nightcap, visit slso.org/en/support-the-symphony/special-events/gala/ .