St. Louis Symphony Orchestra announces updates to 2023/2024 season, including 20th anniversary of Live at the Pulitzer series and introduction of St. Louis Symphony Orchestra: Live at the Sheldon series

(July 20, 2023, St. Louis, MO) – Today, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra announced additional programming for its 2023/2024 season, the orchestra’s 144th and fifth with Music Director Stéphane Denève. In addition to previously announced classical and holiday concerts, 23/24 concerts include the 20th anniversary of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra: Live at the Pulitzer series, a new chamber music series—St. Louis Symphony Orchestra: Live at The Sheldon, concerts throughout the St. Louis region and beyond, and film and family concerts. Single tickets for all 23/24 concerts will be available via slso.org beginning at 10:00am, Tuesday, July 25.

With these newly announced 23/24 season offerings, the SLSO’s wide-ranging programming across genre and time includes the first SLSO performances of more than 45 different works. The SLSO and Music Director Stéphane Denève remain committed to nurturing deep relationships with and championing works by composers of today. During the upcoming season, SLSO audiences will experience works by more than two dozen modern day composers.

Curated and Create Your Own Subscriptions are available at slso.org.

While the SLSO continues the community-centered expansion and renovation of its historic home at Powell Hall, the orchestra will expand its presence throughout the St. Louis region, with programming that showcases the magical sound of the SLSO and the vitality of St. Louis’ artists and cultural institutions. Primary concerts venues are Presenting Partner, the Touhill Performing Arts Center at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, and Stifel Theatre in downtown St. Louis.

Sustaining its unwavering commitment to today’s musical voices, the SLSO partners with the Pulitzer Arts Foundation for a three-concert series presenting bold and adventurous chamber music—an enduring partnership begun in 2004 and marking its 20th anniversary.

The 23/24 Live at the Pulitzer series will be curated for the first time by St. Louis-based composer Christopher Stark, recipient of the 2023 Rome Prize and an Associate Professor of Composition at Washington University in St. Louis. Programming responds to the art on display at the museum and includes music by more than a dozen composers performed on an SLSO program for the first time—leading voices of today that include Pulitzer Prize and Grammy Award winners. This season’s musical selections range from pieces for solo instrumentalists, to small ensembles with electronics and video elements, to string quartets and quintets. Concerts include:

Concerts take place at the Tadao Ando-designed Pulitzer Arts Foundation building and complement the museum’s current exhibits. An exploration of the intersection of art and music, concerts push the boundary of chamber music, often using unique instrumentation or immersive artistic experiences.

See complete concert listings below.

Showcasing the talents of SLSO musicians in smaller groups, the SLSO partners with The Sheldon Concert Hall and Galleries for a new, five-concert chamber music series. Curated and performed by SLSO musicians, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra: Live at The Sheldon series shines a spotlight on the curators and the instruments they play, with programming that spans the entire chamber music library, from beloved standards to the first performances of music by emerging composers.

The inaugural Live at The Sheldon concerts include chamber music standards by Ludwig van Beethoven, Antonín Dvořák, Maurice Ravel, and Richard Strauss; lesser-heard voices including Bohuslav Martinů, Florence Price, and Louis Spohr; and composers of today including Valerie Coleman, Jessie Montgomery, Christian Quiñones, and Shannon Wood (SLSO Principal Timpanist). The series also includes the first SLSO performances of five new chamber music pieces composed by emerging artists at the University of Missouri, continuing a long-standing and multi-faceted partnership with the Mizzou New Music Initiative.

Concerts include:

See complete concert listings below.

The orchestra returns to the venerable Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis for a collaboration with St. Louis Cathedral Concerts (February 28, 2024). Denève will lead the orchestra and St. Louis Symphony Chorus in two pavanes by Gabriel Fauré and Maurice Ravel, music by Lili Boulanger and Charles Koechlin, and a performance of Fauré’s Requiem with soprano Erika Baikoff and bass-baritone Davóne Tines, both in their SLSO debuts. This will be the SLSO’s first performances at the Cathedral Basilica since 2018. Tickets are available via CathedralConcerts.org.

See complete concert listing below.

A season anchored in community connections and collaborations, the SLSO will engage with the community in several concerts throughout the St. Louis region.

An annual collaboration, musicians from the SLSO will perform a casual outdoor chamber concert on Washington University in St. Louis’s South 40 campus in conjunction with WUSTL music students. (September 18, 2023)

The SLSO collaborates with the newly expanded St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum in a free, hour-long event featuring the story and music of Czech composer and Holocaust victim Pavel Haas. (September 26, 2023)

Continuing a long-standing partnership with the St. Louis Jewish Community Center, the SLSO will perform a free, hour-long concert, a Citywide Symphony Shabbat, featuring music of Jewish composers led by Kevin McBeth, SLSO IN UNISON Chorus Director. (October 27, 2023)

Additional community concerts will be announced later. Visit slso.org for more information.

Popular presentations of films with the SLSO performing the score live returns for five programs, with two scores performed by the SLSO for the first time alongside three returning favorites:

All performances will take place at Stifel Theatre.

See complete concert listings below.

A staple of SLSO programming for decades, Family Concerts in the 23/24 season include a trio of programs. Two concerts aimed at families with children ages 5-10, conducted by Jason Seber, include:

Designed for children ages 3-6, the SLSO for the first time will present a public concert of its Tiny Tunes program, which combines music and movement for the youngest music listener. Tiny Tunes will also return for its annual concerts for Pre-K classrooms. Tiny Tunes for Families will be led by SLSO IN UNISON Chorus Director Kevin McBeth at The Sheldon.

Prior to all Family Concerts, the SLSO and Symphony Volunteer Association hosts engaging pre-concert activities.

See complete concert listings below.

Celebrated as a leading American orchestra, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is the second-oldest orchestra in the country, marking its 144th year with the 2023/2024 season and its fifth with Music Director Stéphane Denève. The SLSO serves the St. Louis region through its commitment to artistic excellence, educational impact, and community collaborations, honoring its mission of enriching lives through the power of music.

The core of the SLSO’s artistic foundation is its dynamic partnership with Denève, whose energetic musicianship, visionary storytelling, and collaborative spirit have created stronger connections with local and visiting artists, as well as advanced the SLSO’s role as a leader in music education. The SLSO musical family also includes two resident choruses: the St. Louis Symphony Chorus, founded in 1976, performs choral-orchestral music from the Baroque era to today; and the St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus, founded in 1994, focuses on the performance and preservation of music from the African diaspora. The St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra, founded by Conductor Laureate Leonard Slatkin in 1970, is the region’s premiere training orchestra for high school and college students.

The orchestra is an integral part of the vibrant St. Louis community and enjoys a long history of robust and enduring artistic collaborations with individuals and organizations locally and around the world. Orchestra musicians share dozens of education and community performances throughout the region each year at medical facilities, places of worship, community centers, and schools. For 20 years, the St. Louis Symphony: Live at the Pulitzer series has highlighted composers and music of today through innovative performances in collaboration with the Pulitzer Arts Foundation. The SLSO has served as the resident orchestra for Opera Theatre of Saint Louis for more than 45 years. The orchestra also continues to foster new artistic collaborations, including a chamber music collaboration with The Sheldon in 2023/2024, as well as regular partnerships with The Muny, Big Muddy Dance Company, the Saint Louis Art Museum, and others.

The Grammy® Award-winning SLSO’s growing impact locally and nationally is realized through Saturday night concert broadcasts on St. Louis Public Radio and Classic 107.3, acclaimed recordings, regular tours domestically and abroad, and a robust online education platform that features curriculum materials, interactive programs, activities, and learning opportunities for all ages.

Since the arrival of Marie-Hélène Bernard as President and CEO in 2015, the SLSO has aligned its mission to make music more accessible. The transformational expansion and renovation of its historic home, Powell Hall, builds on the institution’s momentum as a civic leader in convening individuals, creators, and ideas, while fostering a culture welcoming to all. Committed to building community through compelling and inclusive musical experiences, the SLSO continues its longstanding focus on equity, diversity, inclusion, and access, embracing its strengths as a responsive, nimble organization, while investing in partnerships locally and elevating its presence globally. For more information, visit slso.org.

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra will perform the following concerts in the 2023/2024 season.

Forest Park Concert
Thursday, September 21, 7:00pm CDT
Art Hill in orest Park, 35 Fine Arts Drive, St. Louis MO 63110

Stéphane Denève, conductor
Members of the St. Louis Symphony Chorus
Members of the St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus | Kevin McBeth, director

John Stafford Smith (arr. Sousa/Damrosch) The Star-Spangled Banner
J. Rosamond Johnson “Lift Every Voice and Sing”
Johann Strauss, Jr. On the Beautiful Blue Danube
Johann Strauss, Jr. Radetzky March
Sergei Prokofiev March and Scherzo from The Love for Three Oranges
Leonard Bernstein Candide Overture
Georges Bizet Selections from Carmen Suite No. 1 & 2
Pietro Mascagni Intermezzo from Cavalleria rusticana
Florence Price “Juba Dance” from Symphony No. 3
George Gershwin Girl Crazy Overture
John Williams “The Raiders March” from Raiders of the Lost Ark
John Williams Dry Your Tears, Afrika from Amistad
Samuel Ward “America the Beautiful”
John Philip Sousa The Stars and Stripes Forever

Performed in memory of Mary Ann Lee.

Saturday, September 23, 7:30pm CDT
Sunday, September 24, 3:00pm CDT
Stifel Theatre
1400 Market Street, St. Louis Missouri, 63103

Stéphane Denève, conductor
Hilary Hahn, violin

Richard Strauss Don Juan
Felix Mendelssohn Violin Concerto
W.A. Mozart The Magic Flute Overture
Paul Dukas The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Richard Strauss Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks

Presented by the Thomas A. Kooyumjian Family Foundation.

Friday, September 29, 10:30am CDT
Saturday, September 30, 7:30pm CDT
Touhill Performing Arts Center at the University of Missouri–St. Louis
1 Touhill Circle, St. Louis, Missouri, 63121

Stéphane Denève, conductor
Jonathan Biss, piano

Ludwig van Beethoven Coriolan Overture
Unsuk Chin subito con forza (First SLSO performances)
Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1
Robert Schumann Symphony No. 4

Sunday, October 1, 3:00pm CDT
Krannert Center for Performing Arts at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
500 S Goodwin Ave, Urbana, Illinois, 61801

Stéphane Denève, conductor
Jonathan Biss, piano

Ludwig van Beethoven Coriolan Overture
Unsuk Chin subito con forza
Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1
Robert Schumann Symphony No. 4

Friday, October 6, 7:00pm CDT
Sunday, October 8, 2:00pm CDT
Stifel Theatre
1400 Market Street, St. Louis Missouri, 63103

Jason Seber, conductor

Danny Elfman The Nightmare Before Christmas

Friday, October 13, 7:30pm CDT
Sunday, October 15, 3:00pm CDT
Touhill Performing Arts Center at the University of Missouri–St. Louis
1 Touhill Circle, St. Louis, Missouri, 63121

Cristian Măcelaru, conductor
Benjamin Beilman, violin (SLSO debut)

Hannah Eisendle heliosis (U.S. Premiere)
W.A. Mozart Violin Concerto No. 5
Johannes Brahms Symphony No. 2

Friday, October 20, 10:30am CDT*
Saturday, October 21, 7:30pm CDT
Touhill Performing Arts Center at the University of Missouri–St. Louis
1 Touhill Circle, St. Louis, Missouri, 63121

Elim Chan, conductor
Ingrid Fliter, piano

Elizabeth Ogonek Moondog (First SLSO performances)
Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3
Felix Mendelssohn Symphony No. 3, “Scottish”

*Refreshments courtesy of Kaldi’s Coffee and Eddie’s Southtown Donuts.

Sunday, October 22, 3:00pm CDT
Touhill Performing Arts Center at the University of Missouri–St. Louis
1 Touhill Circle, St. Louis, Missouri, 63121

Jason Seber, conductor

Peter Schickele A Zoo Called Earth (First SLSO performance)

Additional details announced later.

SLSO education programs are presented by Steward Family Foundation and World Wide Technology.

Wednesday, October 25, 7:30pm CDT  
The Sheldon Concert Hall
3648 Washington Ave., St. Louis, Missouri, 63108

Scott Andrews, curator and clarinet
Andrew Cuneo, curator and bassoon
Matthew Roitstein, flute
Philip Ross, oboe
Tod Bowermaster, horn
Celeste Golden Andrews, violin
Chris Tantillo, viola
Jennifer Humphreys, cello
David DeRiso, double bass

Valerie Coleman Tzigane
Mizzou Composer New Work (First SLSO performance)
Carl Nielsen Serenata in vano (First SLSO performance)
Richard Strauss (arr. Hasenöhrl) Till Eulenspiegel, einmal anders!
Louis Spohr Nonet in F Major (First SLSO performances)

Curated by Scott Andrews (SLSO Principal Clarinet) and Andrew Cuneo (SLSO Principal Bassoon).

Friday, November 3, 7:30pm CDT
Sunday, November 5, 3:00pm CST
Touhill Performing Arts Center at the University of Missouri–St. Louis
1 Touhill Circle, St. Louis, Missouri, 63121

Stéphane Denève, conductor
Paul Lewis, piano (SLSO debut)

Christoph Willibald Gluck “Dance of the Blessed Spirits” from Orfeo ed Euridice
Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4
Maurice Ravel Le Tombeau de Couperin
Sergei Prokofiev Symphony No. 1, “Classical”

Presented by the Thomas A. Kooyumjian Family Foundation.

Saturday, November 11, 7:30pm CST
Sunday, November 12, 3:00pm CST
Stifel Theatre
1400 Market Street, St. Louis Missouri, 63103

James Gaffigan, conductor
Heidi Melton, soprano (Santuzza) (SLSO debut)
Antonio Poli, tenor (Turiddu) (SLSO debut)
Meredith Arwady, contralto (Lucia)
Anthony Clark Evans, baritone (Alfio) (SLSO debut)
Katherine Beck, mezzo-soprano (Lola) (SLSO debut)
St. Louis Symphony Chorus

Pietro Mascagni Cavalleria rusticana in Concert

Katherine Beck’s performance is supported by the Sarah Bryan Miller Fund.

Tuesday, November 14, 7:30pm CST
Pulitzer Arts Foundation, 3716 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri, 63108

Sky Macklay Many, Many Cadences (First SLSO performances)
Leilehua Lanzilotti ko’u inoa (First SLSO performances)
Molly Joyce Imperfection (First SLSO performances)
Michael Gordon Light is Calling (First SLSO performances)
Andy Akiho “LigNEouS” from LIgNEouS Suite in 5 Movements (First SLSO performances)

Artists announced at a later date.

Friday, November 17, 10:30am CST*
Saturday, November 18, 7:30pm CST
Sunday, November 19, 3:00pm CST
Touhill Performing Arts Center at the University of Missouri–St. Louis
1 Touhill Circle, St. Louis, Missouri, 63121

Christian Reif, conductor (SLSO debut)
Randall Goosby, violin (SLSO debut)

Vítězslava Kaprálová Rustic Suite (First SLSO performances)
Erich Wolfgang Korngold Violin Concerto
Antonín Dvořák Symphony No. 7

Presented by the Whitaker Foundation.
*Refreshments courtesy of Kaldi’s Coffee and Eddie’s Southtown Donuts.

Saturday, November 18, 3:00pm CST
Touhill Performing Arts Center at the University of Missouri–St. Louis
1 Touhill Circle, St. Louis, Missouri, 63121

Jason Seber, conductor

Repertoire announced at a later date.

SLSO education programs are presented by Steward Family Foundation and World Wide Technology.

Friday, December 1, 10:30am CST*
Friday, December 1, 7:30pm CST
Touhill Performing Arts Center at the University of Missouri–St. Louis
1 Touhill Circle, St. Louis, Missouri, 63121

David Danzmayr, conductor
Jelena Dirks, oboe

Jessie Montgomery Strum
Ralph Vaughan Williams Oboe Concerto (First SLSO performances)
Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 2

Presented by the Thomas A. Kooyumjian Family Foundation.
*Refreshments courtesy of Kaldi’s Coffee and Eddie’s Southtown Donuts.

Wednesday, December 6, 7:30pm CST
The Sheldon Concert Hall
3648 Washington Ave., St. Louis, Missouri, 63108

Angie Smart, curator and violin
Bjorn Ranheim, curator and cello
Andrea Jarrett, violin
Shannon Farrell Williams, viola
Aleck Belcher, double bass

Jessie Montgomery Strum
Mizzou Composer New Work (World premiere)
Christian Quiñones Pasemisí, Pasemisá
Franz Schubert String Quintet in C major

Curated by Angie Smart (SLSO violin) and Bjorn Ranheim (SLSO cello).

Friday, December 8, 7:30pm CST
Stifel Theatre
1400 Market Street, St. Louis Missouri, 63103

Kevin McBeth, conductor
St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus | Kevin McBeth, director

Repertoire and additional artists announced at a later date.

Supported by Bayer Fund.

Saturday, December 9, 7:00pm CST
Sunday, December 10, 2:00pm CST
Stifel Theatre
1400 Market Street, St. Louis Missouri, 63103

Jason Seber, conductor

John Williams Home Alone

Tuesday, December 12, 7:30pm CST
Wednesday, December 13, 7:30pm CST
J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts, 2300 W. Clay St., St. Charles, MO 63301

Stuart Malina, conductor
Scarlett Strallen, vocals (SLSO debut)

Repertoire announced at a later date.

Presented by Mercy.

Saturday, December 16, 2:00pm & 7:30pm CST
Sunday, December 17, 2:00pm CST
Stifel Theatre
1400 Market Street, St. Louis Missouri, 63103

Stuart Malina, conductor
Scarlett Strallen, vocals (SLSO debut)

Repertoire announced at a later date.

Presented by Mercy.

Thursday, December 28, 7:00pm CST
Friday, December 29, 7:00pm CST
Stifel Theatre
1400 Market Street, St. Louis Missouri, 63103

Norman Huynh, conductor

Alan Silvestri Back to the Future

Sunday, December 31, 7:30pm CST
Stifel Theatre
1400 Market Street, St. Louis Missouri, 63103

Norman Huynh, conductor