St. Louis Symphony Orchestra November concerts include solo performances, chamber music, a happy hour concert, plus masterworks by Beethoven, Britten, and Rachmaninoff

(October 6, 2025, St. Louis, MO) – Today, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra announced details of its November 2025 concerts, which includes classical favorites by Ludwig van Beethoven, Igor Stravinsky, and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, a commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II; performances of the score to The Lion King; two chamber music performances; and the first of three happy hour concerts in the 2025/26 season.

Tickets for all concerts are on sale now. Tickets may be purchased at slso.org or by calling the Box Office at 314-534-1700.  A full concert calendar is available at slso.org or on the SLSO’s mobile app available for iOS or Android. Audiences can attend a Pre-Concert Conversation, an engaging discussion about the music and artists on the program, one hour prior to each classical concert. 

Most concerts will take place at Powell Hall at the Jack C. Taylor Music Center (718 N. Grand Blvd.), which reopened in September following a two-year expansion and renovation of Powell Hall, the first major project at the historic venue since the 1960s. The $140 million project, designed by the internationally acclaimed architecture firm Snøhetta, centers the SLSO’s priorities on artistic excellence, community engagement, and education leadership.

Saturday, November 1, 7:30pm CDT
Sunday, November 2, 3:00pm CST

Stéphane Denève, conductor
Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider, violin

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto
Sergei Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 2

Danish violinist Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider showcases his exquisite virtuosity as he soars through Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto—one of the most popular concertos in the symphonic repertoire. Then the orchestra demonstrates what Music Director Stéphane Denève describes as “love in sounds” in a performance of Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2, completing a program of Romantic-era beauty.

Tuesday, November 4, 7:30pm CST
Pulitzer Arts Foundation
3716 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, MO, 63108

Andrea Kaplan, flute
Bjorn Ranheim, cello
David DeRiso, double bass
Peter Henderson, keyboard

Carlos Simon Silence (First SLSO performance)
Alvin Singleton In My Own Skin (First SLSO performance)
Carlos Simon Move It (First SLSO performance)
Olly Wilson Piano Piece (First SLSO performance)
Carlos Simon Between Worlds (First SLSO performance)
Alvin Singleton Argoru III (First SLSO performance)
Kali Malone Sacrificial Code (First SLSO performance)
Arranged by Christopher Stark

Art and music come together as SLSO musicians perform adventurous chamber music by composers of today, curated by composer Christopher Stark, within the galleries of the Pulitzer Arts Foundation.

Friday, November 7, 7:30pm CST
Sunday, November 9, 3:00pm CST

Stéphane Denève, conductor
Christine Goerke, soprano
Ian Bostridge, tenor (SLSO debut)
Roderick Williams, baritone (SLSO debut)
St. Louis Symphony Chorus | Erin Freeman, director
The St. Louis Children’s Choirs | Dr. Alyson Moore, artistic director

Benjamin Britten War Requiem

Christine Goerke’s performances are made possible by a generous gift from the Sarah Bryan Miller Fund.

Dark, sobering, and wrought with tension, yet infused with hope and light, Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem reflects on war, across all generations and continents. With the words of poet and soldier Wilfred Owen set alongside traditional Latin texts, Britten’s call for reconciliation has been called a contemporary masterpiece. The SLSO is joined by three world-renowned vocalists, the St. Louis Symphony Chorus, and the St. Louis Children’s Choirs to create one of the most expansive ranges of emotion and sound imaginable.

Saturday, November 8, 10:00am-6:00pm

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO) will welcome the community to experience its newly inaugurated concert home, the Jack C. Taylor Music Center, at an open house on Saturday, November 8. This free event invites the community to experience one of the most acclaimed concert halls in the country, in a casual, come-and-go celebration of the St. Louis arts and culture landscape.

The Sheldon
3648 Washington Ave., St. Louis, MO, 63108
Thursday, November 13, 7:30pm CST

Andrea Jarrett, curator and violin
Jennifer Humphreys, curator and cello
Nathan Lowry, violin
Andrew François, viola
David DeRiso, double bass

Zoltán Kodály Allegro serioso, non troppo from Duo for Violin and Cello
Yoell Tewolde Oblivious and Ride (World Premiere)
Traditional / arr. Danish String Quartet Selections from Wood Works Suite (First SLSO performance)
Ye Honest Bridal Couple
Ack Vermeland, du skona
Ribers No. 8
Mark O’Connor Old Country Fairytale (First SLSO performance)
Jessie Montgomery Voodoo Dolls (First SLSO performance)
Sergei Prokofiev String Quartet No. 2

Sponsored by the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation. Welcomed by Classic 107.3.

SLSO musicians curate the first of this chamber music series performed at The Sheldon. A “new music with an old spirit” guides this folk-inspired concert focused on SLSO strings. From a country fiddling contest in Mark O’Connor’s Appalachia-influenced work to a rhythmic reimagining of West African drumming traditions, the program draws from indigenous traditions across the globe, ending atop the peaks of the Russian mountains in a profound string quartet by Sergei Prokofiev. 

Saturday, November 15, 2:00pm CST
Saturday, November 15, 7:00pm CST
Sunday, November 16, 2:00pm CST

Samuel Hollister, conductor

Hans Zimmer The Lion King

Presentation licensed by Disney Concerts © All rights reserved.

Experience the original animated classic roaring from the big screen, as the SLSO performs Hans Zimmer’s Oscar-winning score to The Lion King live. The film follows the powerful story of Simba as he journeys from a wide-eyed cub to his destined role as King of the Pride Lands. Featuring songs by Elton John, lyricist Tim Rice, and composer Hans Zimmer—plus African vocal and choir arrangements by South African producer and composer Lebo M—these concerts bring the magic of this joyful tale to Powell Hall’s big screen.

Thursday, November 20, 6:30pm CST

Stéphane Denève, conductor

Igor StravinskyThe Firebird

Presented by the William T. Kemper Foundation.

Savor each note at all the SLSO’s Playlist: Symphony Happy Hour concerts this season. These one-hour concerts are designed to inspire, relax, and get the conversation going. Perfect for first-time orchestra attendees or those curious about classical music, Playlist concerts invite audiences to sip signature cocktails and mocktails, enjoy insights from the conductor, and mingle with musicians in a casual atmosphere. Fusing magic and modernity, the 1910 ballet The Firebird revolutionized orchestral music while reimagining an age-old fairytale. As the music shifts between bold, sweeping movements for the supernatural elements and simpler folk songs for the mortals, it brings to life the story of an evil wizard, captured princesses, a brave prince, and the dazzling, magical Firebird in a whirlwind of color and sound.

Friday, November 21, 10:30am CST*
Saturday, November 22, 7:30pm CST

Stéphane Denève, conductor
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano

Guillaume Connesson Maslenitsa (First SLSO performances)
Aram Khachaturian Piano Concerto
Igor Stravinsky The Firebird

*Coffee Concert Series supported by EverTrue. Complimentary refreshments courtesy of Kaldi’s Coffee Roasting Co. and Eddie’s Southtown Donuts.

The captivating sounds of Russian folk music anchors this program led by Music Director Stéphane Denève. Igor Stravinsky’s complete score to the 1910 ballet The Firebird revolutionized orchestral music while reimagining an age-old fairy tale. Adding charge to this program is Jean-Yves Thibaudet, who returns to the SLSO to perform Aram Khachaturian’s Piano Concerto, a shimmering showpiece inspired by Armenian and Russian folk tunes. Guillaume Connesson’s Maslenitsa brims with the energy of a Slavic holiday festival to complete this colorful musical set.

Saturday, November 29, 7:30pm CST
Sunday, November 30, 3:00pm CST

Kevin John Edusei, conductor (SLSO debut)
Joyce Yang, piano

Béla Bartók Dance Suite
Sergei Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 7

The SLSO presents Ludwig van Beethoven’s personal favorite piece—his boisterous Symphony No. 7. Pianist Joyce Yang’s interpretation of Sergei Rachmaninoff music has received widespread acclaim. Her performance of Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini centers this Thanksgiving weekend event, which also features conductor Kevin John Edusei’s SLSO debut. Yang has impressed audiences all over the globe, with reviewers applauding her “tremendous power” (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) and “impeccable technique” (TheaterJones).

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