SLSO Launches Playlist Happy Hour Series with Stravinsky’s The Firebird
By Eric Dundon
The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra marked a joyful milestone on November 20 as it launched its new Playlist: Symphony Happy Hour series, welcoming audiences back into the newly renovated Powell Hall at the Jack C. Taylor Music Center. Led by Music Director Stéphane Denève, the debut event reimagined what a symphony concert can be—part concert, part social gathering, and entirely welcoming.
The evening centered on a performance of Igor Stravinsky’s The Firebird, presented with Denève’s signature storytelling flair. His short, conversational introductions drew listeners into the music’s world of myth and transformation, offering insights that made the performance feel both vivid and accessible. The performance include displayed text and artwork that helped further connect the music to the story. The Firebird was originally premiered as a ballet in 1910.
A highlight of the night was the unveiling of the Symphony Helles Lager, a small-batch collaboration with Perennial Artisan Ales, which added a distinctly local flavor to the celebration. After the concert, guests lingered in both the historic spaces and the new Berges Family Foundation Lobby, mingling with SLSO musicians in a warm, conversational setting.
Two more Playlist concerts will take place this season: Beethoven’s Seventh (January 15) and spotlight on John Williams (March 19).
Eric Dundon is the SLSO’s Public Relations Director.
