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Join us as we kick off the 25/26 season with the SLSO’s annual free concert in Forest Park. Music Director Stéphane Denève leads a vibrant program featuring highlights from the upcoming year. Bring your drinks, snacks, and chairs, and settle in on Art Hill to enjoy an unforgettable evening surrounded by the beauty of St. Louis. This beloved tradition is the perfect way to celebrate the start of a new season of music and community.

Celebrations commence as Music Director Stéphane Denève and the SLSO usher in an exhilarating season of reuniting and reveling in the beautifully renovated Powell Hall. The season opens with a trio of fanfares reflecting past, present, and future. Multiple Grammy Award-winning artist Joyce DiDonato and members of the St. Louis Symphony Chorus join the orchestra for the world premiere of a song cycle by composer-in-residence Kevin Puts. And with the thundering roar of percussion and brass, Richard Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben tells a triumphant tale of adventure and accomplishment.

Relive the film that started it all. Watch the wand choose the wizard, a troll run amok, and magic mirrors in high-definition while the SLSO performs John Williams’ iconic score. Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime event as Harry, Ron, Hermione, and all your favorite characters return to the screen and enchant the world all over again.

Often it is simple joys like friendship and family that inspire great works of art. This is certainly the case with Elgar’s majestic First Symphony, led in these performances by SLSO Conductor Laureate Leonard Slatkin, who also presents music of his own for a compelling U.S. premiere. Emanuel Ax, Slatkin’s dear friend and one of the most accomplished pianists of our time, takes the solo spotlight for Mozart’s adventurous Piano Concerto No. 25, a masterpiece described by Ax as pure magic.

Celebrate the legendary Chuck Berry’s birthday with hits from throughout the star’s career performed by the SLSO, his hometown orchestra. Arrangements of Berry’s songs, featuring his distinctive take on R&B and signature guitar-playing style, are accompanied by exclusive video footage and interviews. An exhibit of rare memorabilia, photos, and one of Berry’s Cadillacs will also be on display. This tribute is part of the multi-year celebration of the 100th anniversary of Chuck Berry’s birth organized by the Berry family.

Get ready for a hauntingly fun musical adventure the whole family will enjoy! Join the SLSO for a spooktacular concert filled with playful melodies, ghostly tunes, and fun surprises. Whether you’re dressed as your favorite fairy tale character, superhero, or silly monster, come ready to show off your Halloween spirit. With enchanting music and a few tricks and treats, this not-so-scary Halloween celebration is a magical way to enjoy the season.

We welcome acclaimed violinist Augustin Hadelich and rising star conductor Tabita Berglund for this celebration of the music, architecture, and nature of Nordic countries. Called “one of the most exciting violinists of his generation” by The New York Times, Hadelich shines in a performance of Prokofiev’s Second Violin Concerto, and the orchestra sets off on a journey through the countryside in Sibelius’ sweeping Second Symphony. This performance takes place within the newly renovated Powell Hall, whose expansion was designed by the Norwegian architecture firm Snøhetta and was inspired by the elegant shapes of orchestral instruments.

Augustin Hadelich, the internationally acclaimed violinist, curates and leads a special chamber music program that shines a light on the talents of SLSO musicians. Hadelich brings his “highly expressive and technically brilliant” (KDHX) musicality to the program, spotlighting musicians in small ensembles on the Powell Hall stage, offering a glimpse into the vast chamber music library.

Renowned vocalist Sissel Kyrkjebø, who mesmerized audiences worldwide as the ethereal voice of the movie Titanic, joins the SLSO for an unforgettable evening of artistry, elegance, and emotion. Considered one of the world's top crossover sopranos, Sissel’s musical style ranges from classical vocals and operatic arias to pop and folk songs. Sissel has partnered with a variety of renowned vocalists—from stars of the opera world like Plácido Domingo and José Carreras to Irish folk band The Chieftains, singer/songwriter and pianist Neil Sedaka, Brian May of the band Queen, rapper Warren G, and jazz singers Dee Dee Bridgewater and Diana Krall—showcasing her vast range and appreciation for music in all forms.

As daylight wanes and the air turns brisk, reconnect with the warmth of the SLSO and two of the most exhilarating and romantic pieces in orchestral music. Danish violinist Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider showcases his exquisite virtuosity as he soars through Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto. Then the orchestra demonstrates what Music Director Stéphane Denève describes as “love in sounds” in a performance of Rachmaninoff’s breathtakingly beautiful Second Symphony.