Photos: Bon voyage to the SLSO

By Eric Dundon

For the first time since 2017, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is heading to Europe for a five city, four country concert tour. But before the musicians board airplanes for their transatlantic flight on March 21, they delivered the tour program to a full house at Powell Hall on Thursday, March 16.

Abuzz with excitement and palpable energy, Powell Hall filled with applause as Music Director Stéphane Denève greeted the audience in the languages represented by the countries the SLSO will visit on the tour: Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Spain.

Pianist Víkingur Ólafsson received a raucous standing ovation for his interpretation of Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto. He followed that with a heartfelt and tender performance of Ave Maria by Sigvaldi Kaldalóns, Ólafsson's Icelandic compatriot.

Following the conclusion of Sergei Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances, musicians packed their instruments into large cargo containers bound for Europe. Curious audience members filed out of Powell Hall past dozens of trunks that began their journey to Vienna on March 17.

Music Director Stéphane Denève gestures to the orchestra and audience at the conclusion of Sergei Prokofiev's The Love for Three Oranges Suite.

Powell Hall was packed for a bon voyage concert for the SLSO, which will visit five cities in four countries, March 21-31.

Pianist Víkingur Ólafsson acknowledges the audience at Powell Hall on March 16. Ólafsson, an acclaimed performer and prolific recording artist, will join the SLSO on its 2023 European tour.

Violinists of the SLSO.

Trumpet player Mike Walk carefully packs his trumpets before trunking them for the orchestra's European tour. The cargo left St. Louis on March 17.

Violinists loads their instruments into cargo trunks for transportation to Europe in St. Louis on March 16.

Associate Principal Timpanist Kevin Ritenauer (center) packs up several cymbals for the SLSO's tour with percussionist Kim Shelley (right) and Assistant Stage Manager Ron Bolte.

The concert concludes with Sergei Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances.

Wind players during Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto.

Pianist Vīkingur Ólafsson received a raucous ovation from the audience at Powell Hall.

Violinist Nicolae Bica packs his instrument.

Music Director Stéphane Denève and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.