Just a few days before Valentine's Day, St. Louisans began to "fall in love"... with incoming St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Music Director Stéphane Denève.
The February 8 special event, hosted at the St. Louis Union Station Grand Ballroom, served as a warm and heartfelt introduction of Stéphane to the community. More than 400 people enjoyed an evening of flavorful food, creative cocktails, engaging music performances, thoughts from SLSO musicians, touching video presentations, and a special impromptu piano performance by Stéphane.
Special music performances included: a fanfare by SLSO Principal Horn Roger Kaza and SLSO Trumpet Jeff Strong; performances by The 442s (SLSO Cello Bjorn Ranheim, SLSO Violin Shawn Weil, Adam Maness, and Syd Rodway); a poetry recitation/musical number by SLSO Associate Concertmaster Heidi Harris, SLSO Principal Double Bass Erik Harris, and Eden Harris; a performance of La Vie en Rose by SLSO Principal Harp Allegra Lilly, vocalist Elsie Parker, and The 442s; and a trio by Ranheim, Weil, and pianist Peter Henderson.
Then, Stéphane surprised everyone with a musical gift of his own: an impromptu performance of Debussy’s Clair de Lune. The evening concluded with dancing to the Fabulous Motown Revue.
Enjoy the video created especially for Stéphane to welcome him to St. Louis.
Check out the highlights of Stéphane Denève's first season as Music Director here.