By Eric Dundon
The splendor of Powell Hall, the sublime acoustics, and most importantly, the world-class performances of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra are now at your fingertips.
Beginning February 11, 2021, the SLSO is making concerts available to audiences online, a first in the orchestra’s 141-year history. Available through slso.org, the initial digital concert offerings include six performances filmed in high-definition at Powell Hall between October 22 and November 20, 2020, using the SLSO’s new state-of-the-art camera system.

The SLSO kicks off this new chapter in concert accessibility by making its first digital concert available for free. The first concert features Music Director Stéphane Denève leading a chamber orchestra in Richard Strauss’ Metamophosen, the first SLSO performances of Takashi Yoshimatsu’s And birds are still…, and Dvořák’s Serenade for Winds. Denève programmed this concert as an emotional release, ranging from grief to hope.
Subsequent concerts, with one released every two weeks after February 11, are $15 apiece. Patrons can create their own digital concert package for additional savings. Concerts are available for unlimited viewing for 30 days.
“These digital concerts help the SLSO enrich lives through the power of music by making performances accessible wherever our audiences are,” said SLSO President and CEO Marie-Hélène Bernard. “We are energized by this first step in our growing library of media offerings.”
Concerts can be viewed on computers, smartphones, and tablets, as well as on smart TVs via Google Chromecast and Apple Airplay. Patrons access concerts by creating an account on slso.org and ordering concerts from the concert calendar page. Concerts may be purchased in advance of their release dates.
Watch how to create your SLSO account here.
“We are so pleased to share these concerts beyond the walls of Powell Hall. Nothing brings us more joy than connecting with people through music,” said Denève.
Concerts include chamber orchestra concerts led by Denève, as well as chamber music concerts, which shines the spotlight on SLSO musicians. Concert repertoire spans genre and time, with beloved favorites including Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings and George Walker’s Lyric for Strings to newer works including Anna Clyne’s Within Her Arms and Jessie Montgomery’s Strum. Many chamber music works played on the Emerson Concert Stage at Powell Hall are given their first SLSO performances, including Gabriela Lena Frank’s Leyendas: An Andean Walkabout, Katherine Hoover’s Reflections, and Germaine Tailleferre’s Sonata for Harp.
Each concert lasts approximately one hour.

These digital concerts are part of the SLSO’s focus on making music accessible to all and are part of a growing portfolio of online offerings. The SLSO’s Education Team has created additional new online content, connecting teachers and students directly with SLSO musicians through innovative digital events. Last month, the SLSO launched SoundLab, a series of four interactive videos and activities for teachers, students, and families to create music and engage in the science of sound. Previously, the SLSO created several video series to keep the community connected through music, including Songs of America and Songs of the Holidays presented by Mercy. To date, these videos have generated reached more than 500,000 people. The SLSO also continues with concert broadcasts weekly on 90.7 KWMU St. Louis Public Radio and monthly on Nine PBS.
The SLSO plans to release future concerts and will announce those concerts at a later date.
Digital concerts calendar
The SLSO begins its digital series on February 11, with an initial new offering every two weeks through April. The concerts are:
Release date: Thursday, February 11, 2021
This concert was recorded in front of a live audience at Powell Hall on October 22-24, 2020.
This concert is available for free through February 27, 2021.
Stéphane Denève, conductor
Richard STRAUSS Metamorphosen
Takashi YOSHIMATSU And birds are still… (First SLSO performances)
Antonín DVOŘÁK Serenade for Winds
Release date: Thursday, February 25, 2021
This concert was recorded in front of a live audience at Powell Hall on October 31, 2020, and November 8, 2020.
This concert is available for 30 days through March 27, 2021. Single tickets are $15.
Xiaoxiao Qiang, violin
Jessica Cheng, violin
Andrea Jarrett, violin
Asako Kuboki, violin
Jonathan Chu, viola
Andrew François, viola
Jennifer Humphreys, cello
Alvin McCall, cello
Jessie MONTGOMERY Strum
Gabriela Lena FRANK Selections from Leyendas: An Andean Walkabout
Felix MENDELSSOHN Octet in E-flat major
Release date: Thursday, March 11, 2021
This concert was recorded at Powell Hall on November 14, 2020.
This concert is available for 30 days through April 10, 2021. Single tickets are $15.
Stéphane Denève, conductor
Igor STRAVINSKY Dumbarton Oaks
George WALKER Lyric for Strings
Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY Serenade for Strings
Release date: Thursday, March 25, 2021
This concert was recorded in front of a live audience at Powell Hall on October 29, 2020, and November 7, 2020.
This concert is available for 30 days through April 24, 2021. Single tickets are $15.
Erin Schreiber, violin
Hannah Ji, violin
Shawn Weil, violin
Beth Guterman Chu, viola
Leonid Plashinov-Johnson, viola
Melissa Brooks, cello
Bjorn Ranheim, cello
Richard STRAUSS Sextet from Capriccio
Missy MAZZOLI Vespers for Violin
Arnold SCHOENBERG Verklärte Nacht (Transfigured Night)
Release date: Thursday, April 8, 2021
This concert was recorded at Powell Hall on November 20, 2020.
This concert is available for 30 days through May 8, 2021. Single tickets are $15.
Stéphane Denève, conductor
Edward ELGAR Serenade for Strings
Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY Andante cantabile
Giacomo PUCCINI I crisantemi (The Chrysanthemums)
Anna CLYNE Within Her Arms
Release date: Thursday, April 22, 2021
This concert was recorded in front of a live audience at Powell Hall on October 30, 2020, and November 5, 2020.
This concert is available for 30 days through May 22, 2021. Single tickets are $15.
Allegra Lilly, harp
Jennifer Nitchman, flute
Ryan Toher, clarinet
Eva Kozma, violin
Rebecca Boyer Hall, violin
Chris Tantillo, viola
Alvin McCall, cello
Katherine HOOVER Reflections
Claude DEBUSSY Sonata for Flute, Viola, and Harp
Germaine TAILLEFERRE Sonata for Harp
Maurice RAVEL Introduction & Allegro
Eric Dundon is the Public Relations Manager for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.