After performing at various venues for its past two seasons, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is gearing up to return to Powell Hall.
The $140 million expansion and renovation will include an education and learning center, rehearsal space and places for the community to gather before and after performances.
Originally opened in 1925 as a movie theater, Powell Hall became the first permanent home of the orchestra in 1968.
鈥淎ll the guest artists from the entire world are always blown away by the warmth of the acoustics,鈥� said St茅phane Den猫ve, music director of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.
The acoustics, Den猫ve said, are the foremost attribute of Powell Hall. 鈥淭he further you are, almost the better you hear,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o if you go to the very last row on top of the theater, you are physically far from the stage, but the sound seems to be just going to your ear directly.鈥�
Den猫ve said he鈥檚 also excited about new backstage areas that will afford places for musicians to meet backstage, practice and store instruments.
The orchestra kicks off its in September with several world premieres, including an opening weekend debut of 鈥淗ouse of Tomorrow鈥� by Grammy and Pulitzer Prize winner Kevin Puts. Puts, who serves as the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra鈥檚 composer-in-residence, was recently named composer of the year by 鈥淢usical America.鈥�
To hear more from St茅phane Den猫ve and comments from SLSO President and CEO Marie-H茅l猫ne Bernard, listen to St. Louis on the Air on , , or click the play button below.
鈥�鈥� brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. The show is produced by , , , and . Jada Jones is our production assistant. The audio engineer is .
