Beethoven's 6th

Beethoven's 6th is coming to Powell Symphony Hall this weekend, with two performances on the schedule: Friday, October 30, at 9 AM and Saturday, October 31, at 6 PM. It's a morning show followed by an evening one, so you can pick whichever fits your weekend better.

If you're not intimately familiar with the piece, Beethoven's 6th—the Pastoral Symphony—is one of the most recognizable works in the classical repertoire. It's a program piece, meaning it's built around a theme: the countryside. Beethoven wrote it as a love letter to nature, and the movements follow a day in the outdoors, from a morning walk to a sudden thunderstorm and the calm that follows. It's a long work, and hearing it in a hall like Powell gives it the room it needs to breathe.

One thing to keep in mind before you buy: the full program for this particular run hasn't been officially confirmed yet, so it's best to go in expecting the 6th to be the main event without assuming there's more on the bill. If you're planning to make the trip, Powell Symphony Hall is at 718 N. Grand Blvd. in St. Louis. The two showtimes are Friday, October 30, at 9 AM and Saturday, October 31, at 6 PM.