Concert featuring Dvořák's Eighth Symphony, Kaija Saariaho's 'Lumière et Pesanteur', and Béla Bartók's Piano Concerto No. 2, with Dinis Sousa conducting and Jeremy Denk on piano.
The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra brings Dvořák's Symphony No. 8 to Powell Hall on Friday, Dec 4, and Saturday, Dec 5, as part of their 2026/27 season. The symphony is the center of the program, and it's a piece that wears its heart on its sleeve—Dvořák drew from the rolling hills, bird calls, and pastoral charm of the Bohemian countryside, weaving together vibrant folk songs and wistful melodies. It's a wide-open, melodic work that feels more like a landscape painting than a formal exercise.
It's paired with two very different pieces. Kaija Saariaho's Lumière et Pesanteur is an ethereal, atmospheric work that sits on the lighter end of the program. Then comes Béla Bartók's Piano Concerto No. 2, a fiery, demanding piece that puts the soloist front and center. That soloist is pianist Jeremy Denk, a MacArthur Genius Fellowship awardee and Avery Fisher Prize recipient, so you're getting a heavy hitter on the keyboard for the Bartók.
Conducting both nights is Dinis Sousa, who's making his SLSO debut with these performances. If you're the kind of person who likes to know what you're hearing before the first note sounds, there's a free Pre-Concert Conversation an hour before the performance, led by SLSO Principal Keyboard Peter Henderson and sponsored by Washington University Physicians. It's a good way to get some context on the program without having to do the homework yourself.
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After the music, the lobby hosts After Party, the orchestra's post-concert hang, which doesn't require an additional ticket. If you're between 21 and 45, they also offer a Young Friends membership. As for the timing, the Friday performance is at 10:30 AM and runs an hour and 40 minutes, including intermission; the Saturday show is at 7:30 PM.
