A one-hour Symphony Happy Hour concert featuring Debussy's La Mer, conducted by Samuel Hollister, with cocktails and an after-party.
Samuel Hollister takes the podium at Powell Hall on Wednesday, April 21, 2027, leading the musicians of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra through Debussy's La Mer. It's part of the SLSO's Playlist: Symphony Happy Hour series, which is built for the classically curious: one hour of music, no intermission, and a bit of a social scene around the edges. The evening is presented by the William T. Kemper Foundation.
La Mer is Debussy's great ocean sketch, and the title says it all. It's a piece that doesn't just describe the sea so much as it tries to be it—the shifting currents, the spray, the way the light changes over the water. Debussy once wrote to his publisher, "The sea... has shown me all her moods. Music is a free art, boundless as the elements, the wind, the sky, and the sea." That's the spirit that runs through the whole thing.
The Symphony Happy Hour format changes the usual symphony experience. You can sip signature cocktails and mocktails during the performance, and once the music stops, the conductor shares some insights before you get a chance to mingle with the musicians. It's a more relaxed way to do a night at the symphony, especially if you're not used to the formal side of things.
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And the night doesn't end when the orchestra puts down their instruments. There's an after-party in the lobby with a set by DJ Stazi, which doesn't require an extra ticket, though the featured artists won't be there for that part. The concert starts at 6:30 PM and runs for one hour with no intermission, so you're in and out in a reasonable window if you've got a busy Wednesday.
