Powell Hall

Take Your Best Picture Alongside Oscar

20 Reasons to Love Winter in St. Louis

We admit it. Winter in St. Louis can be pretty damn dreary. Weeks can go by without a ray of sunlight penetrating the grey sky. And then there's the cold -- a humid frigidity that drills right to the bones. It's enough to bring on a deep depression if you cannot open your eyes to all the great thi ... More >>

Pirates Pillage Powell Hall

Sixth Appeal

The St. Louis Symphony Just Had its Best Year in Over a Decade

In 2005, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra was struggling: Labor disputes, falling revenue and diminishing credibility threatened the group, which has existed since 1880. It's safe to say times have changed: the SLSO is now world-class -- it recently returned from a successful European tour and music ... More >>

For Your Ears Only

Whole Lotta Rock

Between the Covers of the Great American Songbook

Out Every Night: The Best Shows From May 7 to May 13

This week's Most Triumphant Beard of the Week award goes unequivocally to Map's and Atlases' Dave Davison, whose facial hair would be worthy of IFC's cut-throat Whisker Wars competitions -- if that show is still a thing, anyway (I sure hope so, but doubt it). Jack Passion would be proud. Maps and At ... More >>

Save Powell Hall: Concert Marketing Doesn't Get Any Better Than This

Destruction isn't something commonly associated with symphonies. But building-crushing sound is at the heart of a particularly eye-catching promotion for the St. Louis Symphony's performance of Sergei Prokofiev's Scythian Suite. The "Save Powell Hall" campaign has been the St. Louis Symphony's vehi ... More >>

Music from Final Fantasy at Powell Hall, 3/23-3/24/12: Review, Photos and Setlist

Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy Powell Hall March 23 and March 24, 2012 The most interesting aspect of a Final Fantasy concert could be the audience. The orchestra was often met with thunderous applause and screaming between pieces or at the start of familiar and popular songs -- more like ... More >>

Bewitching Music

Final Fantasy's Majestic Music Comes to Powell Hall

​Final Fantasy IV was merely a collection of sprites shoved into a 16-bit cartridge. But under the simple exterior was a revolution, a game that helped make the Final Fantasy saga the most dominant role playing game series in the world. Today's beard-stroking gamers possibly encountered RPGs thro ... More >>

Mozart's Merrie Melodies

The Tradition Is Bach

Ben Folds with the St. Louis Symphony, 11/6/11: Review

Courtesy of the artist​Ben Folds with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Powell Hall November 6, 2012 As he sat behind Powell Symphony Hall's grand piano and sang the phrase "Kiss my ass goodbye," the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra echoed his melody with trumpets and Ben Folds smiled the smile of ... More >>

Check Out His Organ

St. Louis Stage Capsules

Dennis Brown, Paul Friswold and Lew Prince suss out the local theater scene

St. Louis Stage Capsules

Dennis Brown, Paul Friswold and Lew Prince suss out the local theater scene

Trying Out Café Pintxos' Tapas Menu

Robin UtzThe flatbreads and Melon Chorizo & Alcachofa Pintxo​This weekend, Gut Check had plans to see a show at Powell Hall. (We do things other than eat, you know!) This gave us a perfect opportunity to check out the tapas and atmosphere at the newly opened Café Pintxos (3407 Olive Street; 3 ... More >>

St. Louis Stage Capsules

Dennis Brown, Paul Friswold and Lew Prince suss out the local theater scene

SLSO:LOTR:FOTR

Sugaree Baking Company Makes Its First-Ever Red Velvet Cake -- For the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

Deborah HylandIt's important that a cake blend into its surroundings. Who knew?​Remember Perry White, editor of the Daily Planet and Superman's Clark Kent's hectoring boss? That's the way Gut Check likes to think of our boss. (But only with the utmost fondness.) Like on Friday night, when he ... More >>

Top Secret

Never Mind Concert Tickets -- The St. Louis Symphony Has the Perfect Holiday Gift

​It's still 25 days till Christmas, but Hanukkah starts tomorrow, and hoo boy does the St. Louis Symphony have a gift for you! No, it's not music. Which would actually be pretty nice. No, the Symphony has teamed up with Build-a-Bear Workshop to create a special symphonic Build-a-Bear. It does ... More >>

Paranormal Investigators Search Powell Hall for Ghosts

​A team of unearthly gumshoes spent a recent evening searching the St. Louis Symphony's Powell Hall for signs of the paranormal. The building on Grand Avenue dates back to 1925 and is said to haunted by George, a mustachioed ghost in a tuxedo, as well as other spirits. The St. Louis Ghost Hunters ... More >>

Art Meets You

Ozomatli Show Moved to Duck Room, No Longer With the Symphony

The May 14 Ozomatli show originally scheduled to be with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra has been moved to Blueberry Hill's Duck Room. The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is no longer playing with the band. The show will start at 8 p.m. and tickets are $15. According to a press release from SLSO, peop ... More >>

Monk's Music

Saint Louis Symphony Reports Increase in Revenue, Audiences in 2008-'09 Season

flickr.com/photos/bottleofbluesThe SLSO onstage at Powell Hall.This past season has been a banner one for the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. Not only did music director David Robertson make his singing and kazoo-playing debut at Carnegie Hall and management negotiate a three-year labor agreement wi ... More >>

Featured Review: Circus Flora Medrano

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Gets All Interactive on People

Interactive Town Hall Meeting at PowellThe Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO) got all interactive on patrons at its first-ever "Town Hall Meeting" Tuesday evening at Powell Hall. With HEC-TV broadcasting live, music director David Robertson and president Fred Bronstein breezed through an hour-lon ... More >>

Martin Luther King Jr. 1929-1968

It's only fitting that tomorrow's inauguration of the nation's first African-American president comes a day after we celebrate the life of a man who gave his life fighting for racial equality. Today St. Louisans will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day in a number of ways ... More >>

Under the Small Top: Circus Flora is in town — and that's always a good thing

Portrait Concert Series: Steve Reich and George Crumb

7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, February 14 and 15. Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts (3716 Washington Boulevard).

Bittersweet Symphony

Taking Some of the "Class"

Out of "classical"

Unfinished Symphony

The arrival of a brilliant conductor was drowned out by labor discord. Now the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra begins a new season -- with some strings attached.

Hans and Hector

Saying goodbye to Hans Vonk

Benevolent Boozing

Givin' mad hops to Lift for Life

This Week's Day-by-Day Picks

Year-End Specials

In 2001, the cultural events that mattered proved exceptions to the rules

Allegro!

Despite financial jeopardy, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra puts on a game face for the start of its 122nd season

Oy to the World

Klezmer band Yidn holds court each week at Brandt's

Symphony Overtures

A great orchestra at great risk, the SLSO seeks major donors to close the endowment gap between their $28 million and the $100 million of their competitors

African-Amazin'

Powell Symphony Hall is overtaken by giant shadow puppets

ADAMS' TASK

Risk-taking composer John Adams conducts the St. Louis Symphony

Sound Checks

Rhythm Regatta

Isaac Hayes performs in the hallowed halls of Powell as part of the Blues, Roots, Honks and Moans Festival

He Had a Dream