St. Louis Symphony Orchestra - Fanfare for Powell Hall

Published October 6, 2025 at 9:11 AM CDT

Joyce DiDonato, originally from Prairie Village, KS performs with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra for the opening of their 2025-26 season in the newly renovated Powell Hall.

Music Director Stéphane Denève and the SLSO usher in an exhilarating season in the beautifully renovated Powell Hall with a trio of fanfares, and Kansas born mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato and the St. Louis Symphony Chorus join the orchestra for a world premiere by Kevin Puts. Finally, the SLSO perform Richard Strauss’ triumphant tale of adventure and accomplishment, Ein Heldenleben.

An agreement with the St. Louis Symphony allows us to share audio for this program up to two weeks after the program's original air date. You can find more episodes here.

Guest Host

Jonathan Ahl
St. Louis Public Radio

Commentator

Lauren Eldridge Stewart
Assistant Professor of Music at Washington University

Conductor

Stéphane Denève

Program

Aaron Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man

Joan Tower’s Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman No. 1

James Lee III’s Fanfare for Universal Hope

Kevin Puts’ House of Tomorrow
Joyce DiDonato, mezzo-soprano

Richard Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben

These broadcasts are produced by St. Louis Public Radio and made possible in partnership with St. Louis Public Radio and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.

L-R Joyce DiDonato, Erin Freeman, Stéphane Denève, Kevin Puts — Mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, St. Louis Symphony Chorus director Erin Freeman, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra director Stéphane Denève and composer Kevin Puts following a 2025 performance in Powell Hall.