St. Louis Symphony Orchestra: Bernstein and Copland

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra: Bernstein and Copland at Powell Symphony Hall

Some afternoons ask for something bigger than a screen and a couch. On April 11, 2027, at 3:00 PM, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra brings Bernstein and Copland to Powell Symphony Hall, and the program reads like an invitation to hear American orchestral music the way it was meant to be heard: live, in a room built for sound.

Stéphane Denève conducts a program that spans Simon, Copland, Stark and Bernstein. That mix is the draw. You get several composers in one sitting, which makes the afternoon feel like a discovery as much as a reunion. Scott Andrews steps forward as clarinet soloist, so one musician from the stage takes the spotlight. Erin Schreiber introduces Vesper Flights, a personal touch that puts a human voice at the start of a new piece before the music takes over.

Bernstein's West Side Story Symphonic Dances is also on the bill. To be clear, this is not the complete musical. It is the orchestral concert experience, and that focus is the appeal. It is a chance to sit in St. Louis and let a full orchestra carry the drama. Bring a friend, a parent or someone who loves a good plan. Then trade favorites on the way out. If that sounds like your kind of Sunday-style outing, grab your seats for Bernstein and Copland at Powell Symphony Hall.