Noted

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
  • 0.0 (0)
  • MUSIC

A quick look into what's on stage this week at the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Each episode will take you behind the scenes, revealing the personal stories and perspectives that shape St. Louis Symphony Orchestra classical programs. Hosted by Assistant Conductor Samuel Hollister and featuring St. Louis Symphony Orchestra musicians, this short podcast is perfect for your drive to Powell Hall.

Episodes

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    Prokofiev and Childs: Anthems of Resilience

    SLSO violist Andrew François joins Assistant Conductor Sam Hollister to reflect on a program shaped by resilience, healing, and the endurance of the human spirit. François shares personal insights on returning to music-making after the pandemic, discusses the significance of presenting Billy Childs’ Diaspora in spaces like Powell Hall, and explores the quiet strength and hope embedded in Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony. The conversation invites listeners to consider how music can honor struggle, foster connection, and offer renewal.

    9 min

  2. 21 JAN

    Tchaikovsky’s Fourth: Devotion and Destiny

    SLSO horn player Julie Thayer joins Assistant Conductor Samuel Hollister to explore a program that balances playfulness, innovation, and emotional depth. Thayer reflects on the energy of Lotta Wennäkoski’s Flounce, the excitement of collaborating with unusual instruments like the sheng in Jukka Tiensuu’s Teoton, and the technical demands of the horn—especially in the brass-driven moments of Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony.

    9 min

  3. 7 JAN

    Stravinsky and Debussy: Music in Motion

    Saint Louis Dance Theatre Artistic Director and choreographer Kirven Douthit-Boyd joins Assistant Conductor Sam Hollister to explore the intersection of music and movement in a program inspired by dialogue, character, and storytelling. Hear Douthit-Boyd discuss shaping relationships through choreography, reimagining Stravinsky’s Pulcinella for today’s stage, and what makes collaborating with a live orchestra a singular artistic experience. The conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at how dance and music come together to bring this program to life.

    9 min

  4. 11/12/2025

    Handel’s Messiah: Joyful Praise

    Former St. Louis Symphony Chorus director Amy Kaiser joins Assistant Conductor Sam Hollister to reflect on the enduring power of Messiah and its deep roots in the SLSO’s holiday tradition. She shares memories from her over 30 performances of the work, insights into Handel’s expressive yet demanding choral writing, and thoughts on keeping a beloved masterpiece fresh year after year. Kaiser also offers a window into the chorus’s preparation process and the sense of community and celebration that Messiah inspires for audiences across St. Louis.

    10 min

  5. 02/12/2025

    Shostakovich's 15th: Rebellion and Reckoning

    SLSO Principal Percussionist Will James joins Assistant Conductor Sam Hollister to unpack a program that spans the intimate lyricism of Clara Schumann and Joseph Haydn to the sharper edge of Dmitri Shostakovich. James offers a behind-the-scenes look at the intricate planning required for major percussion setups, reflects on the orchestra’s history with Shostakovich’s music, and shares how choices as specific as mallets can shape musical storytelling.

    9 min

  6. 25/11/2025

    Beethoven’s Seventh: Energy and Reverie

    SLSO bassist and St. Louis native Sarah Hogan Kaiser joins Assistant Conductor Samuel Hollister to explore a program energized by Bartók, Rachmaninoff, and Beethoven. She reflects on the rhythmic drive at the heart of these works, the unique challenges and joys of anchoring the orchestra from the bass section, and the continual process of rediscovering familiar masterpieces. Kaiser also shares early memories of Rachmaninoff and offers a performer’s perspective on navigating the distinct musical worlds of three iconic composers.

    8 min

  7. 19/11/2025

    Stravinsky’s Firebird: Flame and Fantasy

    SLSO Principal Horn Roger Kaza joins Assistant Conductor Sam Hollister for an inside look at a vibrant program featuring Connesson, Khachaturian, and Stravinsky. Kaza reflects on approaching new music for the first time, revisits the magic and intensity of The Firebird, and shares what it feels like to anchor some of the score’s most iconic moments from the horn section. He also discusses the sense of transformation woven through all three works and offers insight into how his dual life as both performer and conductor shapes his artistic perspective.

    10 min

  8. 06/11/2025

    Britten’s War Requiem: A Call for Peace

    St. Louis Symphony Chorus Director Erin Freeman joins Assistant Conductor Sam Hollister to reflect on the immense emotional and musical scope of Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem. She shares insights into preparing the chorus for this monumental work, which interweaves the Latin Requiem Mass with the haunting war poetry of Wilfred Owen. Hear Freeman discuss the challenges of performing such deeply human music, the balance between beauty and tragedy, and the enduring message of peace at the heart of Britten’s masterpiece.

    12 min

  9. 27/10/2025

    Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff: Passion and Drama

    SLSO Principal Clarinetist Scott Andrews reflects on the emotional depth and enduring beauty of Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff’s music. Hear Andrews share personal insights into performing Rachmaninoff’s Second Symphony—home to one of the most intimate clarinet solos in the repertoire—and explore how both composers transformed personal struggle into music of lasting resonance and renewal.

    9 min

  10. 20/10/2025

    Prokofiev and Sibelius: From Dark to Light

    SLSO Principal Oboist Jelena Dirks offers a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process of preparing for a performance. She shares how musicians interpret a composer’s vision and explores the expressive possibilities of woodwind playing, including insights into the music of Jean Sibelius.

    9 min

  11. 08/10/2025

    Slatkin and Ax: Hope and Humanity

    SLSO Conductor Laureate Leonard Slatkin shares insights into the U.S. premiere of his new work, Schubertiade: An Orchestral Fantasy. Hear Slatkin reflect on his enduring friendship with pianist Emanuel Ax and explore his connection to Edward Elgar’s Symphony No. 1

    11 min

  12. 22/09/2025

    Opening Weekend: Fanfare for Powell Hall

    In our debut episode of Noted, Music Director Stéphane Denève shares reflections on the SLSO’s return to a newly renovated Powell Hall. From celebratory fanfares to Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben, discover how the opening program captures the spirit of a heroic homecoming.

    12 min
  • 12 Episodes

About

A quick look into what's on stage this week at the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Each episode will take you behind the scenes, revealing the personal stories and perspectives that shape St. Louis Symphony Orchestra classical programs. Hosted by Assistant Conductor Samuel Hollister and featuring St. Louis Symphony Orchestra musicians, this short podcast is perfect for your drive to Powell Hall.

Information

  • Creator
    St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Noted
  • Show Website
    Noted