Since 2004, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and Pulitzer Arts Foundation have partnered to create a musical showcase in conversation with the museum’s exhibitions for their Live at the Pulitzer series. Set against the backdrop of a strikingly illuminated, white-walled gallery space, this year’s concerts will allow spectators to “experience innovative, contemporary chamber music curated in response to the art on view in the Pulitzer’s superb architecture,” says Cara Starke, executive director of the Pulitzer Arts Foundation.
Curated by composer and associate professor of composition at Washington University Christopher Stark, the 2024/2025 lineup brings together significant contemporary composers including John Luther Adams, Samuel Adams, Andy Akiho, Eleanor Alberga, Wang Lu, Elizabeth Ogonek, John Fitz Rogers, Kaija Saariaho, Anthony Vine, and Errollyn Wallen.
Get a guide to the region’s booming music scene
Subscribe to the St. Louis Music newsletter to discover upcoming concerts, local artists to watch, and more across an eclectic playlist of genres.
This year’s concerts draw inspiration from two of the Pulitzer’s current and upcoming visual art installations: Scott Burton: Shape Shift and Veronica Ryan: Unruly Objects. On display until February 2, Shape Shift serves as a comprehensive look into the career of the late Scott Burton, offering an intimate exploration of the artist’s notes, glimpses of his early performance works, and viewings of his famous sculptural furniture pieces. Veronica Ryan’s Unruly Objects, on display from March 7 to July 27, delves into the artist’s multifaceted work over the past four decades, including drawings and sculptural works that meditate on concepts like migration and belonging. “I try to find artistic references, historical references, and aesthetic references in the art that I can translate into music that’s being composed right now,” says Stark.
Located in Grand Center, the Pulitzer Arts Foundation strives to showcase thought-provoking work from modern and historic artists in context. Its home, a distinctive concrete building designed by renowned architect Tadao Ando, provides an intimate alternative to the concert halls and stages where classical performances typically occur. “This building in and of itself is a work of art,” says Stark.
The initial performance of the series, Outside In, will evoke the natural world through music on November 12. Exploring the spectrum of human emotion through a dynamic collection of works, the following performance, Inside Out, will take place on January 28. Come Closer will conclude the series on April 8, highlighting the talents of the symphony’s soloists as they play music from composers hailing from across the globe.
“I think it’s exciting to hear something new, something fresh off the page,” says Stark. “I think anybody who’s interested in finding something new to listen to would enjoy coming to these concerts.”
Concerts will take place beginning at 7:30 p.m.. Tickets are currently on sale starting at $25 and can be purchased from the St. Louis Symphony’s website.
