With its season winding down, and coveted bragging rights on the line, St. Louis CITY SC wanted Saturday’s derby with Sporting Kansas City to feel—and sound—important.
CITY simply asked its downtown neighbors for a little help.
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The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra came to CITYPARK to set the scene for Saturday’s match, helping the club put its best foot forward for the last big game of the year. SLSO, led by music director Stéphane Denève, kicked off the pre-game show inside the stadium by playing the MLS anthem. Denève then transitioned the symphony into a rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner, arranged by John Williams. The performance hit its crescendo with a rendition of John Carpenter’s “Halloween” theme, as the North End’s spooky tifo “CITY NEVER RESTS IN PEACE” rose into view.
The capacity crowd at CITYPARK roared.
“We love to perform in front of this many people,” Denève said. “We just played at Forest Park in front of around 20,000 people. So in the past few weeks we’ve performed outdoors in front of around 50,000 people. It’s incredible; it’s really fun.”
A natural performer, Denève was eager to put on a show for his adopted hometown. Born in Tourcoing, France, Denève made a name for himself as the conducting assistant with the Opéra de Paris, before assuming the role as music director for the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. After conducting throughout Europe, Denève made his way stateside, eventually being named SLSO music director in 2017.
“When we moved here—me, my wife, Åsa, and our daughter, Alma—we were very impressed with how the community welcomed us,” Denève said. “Of course, the whole community of the symphony orchestra is very feverous, and we have some loving audiences that have just been so nice to us. It’s been very special.”
Denève relishes these types of opportunities to think outside of the box, and bring what people may think of as “classical music” into contemporary culture.
“People think of the symphony as an ancient art but it’s relatively new,” Denève said of the symphony’s many concerts outside of the concert hall. “So, we represent the city both here and on the road. We love to cooperate and I think it’s such an important part of what we do.”
SLSO’s usual home, Powell Hall, is undergoing renovations ahead of the building’s 100-year anniversary in 2025. Powell Hall, of course, is a much different venue than the one SLSO electrified Saturday evening, though the symphony is used to getting out of its comfort zone. During the 2024-25 season, SLSO will continue to split its shows between the Stifel Theatre and the Touhill Performing Arts Center.
“People of St. Louis must be so proud that they own one of the best orchestras in the world,” Denève said. “Powell Hall is such a gorgeous building, and very soon it’ll be even better.”
Saturday’s incorporation of SLSO was another example of CITY’s embrace of St. Louis culture—and, in particular, the region’s rich arts landscape.
“We love to get out and play for this gem of a community,” Denève said. “This soccer team is part of that.”
