ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - For the past two years, crews have been working on the expansion and renovation of Powell Hall at the Jack C. Taylor Music Center.
The renovations forced the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra to use several different venues for the past two years, but the symphony will soon return to Powell Hall.
The orchestra released its 2025/26 schedule for its 146th season earlier this month, which will see opening weekend celebration take place from Sept. 26-28.
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Music Director Stefane Deneve joined 'The Chris and Amy Show' to celebrate the expansion and renovation of Powell Hall.
"Music has an incredible power to communicate very strong emotions that can be soothing, that can be comforting, that can give you joy, uplift you." said Deneve on 'The Chris and Amy Show'.
Deneve said Powell Hall will have new seats with more leg room, a new entrance with big stairs on the side, and a large gathering area.
"We kept the kind of Versailles, French elegant old foyer, but we have a new entrance with great big spirals stairs you will see that are beautiful," said Deneve.
There is an Education Learning Center that can hold events for education.
Deneve says they have a 'much improved' backstage area for musicians which has, lounges. There’s also new lighting, and the inside has been repainted.
Deneve considers Powell Hall one of the top facilities in the U.S. and it’s acoustics are similar to Concertgebouw in Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
While conducting, Deneve is 'in a zone' and can feel the energy of the audience behind him breathing in the music.
Some of the symphonies for this season will include Sergei Rachmaninoff's
'The Symphony No. 2', Maurice Ravel's 'Daphnis et Chloe' and Richard Strauss' 'Life of a Hero'.
Deneve says there are some pieces that definitely make him want to cry and it did happen a few times.
For example, at the end of Gustave Mahler's 'Symphony No. 2', he had tears in his eyes from it being so overwhelming.
For tickets to the Powell Hall to see St. Louis Symphony perform for its 146th season, you can go to slso.org.