Music Director Stéphane Denève opens the season with the dreams and passions of Hector Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique, a work that tells the story of Berlioz’s obsession. Composer Mason Bates brings his experience as a DJ into the concert hall. His new violin concerto, influenced by folk dances of Eastern Europe, is brought to energetic life by soloist Gil Shaham. 

Things to Know

• “There is a crazy, movie-like style to Symphonie fantastique,” says Stéphane. “From one extreme to another, from hysterical joy to deep gloom. Berlioz runs the gamut of strange orchestral effects. Where does it come from? I’m always blown away.”
• “The classical experience can be a bit of a refuge from the world that we are living in now,” says composer Mason Bates. “That incredibly deep, visceral listening experience doesn’t really exist in many other kinds of music.” 
• World-renowned soloist Gil Shaham brings one of his "family members” to St. Louis, his violin, the “Countess Polignac” Stradivarius, which he has played for 20 years.