St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra ranks as the second-oldest professional orchestra in the United States, preceded solely by the New York Philharmonic. Periods of instability have marked its past, yet the ensemble has maintained high standards of artistry evident in both concerts and recordings that produced 60 Grammy nominations and nine wins.

Joseph Otten established the group in 1880 under the name St. Louis Choral Society and served as its first music director. Choral music formed its core repertoire, with a modest orchestra supplying accompaniment in the 1881-1882 season. In 1890 the St. Louis Choral Society joined forces with the St. Louis Musical Union, an ensemble August Waldauer had created in 1881, and the combined organization adopted the title St. Louis Choral-Symphony Society. Otten remained until 1894, after which Alfred Ernst assumed leadership.

Ernst lengthened the concert calendar, and during the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis he directed performances on nearly every day of the event, generating fresh interest throughout the city and state. With the appointment of Max Zuch as third music director in 1907, the organization became known as the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Zuch further increased the number of concerts while adding popular-music programs alongside classical fare to reach broader audiences. Following Zuch's death in 1921, Rudolf Genz was appointed permanent conductor. Genz introduced children's concerts and tours, yet selections of contemporary scores by Stravinsky and Mahler met with audience resistance, prompting his resignation in 1927.

Guest conductors led the orchestra for the next four seasons until Vladimir Golschmann was engaged as music director in 1931. Under Golschmann the SLSO secured world-class soloists and elevated the caliber of its principal players. He remained until 1958, serving as conductor emeritus from 1955 to 1958 during the search for his successor. Eduard van Remoortel held the post from 1958 to 1962, followed by Eleazar De Carvalho from 1962 to 1968. During De Carvalho's tenure the orchestra moved into its present home, Powell Hall, in 1968; his programming of contemporary music provoked reactions comparable to those experienced by Genz. Walter Susskind succeeded De Carvalho from 1968 to 1975, steering the repertoire toward established works, enlarging the roster, improving performance quality, and launching festivals including the Mississippi River Festival. Jerzy Semkow followed from 1975 to 1979. Richard Hayman joined in 1976 as pops conductor and continued in that role until 2014.

Leonard Slatkin was named music director in 1979, confirming the SLSO's stature among leading American and international orchestras. In 1970 he had already founded the St. Louis Youth Orchestra. During his directorship he increased recording activity, juxtaposed standard and contemporary literature with emphasis on American music, and commissioned and premiered numerous new works. Slatkin remained until 1996, when he received the title conductor laureate. Hans Vonk served from 1996 to 2002 and was succeeded by David Robertson, who led from 2005 to 2018. Under Robertson the orchestra developed a sustained partnership with composer John Adams that produced the 2015 Grammy Award-winning recording John Adams: City Noir. In 2017 the SLSO announced Stéphane Denève as its next music director; he assumed the position in 2019.

The SLSO began recording in the 1930s under Golschmann. Its discography includes releases on EMI, Nonesuch, its own Arch Media label, and, most prominently, RCA, which signed Slatkin and the orchestra to a 30-release contract in the 1980s. These recordings have received numerous honors and awards. In 2019 Robertson led the SLSO with soloist Orli Shaham in an album of Mozart piano concertos issued on Canary Classics.