Counting down the hours until the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra premiere of “Concerto for Orchestra” by Pullitzer Prize-winning composer (and St. Louis native) Kevin Puts? So are we! Classic 107.3’s Julie Schuster had the opportunity to talk with Kevin ahead of this week’s performances. The pair chat about the intention of the new work, how audiences connect differently with the composer’s works for opera and orchestra, and the new creative endeavors he’d like to explore. (Hint: Kelli O’Hara could give him some pointers.)

For tickets and more information about this weekend’s concerts with the SLSO, which also feature Detlev Glanert’s Weites Land (Open Land) and the First Piano Concerto of Johannes Brahms played by Hélène Grimaud, click here.