St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Music Director Stéphane Denève spoke with Classic 107.3 host Julie Schuster about this weekend’s concerts featuring extraordinary soprano Jeanine De Bique and the St. Louis Symphony Chorus. Stéphane shared why this music is so meaningful to him personally, and how the program, which is focused on a theme of “tragedy and sacrifice” and includes music of Francis Poulenc, Florent Schmitt, and contemporary composer Reena Esmail, will be an intensely uplifting experience for both the performers and the audience.

Concerts take place Friday, October 21 and Saturday, October 22 at 7:30pm. For more information and tickets, visit slso.org.

From the SLSO website:

The St. Louis Symphony Chorus returns to the stage with music by Stéphane’s most beloved French composer, Francis Poulenc. Music explores the fierce power of belief, with composer Reena Esmail exploring influences from India. Trinidadian soprano Jeanine De Bique makes her SLSO debut with Poulenc’s Stabat Mater and Dialogues of the Carmelites. With her Carnegie Hall premiere slated for next spring, you get to experience her remarkable voice now at Powell Hall.

Read more about the program here.