You’ll be inspired by Tchaikovsky’s luscious melodies, performed with passion by giant of the keyboard, Yefim Bronfman.

Take a symphonic journey into a mythical world of gods, giants and heroes in the quest for a magic ring that holds immense power.

From amazing child prodigy to breathtaking virtuoso, Joshua Bell has performed with every major orchestra worldwide. Marvel as he plays Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, loved for its romantic spirit and technical fireworks, on the Gibson Stradivarius.
Stolen twice from Polish violinist Bronislaw Huberman, this remarkable Stradivarius went missing for 51 years, only to resurface after the thief’s death.

Beethoven’s Eroica, threaded with epic drama and revolutionary genius in every note, has changed the rules of the classical symphony forever.

You’ll be enthralled by Bartók’s musical portrayal of greed, lust, crime and the ultimate power of love.

Take a stroll through an orchestral gallery of musical paintings. Let your imagination soar through depictions of mythical creatures, ruins, the famous Tuileries Gardens in Paris and underground catacombs. Finally, find yourself at the Great Gate of Kiev.

Written in memory of two of Giuseppe Verdi’s greatest idols, Messa da Requiem begins with a delicate melody that quickly blossoms into music of great sweep and grandeur. Hear your Houston Symphony, Chorus and world renowned soloists recreate the tempestuous “Dies irae” and the powerful “Confutatis.” Experience the ever-growing sorrow of “Lacrimosa,” and find comfort in the words and music of “Libera me.”

Gil Shaham returns to perform Walton’s Violin Concerto, which bathes the listener in a sunny Mediterranean glow.

Delight in Maurice Ravel’s most flavorful music. The Houston Symphony, in collaboration with Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, will perform Ravel’s comedic one-act opera, The Spanish Hour. After the electrifying Rapsodie espagnole, we’ll close the evening with one of the most popular works ever written, Ravel’s Bolero. You’ll leave Jones Hall with the feeling you’ve spent a well deserved vacation in Seville!

Regarded by the Baltimore Sun as “a huge talent,” Jonathan Biss returns to Houston to perform Beethoven’s stormy third piano concerto.

Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody was made popular in the 1980 movie Somewhere in Time. Rachmaninoff himself played the first performance of the Rhapsody in Philadelphia, with former Houston Symphony Music Director Leopold Stokowski on the podium. You’ll be dazzled by piano virtuoso Gabriela Montero, known not only for her impeccable technique and musicality, but also for her incredible ability to improvise on any given theme.

Live the stories of delusional knight Don Quixote of La Mancha, from tilting at windmills to his imaginary lady love, Dulcinea.

Relive the exotic legend of the young entrancing temptress, Scheherazade, and her tales told over 1,001 nights.

Mendelssohn’s travels to Scotland inspired this dramatic symphony which ranges from hushed to majestic.

Prokofiev transports you to the 13th century for a tale of war, treason and the power of the common people united by a hero.

Through musical examples and images, Hans Graf and Fred Child, host of radio’s Performance Today, explore Deryck Cooke’s completion of Mahler’s unfinished final masterpiece.

As impressive as anything the composer ever wrote, Dvorák’s Cello Concerto is rich in expansive melodies, beautiful lyricism and extraordinary brilliance. Returning to Houston, charismatic cellist Alisa Weilerstein brings her passionate interpretation to Dvorák’s masterpiece, closing the 2010–2011 season with musical fireworks.