Friday, September 19, 2025
2025 Opening Night Concert & Gala
Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts and Corinthian Houston | Concert Followed by Seated Dinner
About
It’s my pleasure to invite you to the Houston Symphony’s Opening Night Concert and Gala, on Friday, September 19, 2025. This event marks the fourth season of Juraj Valčuha’s artistic leadership as Music Director and Roy and Lillie Cullen Chair, and the beginning of the 2025-26 Season, with Valčuha leading the Symphony in a stunning rendition of Stravinsky’s Firebird.
Angel Blue, Soprano
Inspired by the legend of The Firebird—a magical glowing bird from Slavic folklore—Stravinsky’s Firebird dazzles from first note to heart-pounding finale. It’s the music that made Stravinsky an overnight star, putting the world on notice that a genius had arrived. Soprano Angel Blue makes her Houston Symphony debut in Florent Schmitt’s beyond-epic Psalm 47, and kicks off this celebratory, season-opening program.
The evening begins with a champagne reception followed by the Opening Night Concert at 7:30 PM. After experiencing the magic of Firebird, you will be transported to the Corinthian Houston for the Gala, which includes an elegant, seated dinner with wines selected by Lindy & John Rydman of Spec’s Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods. Valet service will be available for all Gala guests; simply arrive at Jones Hall and depart from the Corinthian.
Angel Blue, Soprano
We are deeply grateful to ConocoPhillips, the Opening Night Concert Sponsor and Lead Corporate Gala Underwriter for the 39th consecutive year.
As chair of this event, I’m looking forward to celebrating the start of a new season at the Symphony with you.
Kind Regards,
Carey Kirkpatrick
2025 Opening Night Chair
Opening Night Concert Program:
SCHMITT
Psalm 47
STRAVINSKY
The Firebird Suite
Join us for the 2025 Opening Night Concert & Gala
On September 19, enjoy a spectacular evening as Juraj Valčuha conducts Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite. After the concert, the celebration continues at The Corinthian with a Firebird-inspired Gala chaired by Carey Kirkpatrick. Presented by ConocoPhillips.
You're invited to a special evening with Houston Symphony Music Director, Juraj Valčuha, at the beautiful home of Janet F. Clark.
Celebrate the start of the 2025–2026 Season by purchasing a table and joining us for this exclusive reception. For more details or to reserve your spot, see below.
Reservation And Benefits
Get Additional Help
For questions, please contact Stacey Swift, Director of Special Events, at stacey.swift@houstonsymphony.org or 713.337.8523.
Angel Blue
soprano
Angel Blue has emerged in recent seasons as one of the most influential sopranos before the public today. The two-time Grammy Award winner, 2020 Beverly Sills Award recipient, and the 2022 Richard Tucker Award winner is celebrated worldwide for her honeyed soprano and affecting deliveries of many of the most beloved roles in the operatic repertory, such as the title roles in Aida and Tosca, Violetta in La Traviata, Bess in Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, Mimì in La bohème, and Destiny/Loneliness/Greta in Terrence Blanchard’s Fire Shut Up in My Bones.
Her 25–26 season starts with her performances as Bess in Houston Grand Opera’s anticipated new production of Porgy and Bess, celebrating the anniversary of the house’s first production of the piece. Angel also returns to the Opéra national de Paris to sing the title role in Tosca, and to the Metropolitan Opera to sing both Mimì in La bohème and Liu in Turandot.
On the concert stage, she performs Florent Schmidt’s Psalm 47 with the Houston Symphony, the Christmas in Vienna concert at the Konzerthaus Vienna, and concerts at the Grafenegg Festival and Annapolis Symphony. She also performs recitals with pianist Bryan Wagorn at Reykjavik Arts Festival, Spivey Hall, and Four Arts Palm Beach.
Angel kicked off her 24–25 season with the hugely popular Last Night of the Proms, and then returned to her home stage at the Metropolitan Opera, where she spent a major portion of her season. In the fall, she played Margarita Xirgu in Osvaldo Golijov’s first opera, Ainadamar, and in two separate stints over the winter and spring, she made her long-anticipated debut as Aida, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. She joined Nézet-Séguin and the Rotterdam Philharmonic on tour in the Netherlands, Germany, and France. Angel also made a company debut as Mimì in the Bayerische Staatsoper’s production of La bohème. She appeared twice at Carnegie Hall, first in recital with the legendary pianist Lang Lang, and again with the Met Opera Orchestra and Nézet-Séguin. Concert engagements included a solo recital at the Los Angeles Opera and Aida in concert at the Baltimore Symphony.