The Greece of My Dreams: Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloé Suite No. 2

The idea for a ballet based on Daphnis and Chloe (an ancient Greek love story attributed to Longus) originated with the Russian choreographer Michel Fokine. He first proposed the subject to the Director of the Russian Imperial Theaters, but it was not until Fokine became involved with Sergei Diaghilev’s groundbreaking Ballets russes in Paris that … Continued

Hallelujah for Handel! The Making of a Christmas Tradition

Best known for the famous Hallelujah Chorus, Handel’s Messiah is one of the most performed pieces of classical music in history. Get ready for the Houston Symphony’s annual presentation of this masterpiece. By the time George Frederick Handel began composing Messiah in 1741, he was at the height of his powers, recognized as one of … Continued

The Sound of Christmas: John Williams’s Score to Home Alone

On December 3, the Houston Symphony presents Home Alone—Film with Live Orchestra. Our Grammy® Award-winning Recording Engineer and resident film music buff Brad Sayles explores how John Williams masterfully scored this holiday classic. Imagine being asked to score a Christmas film. A few well-known carols will appear throughout, but the true soundtrack must define the … Continued

Musical Revolution: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, Eroica

On April 15 & 16, the Houston Symphony performs Beethoven’s revolutionary Symphony No. 3, Eroica with guest conductor Rafael Payare. In this post, discover how personal crisis and political turmoil combined to inspire one of the most influential pieces of music ever composed. Learn more about this history-making masterpiece in our podcast, On the Music. … Continued

The Maestro: 5 Fascinating Facts about Christoph Eschenbach

World-renowned conductor Christoph Eschenbach returns to Jones Hall to conduct Beethoven and Brahms 1. How well do you know the legendary maestro? Get to know this revered musician with these fun facts and reserve your seat for January 21–23! 1) He was the Houston Symphony’s music director from 1988 to 1999. The Houston Symphony was … Continued

A Modern Classic: Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony

On October 22, 23, & 24, Dame Jane Glover leads the Houston Symphony in Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony. The program also features Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 1, which we last performed in September 2018. In the post below, learn more about one of Prokofiev’ most-loved works, his “Classical” Symphony. At first, Prokofiev was not overly troubled by … Continued

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