Backstage Pass: Jonathan Fischer, oboe

Jonathan Fischer joined the Houston Symphony as Principal Oboe in September 2012, and joined the faculty of the University of Houston in September 2014. Previously, he served as associate principal oboe with the San Francisco Symphony for nine seasons. He has also held positions with the Cleveland Orchestra, the Lyric Opera of Chicago and several … Continued

Houston Symphony Holiday Gift Guide 2017

What do you get for the music lover who has everything? According to new scientific research, experiences like concerts are more likely to contribute to long-term happiness than, well, a bunch of stuff. According to Cornell University psychologist Dr. Thomas Gilovich, “New things are exciting to us at first, but then we adapt to them.” Experiences, … Continued

Happy Thanksgiving from the Houston Symphony!

What is the Houston Symphony thankful for this year? We surveyed our musicians and staff to find out! From being back in Jones Hall after Hurricane Harvey to playing great music for you, we have a lot to be thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us onstage and behind-the-scenes. WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR … Continued

20 Questions with Megan Hilty

On December 1, 2 and 3, Megan Hilty returns to Houston with Christmas cheer as part of our 2017 Very Merry Pops concerts. Get to know this television and Broadway star with these 20 fun and revealing questions.  What is your favorite Christmas song?  Traditional: “The Christmas Song.” Contemporary: “All I Want For Christmas Is … Continued

Fiddler on the Roof? A Guide to Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 1

When Shostakovich began composing his First Violin Concerto in 1947, he was enjoying a period of relative calm. World War II had distracted Stalin’s government from show trials and purges, leaving artists slightly less harassed than usual. In 1942, Shostakovich unveiled his Leningrad Symphony, which won a Stalin Prize and was played across the allied … Continued

1,001 Nights: A Guide to Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade

This Thanksgiving, the Houston Symphony presents one of the repertoire’s most popular orchestral works: Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade. Discover the story behind this masterpiece inspired by The One Thousand and One Nights. On February 27, 1887, the acclaimed Russian composer Alexander Borodin was attending a party when, after dancing a waltz, he dropped dead of a heart … Continued