Choruses Tackle Adams’ El Niño

On March 14 and 15, the Houston Symphony presents John Adams’ El Niño, which features spectacular guest soloists along with the Houston Symphony Chorus. A special addition for this production: 25 members of the Houston Grand Opera Children’s Chorus, who range in age from 10 to 17. We talked with both chorus directors—Betsy Cook Weber, Houston … Continued

Musicians’ Pick: Mahler Symphony No. 7

Instantly arresting. Brazenly theatrical. Larger than life. To experience a Mahler symphony live is an experience unlike any other. In his Seventh Symphony, Mahler paints with every color in the orchestral palette—from clanging cowbell to strumming mandolin—to summon nocturnal worlds both nightmarish and serene, menacingly dark and lustrously moonlit. Night erupts into dazzling day in … Continued

Defying Labels: David Robertson Conducts Adams’ El Niño

On March 14 and 15, the Houston Symphony presents John Adams’ El Niño. The work is a retelling of the Nativity story through Adams’ mesmerizing music and diverse texts, which were gathered from ancient and contemporary sources by Adams and his longtime collaborator, theater director Peter Sellars. Guest conductor David Robertson has championed contemporary composers … Continued

The Hills Are Alive with the Sound of Webern: Im Sommerwind

On March 26, 28, and 29, conductor Matthias Pintscher and pianist Cédric Tiberghien team up for Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20, an eclectic program of works by Mozart, Debussy, and Webern. In this post, discover Webern’s Im Sommerwind (In the Summer Wind), a lush orchestral tone poem inspired by the glories of the Austrian landscape. … Continued

Postcards from England, Spain, and France: Debussy’s Images

On March 26, 28, and 29, conductor Matthias Pintscher and pianist Cédric Tiberghien team up for Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20, an eclectic program of works by Mozart, Debussy, and Webern. In this post, discover Debussy’s delightful Images for orchestra, a series of musical pictures inspired by England, Spain, and France. Composed between 1906 and 1912, … Continued

Mozart’s Dark Side: The Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor

On March 26, 28, and 29, conductor Matthias Pintscher and pianist Cédric Tiberghien team up for Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20, an eclectic program of works by Mozart, Debussy, and Webern. In this post, discover Mozart’s dark and stormy Piano Concerto No. 20, possibly the composer’s most popular work for piano and orchestra. In keeping with … Continued