In February 2020, the Houston Symphony presents a two-week festival dedicated to one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era: Robert Schumann. As we approach Robert and Clara Schumann’s 179th wedding anniversary on September 12—just one day before Clara’s birthday—discover the unlikely path Schumann took to fame, his First Symphony, and love. Learn more about … Continued
On September 27, 28, and 29, Music Director Andrés Orozco-Estrada presents Gershwin’s Piano Concerto & Porgy and Bess, a concert of 20th-century masterpieces from the Western hemisphere. Our guest artist is world-renowned pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet, who performs Gershwin’s jazzy Piano Concerto in F. In this post, discover this uniquely American showpiece for piano and orchestra. … Continued
On October 4, 5, and 6, Houston favorite Melody Moore, soprano, makes her Houston Symphony debut. In Mendelssohn & Mahler, Melody is a soloist in Mahler’s large-scale and dramatic cantata, Das klagende Lied. Here she answers a few questions about her wide-ranging career, as well as her Houston ties. Houston Symphony: American singers are renowned … Continued
This month, the Houston Symphony welcomes a new concertmaster: Yoonshin Song. After a rigorous and exhaustive three-year search that considered 39 top candidates from around the world, our musicians, Music Director Andrés Orozco-Estrada, and orchestra administrators at last found a violinist to fill the shoes of Frank Huang, who left the Houston Symphony to become … Continued
On October 11, 12, and 13, the beloved European travel guru and public television personality Rick Steves joins the Houston Symphony for a musical tour of the continent: Rick Steves’ Europe: A Symphonic Journey. Complete with stunning film footage of some of Europe’s most spectacular travel destinations and performances of The Blue Danube waltz, Beethoven’s … Continued
After a dazzling, all-Russian program for our Opening Night Concert, featuring Yefim Bronfman performing Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3, we continue to explore the music of the Tsars’ realm when Music Director Andrés Orozco-Estrada returns to conduct our first Classical Series concert of the 2019–20 Season: Stravinsky’s Firebird, September 19, 21, and 22. The concert opens … Continued
Renée Elise Goldsberry’s career is soaring, taking her to extraordinary places, and it shows no signs of slowing down. She has broken into feature films with roles in All About You, Sisters, and Pistol Whipped, and ever since she first appeared as a backup singer on Ally McBeal, she has been a compelling presence on … Continued
On September 14, the Houston Symphony officially begins its 2019–20 Season with a spectacular Opening Night Concert of Russian classics, including Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with Yefim Bronfman. In this post, discover Tchaikovsky’s colorful Capriccio Italien, a perennial audience favorite. Visit houstonsymphony.org for tickets and more information. Italy was one of Tchaikovsky’s favorite travel destinations—once he had … Continued
After a dazzling, all-Russian program for our Opening Night Concert, featuring Yefim Bronfman performing Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3, we continue to explore the music of the Tsars’ realm when Music Director Andrés Orozco-Estrada returns to conduct our first Classical Series concert of the 2019–20 Season: Stravinsky’s Firebird, September 19, 21, and 22. In this post (a revised … Continued
On September 14, the Houston Symphony officially begins its 2019–20 Season with a spectacular Opening Night Concert of Russian classics, including Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with Yefim Bronfman. Beneath the soulful melodies and glittering orchestral sonorities, guest conductor Leonard Slatkin has cleverly arranged the program as a mini-lesson in the history of Russian music. … Continued
During these hot summer months, our musicians take a well-deserved break from Houston Symphony activities, but they still keep busy by traveling the world to teach, learn, and play with other musicians—sometimes they even find time for a vacation! Learn how a few of our musicians made the most of this summer. Brian Del Signore, … Continued
Met with eager anticipation, the annual Theater District Open House celebrates Houston’s vibrant performing arts scene with performances, specials offers, and free, family-friendly activities. This one-day festival sees thousands of attendees keen to provide patronage to the nine participating arts organizations. The Houston Symphony’s free concert is the crowning conclusion to a day devoted to … Continued
Broadway and “The Little Mermaid” ushered in a monumental era of Disney films! The Houston Symphony presents The Little Mermaid—Film with Live Orchestra on August 31 and September 1. For many fans, the “Disney Renaissance” is a highpoint in the history of animated films. Covering a decade (1989–1999) of feature films, this era brought a … Continued
In June, 40 singers from the Houston Symphony Chorus joined Chorus Director Betsy Cook Weber and Chorus Manager Anna Diemer for a concert tour across Poland and Germany. In this post, Anna shares memories of the trip. Our unforgettable June tour—five concerts in five cities!—culminated with an invitation to sing at the Bach Festival in … Continued
A native of St. Petersburg, Russia, Anastasia joined the Houston Symphony second violins in November 2017 having previously performed as a contracted substitute in the first violin section since the 2014–15 season. After moving to the United States at age 17, her musical career took a diversion into jazz and contemporary music. Realizing her passion … Continued
While gearing up for the start of our 2019–20 season in September, we asked our musicians which concerts they are most excited about this year. From Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess and Mahler’s epic Seventh Symphony to Hamilton’s Renée Elise Goldsberry and John Williams’s classics, discover what Houston Symphony musicians are most looking forward to! CLASSICAL … Continued
On April 12 and 13, 2025 the Houston Symphony pays tribute to the Queen of Tejano Music, Selena Quintanilla. Learn more about this iconic Texan with these fun facts as we prepare to celebrate her legacy ! 1. Selena Quintanilla was the first female Tejano artist, and the youngest singer, to ever win the Grammy … Continued
Performing for thousands of people at an ExxonMobil Symphony Summer Nights concert is one of the perks for winners of the silver medal at the Ima Hogg Competition. Cellist Coleman Itzkoff won second prize at this year’s competition for his performance of Bloch’s Schelomo: Rhapsodie hébraïque, which also earned him the Artistic Encouragement Award as … Continued
This year’s Ima Hogg Competition features nine young musicians who hail from three countries and five different U.S. states, including two from Texas (and three Rice University graduates). Together, the group has won more than 60 awards and accolades—and all before their 26th birthdays! Read on to learn more about the talented competitors who compete … Continued
This February, the Houston Symphony invites you to discover one of history’s most idiosyncratic geniuses: Robert Schumann. The Schumann Festival is a celebration of the composer’s life and work, with concerts and events at Jones Hall, Zilkha Hall at the Hobby Center, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. “The music of Schumann, which borders … Continued