On May 30, 31 & June 1, the Houston Symphony closes its 2024–25 Season with a sonic wonder unlike anything else in music: Mahler’s Symphony No. 3. Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 radiates dynamism, charm and eloquence, and it closes with one of the most glowing slow movements in the orchestral repertoire. But let’s be … Continued
Fearless virtuoso Leila Josefowicz brings “stunning brilliance and high-voltage presence” (LA Times) to Stravinsky’s daring and invigorating Violin Concerto with guest conductor Dalia Stasevska on April 18 & 19. Stravinsky’s Violin Concerto dates from 1931, a year far removed from the heady epoch that produced the Scherzo fantastique, The Firebird, and Stravinsky’s other famous works … Continued
After Rachmaninoff fled Russia in 1917, he composed only six original pieces during the remaining twenty-five years of his life. Having lost nearly everything in the revolution, he was determined to restore his family to its former standard of living as quickly as possible, which meant giving up composing in favor of pursuing a career … Continued
On May 1, 3 & 4, the Houston Symphony presents Beethoven 7 & Mozart, a program featuring one of Beethoven’s most popular symphonies. In this post, discover how Irish folk music may have inspired this “apotheosis of the dance.” Though Beethoven began sketching ideas for a new symphony almost as soon as his Sixth had … Continued
On Feb. 15 & 16, the Houston Symphony presents Duke Bluebeard’s Castle featuring world-renowned singers Gábor Bretz and Ekaterina Gubanova. In this post, discover the dark secrets that lie behind Bartók’s fascinating operatic masterpiece. Get tickets and more information here. Duke Bluebeard’s Castle is a miraculous accomplishment. The first efforts of most opera composers (Wagner, Verdi, … Continued
Happy national Bloggers Day! As we celebrate today, August 5, we’re excited to spotlight the top five blogs from our 2023–24 Season. These posts offer a deeper glimpse into the music and stories that brought them to life. Read more from the highlights of last season: #1: Wheel of Fortune: Orff’s Carmina burana On March … Continued
Take an enchanted journey through the City of Seven Hills by joining the Houston Symphony and guest conductor Fabien Gabel on May 2, 4 & 5. These concerts will feature the first two installments of Ottorino Respighi’s beloved Roman Triptych, Fountains of Rome and Pines of Rome, plus the dazzling virtuosity of pianist Alexandra Dariescu, … Continued
On May 25 & 26 the Houston Symphony presents John Adams’ El Niño, an opera-oratorio written to celebrate the dawn of the new millennium in 2000. In this post, discover the diverse texts—ranging from Christian apocrypha to 20th century Mexican feminist poetry—that retell the Christmas story in this modern masterpiece. In 1999, the Théâtre du … Continued
On April 26, 27 & 28 the Houston Symphony presents Carl Orff’s spectacular masterpiece, Carmina Burana. In this post, discover how a once-obscure medieval tome inspired one of the most popular pieces of music of all time. Get tickets and more information here. On March 29, 1934, Carl Orff received a much anticipated parcel with … Continued
Gustav Mahler (1860–1911) stands as one of the most influential and innovative composers of the late Romantic Era. Born in Bohemia (now part of the Czech Republic), he demonstrated exceptional musical talent from a young age. He received formal training in Vienna and quickly established himself as a gifted conductor, serving in prestigious positions, including … Continued
Join the Houston Symphony and Artistic Partner Itzhak Perlman on February 8, 10 & 11 to experience the majestic triumph of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5. In May of 1888, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky wrote to his friend and patron, Nadezhda von Meck, “I must work harder in the future; I want so much to show not … Continued
As the transcendent beauty of Brahms’s Requiem comes to the Jones Hall stage, it’s important to note that this requiem is unlike any other you might know. From musical notation to orchestration, the Brahms’s brings the connection to humanity to the forefront of the profound masterwork. Brahms’s Requiem (Ein deutsches Requiem): German Language and Sacred … Continued
Music is one of the most transcendent art forms that can take us back in time and evoke emotions we have never experienced. The fusion of music and history has unraveled mysteries worth exploring. The story behind Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 11, The Year 1905, is a fascinating example of how music can reflect a society’s … Continued
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 London’s leading … Continued
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
In October 1883, Antonín Dvořák wrote to his publisher: “I was recently in Vienna, where I spent very fine days with Dr. Brahms, who had just come back from Wiesbaden,” a picturesque town on the Rhine river in Western Germany. The Czech composer, a good friend of Brahms, continued: “You know, of course, how very … Continued
We’re kicking off Classical Music Month with 10 movies that feature classical favorites! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUt4DfGnyJQ 1. Amadeus (1984) Mozart, Requiem Winner of 8 Academy Awards, Amadeus interweaves the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with that of Antonio Salieri for a gripping meditation on the nature of genius—in all its mysterious, awe-inspiring, unpredictable glory. The film is … Continued
On September 23, 24, & 25, classical superstar Joshua Bell returns to the Houston Symphony to play Sibelius’s sparkling Violin Concerto. In this post, read Joshua Bell’s essay on his Gibson ex Huberman violin. Get tickets and more information for Joshua Bell + Shostakovich 5. The Huberman Violin by Joshua Bell My violin is over … Continued
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
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! 1) He was the Houston Symphony’s music director from 1988 to 1999. The Houston Symphony was Christoph Eschenbach’s first appointment to a major … Continued