On September 21, 22 & 23, the Houston Symphony performs Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 9 as part of its Bronfman Plays Prokofiev program led by Music Director Andrés Orozco-Estrada. Learn more about this fascinating work in the post below. Like Prokofiev’s First Symphony, Shostakovich’s Ninth was written in a fateful year: 1945. It also subverted the … Continued
On August 21, 1875 the Dvořák family suffered a tragedy. The newest addition to the family, a daughter Josefa, passed away only two days after being born. Six months later, Antonín Dvořák began to set to music the Stabat Mater dolorosa, a Latin poem composed by Franciscans in the 13th century that meditates on the … Continued
On September 21, 22 and 23, 2018, world renowned piano virtuoso Yefim Bronfman returns to Houston to perform Prokofiev’s spellbinding Piano Concerto No. 2 with Music Director Andrés Orozco-Estrada and the Houston Symphony. Discover the dark backstory behind this fascinating masterpiece. Prokofiev composed his second piano concerto at the age of 21 while on winter … Continued
Though he would live several decades more, Charles Ives stopped composing entirely by 1927. Many have speculated as to why, but the ultimate reason for his silence remains a mystery. His last symphony was thus one of his final works. Begun around 1910, Ives labored over it for many years, refining and altering the score … Continued
The Houston Symphony performs highlights from Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet as part of the Opening Night Concert of the orchestra’s 105th Season on Saturday, September 8, 2018. Learn more about this beloved ballet score in the post below. The commission for the ballet Romeo and Juliet in 1934 was part of the Soviet Union’s charm … Continued
Piano virtuoso Yuja Wang plays solo works by Rachmaninoff and Ravel’s extraordinary Concerto for the Left Hand at the Opening Night Concert of the Houston Symphony’s 105th Season on Saturday, September 8 at Jones Hall. In this post, discover this fascinating masterpiece, which miraculously creates the sound of two hands while using only one. Less … Continued