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
This post is continued from a previous post, which you can read here. Last time, we discovered the Jaliscan origins of Mariachi music and the economic and social forces of industrialization and revolution that transformed the sound of Mariachi. The evolution of Mariachi music was far from complete, however; the plain clothes and humble status … Continued
Today, Mariachi music is an unmistakable symbol of Mexico and Mexican culture throughout the world. There are Mariachi ensembles in the UK, Croatia, Ecuador, Egypt, and Sweden, not to mention Mexico and the United States. Few people realize that Mariachi music as we know it today only recently evolved as part of the political, social, … Continued
Step into the wonderful country of Colombia as the Houston Symphony performs Disney’s Encanto™ Live to Film in Concert! With music from composer Germaine Franco and Lin-Manuel Miranda, you’ll dance and groove to the music of cumbia and bambuco! As you experience the blockbuster hit live at Jones Hall, we encourage you to keep an … Continued
“Ladies and gentlemen, here are four of the nicest young kids we’ve ever had on our stage. The Beatles!”—Ed Sullivan, February 1964 The Fab Four from Liverpool then step into a frame on one of the biggest stages in 1964. Playfully strumming to the tune of “She Loves You,” audiences everywhere tune into see the … 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
On December 3, the Houston Symphony presents Home Alone—Film with Live Orchestra. Our Grammy® Award-winning Recording Engineer and resident film music buff Brad Sayles explores how John Williams masterfully scored this holiday classic. Imagine being asked to score a Christmas film. A few well-known carols will appear throughout, but the true soundtrack must define the … Continued
The Houston Symphony Chorus is participating in three festive concerts in December, from joining internationally renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli in Concert at the Toyota Center to annual performances of Very Merry Pops and Handel’s “Messiah” at Jones Hall. What makes holiday concerts so merry and bright? Read on to hear from Houston Symphony Chorus members! … Continued
On October 23, HANSON joins the Houston Symphony for HANSON STRING THEORY, a musical manifesto with new and career spanning works from HANSON. Get ready for the concert when Taylor, Isaac and Zac answer the questions below. Q: Last year, HANSON celebrated 25 years of playing music – what an achievement! What is one of your … 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
George Michael’s legacy is still celebrated today by countless fans across the world. Since his debut in the musical duo Wham!, Michael went on to sell over 120 million records world-wide and was awarded three Brit Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards, six Ivor Novello Awards, three American Music Awards, and two Grammy Awards during … Continued
Over the past 30 years, the Final Fantasy franchise has brought players on amazing journeys to dozens of worlds, from Gaia to Spira to Eos. But perhaps even more remarkable is the way which the franchise revolutionized video game music, making it an integral part of every adventure. In advance of Distant Worlds: Music from Final … Continued
Houston, home to NASA has become a stellar part of pop culture related to outer space. For instance, the famous phrase “Houston, we have a problem” was made popular in the 1995 film Apollo 13, which depicted the true events of the Apollo 13 space mission. It is fitting that the Houston Symphony presents the … Continued
The Houston Symphony has made its home in the Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts since it opened on October 2, 1966. The Story Behind Jones Hall Jones Hall is named after a man who financed extensive construction in downtown Houston, published the Houston Chronicle, and served in the Federal Government during the Great Depression … Continued
On July 16, the Houston Symphony presents The Men of Motown Featuring Spectrum, a concert celebrating the rich musical legacy of some of Motown’s greatest artists. Headlining the concert will be the vocal ensemble Spectrum, one of the best Motown-style ensembles around. Spectrum vocalist Cushney Roberts took some time to share a bit of the remarkable … Continued
Mezzo-soprano Jennifer Rivera is one of the most dynamic personalities in opera and classical music today: her multifaceted career includes not only a busy schedule of international performances, but also blogging, arts advocacy and arts administration. Recently, I got to ask her a few questions in advance of her upcoming performances of Handel’s Messiah with the Houston … Continued
World renowned violinist Joshua Bell joins the Houston Symphony to celebrate the Opening Night of our 2015-16 Season this Saturday, September 12, 2015. Mr. Bell plays a violin made by Antonio Stradivari with a fascinating story. Bell himself reveals the history of this remarkable instrument and how he came to play it below. My violin … Continued
Yesterday, I got a chance to pose some questions to Houston Symphony percussionist Matt Strauss about this weekend’s performances of Carmina Burana and his work with the musicians of the Colombian Youth Philharmonic. Matt Strauss was one of fourteen musicians who traveled to Colombia in June 2015 to help prepare the musicians of the Colombian … Continued
EAST COAST STORMS THREATENED VALENTINE’S DAY CONCERT How the Houston Symphony Saved Valentine’s Day in Less than 24 Hours By Glenn Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer, Houston Symphony Just when it seemed that the Houston Symphony audience for acclaimed vocalist Linda Eder would be broken-hearted on Valentine’s Day due to Eder’s inability to travel to Houston, … Continued