The Bad Boy of St. Petersburg: Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 1

On May 9, 11, and 12, the Houston Symphony presents award-winning American pianist George Li in not one, but two virtuoso works for piano and orchestra. In this post, discover how the young Prokofiev flouted conventions and got the better of his professors with his Piano Concerto No. 1. Get tickets and more information here. One … Continued

Something Rare: Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 22 in E-flat major, K. 482

Above: Detail of Jean Honoré Fragonard’s The Love Letter. This Thanksgiving weekend, the Houston Symphony welcomes acclaimed pianist Inon Barnatan back to Jones Hall for performances of Mozart’s enchanting Piano Concerto No. 22. Learn more about this colorful work in this post. Mozart completed the Piano Concerto No. 22 in E-flat major on December 16, … Continued

Backstage Pass: Richard Harris, trumpet

Richard Harris joined the Houston Symphony as second trumpet in 2018. Previously, for eight years he was a member of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, where he became the only musician in an American orchestra to win auditions for each position in one trumpet section. A Yamaha Performing Artist, he has performed with the Seoul and … Continued

Backstage Pass: Andrew Pedersen, double bass

Andrew Pedersen joined the Houston Symphony Double Bass section in August 2017. A native of Batavia, Illinois, Andrew received his bachelor’s degree from DePaul University and master’s degree from Rice University, where he studied with Robert Kassinger and former Houston Symphony Principal Bass Timothy Pitts, respectively. Other mentors include Paul Ellison, Alexander Hanna and Gregory … Continued

Backstage Pass: Anne Leek, oboe

Anne Leek, oboe, was educated at Juilliard where she received her bachelors of music, masters of music and doctor of musical arts degrees. During her time in New York, she performed on a recital in Carnegie Hall sponsored by the Artists International Contest, which she won. During the 1980s, Anne was solo principal oboe of … Continued

A Romantic Masterpiece: Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto

During the summer of 1838, Felix Mendelssohn wrote to his longtime friend and collaborator Ferdinand David: “I should like to write a violin concerto for you next winter. One in E minor runs through my head, the beginning of which gives me no peace.” Indeed, it would not give him peace for another six years, … Continued

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