HOUSTON (June 25, 2020) — The Houston Symphony announces its return to the stage with the concert series Live from Jones Hall—a new hour-long livestream from Jones Hall at 8 p.m. each Saturday night in July and Saturday, Aug. 1. This series will introduce audiences to diverse and engaging programs, and it will offer an intimate concert experience. The concerts will feature Symphony musicians in solo and small ensemble roles and in repertoire not often showcased on our programs, highlighting different sections of the orchestra. Each livestream performance is available via a private link to ticket holders.
“Building on the success of our Living Room Series, we’re excited to be able to continue with live-streamed performances,” said Houston Symphony Executive Director, CEO, and holder of the Margaret Alkek Williams Chair John Mangum. “I think it will be emotional for all of us when our incredible musicians return to the Jones Hall stage after a more than three-month absence. It’s a challenging time for all of us here, but one that also presents the opportunity to explore repertoire for smaller ensembles from a wide variety of composers that really gives our individual musicians a chance to shine.”
The programs for the Live from Jones Hall series have been curated to allow for social distancing on stage, yet remain true to the Houston Symphony’s mission to inspire and engage Greater Houston’s diverse population. The programs represent audience favorite composers like Bach, Strauss, and Stravinsky while exploring repertoire from prominent composers of diverse backgrounds including Silvestre Revueltas, Scott Joplin, and Florence Price.
Based on guidance and recommendations from local health officials and the CDC, the Symphony is implementing backstage protocols for all musicians performing and staff helping with the production of these performances in addition to socially distanced musicians and no in-person audience in attendance. These protocols include keeping musicians six feet apart at all times, as well as when they are onstage performing; requiring the use of protective masks in common areas; and regular testing and screening for all musicians and backstage staff.
Each week’s performance is now on sale for $10 online at houstonsymphony.org/livefromjoneshall. Ticket holders receive a private link to enjoy the live performance in the comfort of their homes. The Symphony encourages fans to consider purchasing multiple tickets to share as gifts for concert-goers to remotely enjoy with family and friends. Live from Jones Hall is made possible in part to support provided by Barbara J. Burger, and Robin Angly and Miles Smith.
Houston Symphony Live from Jones Hall
• BACH, PRICE & JANÁČEK
Saturday, July 11
Yoonshin Song, violin and leader
Yue Bao, conductor (Janáček)
Price: Andante moderato from String Quartet in G major
Yoonshin Song, violin and leader
Amy Semes, violin
Joan Derhovsepian, viola
Brinton Averil Smith, cello
Janáček: Capriccio for Piano and Chamber Ensemble
Scott Holshouser, piano and harpsichord
Judy Dines, flute
Ian Mayton, horn
John Parker, trumpet
Allen Barnhill, trombone
Bradley White, trombone
Phillip Freeman, trombone
Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F major, BWV 1046
Jonathan Fischer, oboe
Colin Gatwood, oboe
Anne Leek, oboe
William VerMeulen, horn
Brian Thomas, horn
Yoonshin Song, violin
Bach: Cantata for Trumpet and Strings, BWV 147 (“Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring”)
Mark Hughes, trumpet
• MOZART & STRAUSS
Saturday, July 18
Yue Bao, conductor (Strauss)
Strauss: Metamorphosen, Realisation for String Septet
Eric Halen, violin
Boson Mo, violin
Sheldon Person, viola
Wei Jiang, viola
Christopher French, cello
Louis-Marie Fardet, cello
Robin Kesselman, bass
Mozart: Wind Serenade in E flat major
Jonathan Fischer, oboe
Colin Gatwood, oboe
Thomas Legrand, clarinet
Alexander Potiomkin, clarinet
Isaac Schultz, bassoon
Elise Wagner, bassoon
William Ver Meulen, horn
Ian Mayton, horn
• DEBUSSY, JOPLIN, ABREU & MORE
Saturday, July 25
Handel: “Arrival of the Queen of Sheba” from Solomon
D. Hall: Escape Velocity
Debussy: String Quartet in G minor, Op. 10, Movement II (percussion)
Gervaise: Dances of the French Renaissance
Cage: Third Construction
Joplin: The Easy Winners
Abreu: Tico Tico
• MENDELSSOHN, STRAVINSKY & REVUELTAS
Saturday, August 1
Revueltas: Ocho Por Radio
Alexander Potiomkin, clarinet
Rian Craypo, bassoon
Mark Hughes, trumpet
Matthew Strauss, percussion
MuChen Hsieh, violin
Annie Chen, violin
Christopher French, cello
Burke Shaw, bass
Stravinsky: Wind Octet
Aralee Dorough, flute
Thomas LeGrand, clarinet
Rian Craypo, bassoon
Elise Wagner, bassoon
John Parker, trumpet
Robert Walp, trumpet
Brad White, trombone
Phillip Freeman, trombone
Mozart: Serenade in C minor, K.388 (Nachtmusik)
Jonathan Fischer, oboe
Colin Gatwood, oboe
Thomas LeGrand, clarinet
Alexander Potiomkin, clarinet
Rian Craypo, bassoon
Elise Wagner, bassoon
Nancy Goodearl, horn
Brian Thomas, horn
The Houston Symphony invites people to follow their social media pages and visit houstonsymphony.org/listenathome for daily, free content updates including musician videos, blogs, archival audio and video performances, and more.
About the Houston Symphony
During the 2019–20 season, the Houston Symphony celebrates its sixth season with Music Director Andrés Orozco-Estrada and continues its second century as one of America’s leading orchestras with a full complement of concert, community, education, touring, and recording activities. The Houston Symphony, one of the oldest performing arts organizations in Texas, held its inaugural performance at The Majestic Theater in downtown Houston June 21, 1913. Today, with an annual operating budget of $35.2 million, the full-time ensemble of 88 professional musicians presents nearly 170 concerts annually, making it the largest performing arts organization in Houston. Additionally, musicians of the orchestra and the Symphony’s four Community-Embedded Musicians offer over 1,000 community-based performances each year at various schools, community centers, hospitals, and churches reaching more than 200,000 people in Greater Houston annually.
The Grammy Award-winning Houston Symphony has recorded under various prestigious labels, including Koch International Classics, Naxos, RCA Red Seal, Telarc, Virgin Classics, and, most recently, Dutch recording label Pentatone. In 2017, the Houston Symphony was awarded an ECHO Klassik award for the live recording of Alban Berg’s Wozzeck under the direction of former Music Director Hans Graf. The orchestra earned its first Grammy nomination and Grammy Award at the 60th annual ceremony for the same recording in the Best Opera Recording category.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Eric Skelly: 713.337.8560, eric.skelly@houstonsymphony.org
Mireya Reyna: 713.337.8557, mireya.reyna@houstonsymphony.org
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