HOUSTON (June 14, 2017) – The ExxonMobil Summer Symphony Nights at Miller Outdoor Theatre continue June 30 and July 1 with free concerts featuring young soloists who have earned top prizes in prestigious concerto competitions.
On June 30, Chinese-American pianist George Li will perform Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 under the direction of the BBC Philharmonic’s new Principal Guest Conductor Ben Gernon. From a thunderous opening to a soaring finale, the emotive work has become the most popular piano concerto in history. Li has been praised by the Washington Post for combining “staggering technical prowess, a sense of command and depth of expression.” The program concludes with Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 1.
The next evening, 24 year-old wunderkind composer and conductor Alex Prior will make his Houston Symphony debut just before he begins his post as Chief Conductor of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra in the upcoming season. Prior is joined by cellist Rainer Crosett, Silver Medalist of the 2017 Ima Hogg competition, who will perform Haydn’s Cello Concerto. Crosett is a graduate of the New England Conservatory/Harvard joint program and is currently pursuing further graduate studies at the University of Southern California under Ralph Kirshbaum. The program concludes with Brahms’ Symphony No. 4, one of the composer’s most emotionally powerful works.
Admission is free, but tickets are required for the covered seated area. Tickets are available at the Miller Theatre Box Office the day of the performance between 10:30 a.m and 1 p.m. Any remaining tickets are released one hour before the performance time. Visit www.milleroutdoortheatre.com for more information.