On September 30 and October 1 and 2, the Houston Symphony presents Gershwin Concerto in F, featuring Sibelius’s Symphony No. 1 and Gershwin’s Concerto in F, one of Gershwin’s many pieces that brought jazz into the classical world. One year after writing his fusion of jazz and classical music, Gershwin set out to show the … Continued
The new year is off to a swingin’ start as we prepare for our next Bank of America POPS Series concert, In the Mood: A Big Band New Year on January 8–10, led by principal POPS conductor Steven Reineke. Whether joining us in-person at Jones Hall for socially distanced performances or via livestream at home, … Continued
Did you know that many great works of art are inspired by other works of art? Even in classical music, composers will often use other pieces as the springboard for their own creativity. These activities were designed to help inspire creativity in children ages 7–11 as they make their own meaning from two pieces of classical … Continued
Classical musicians often hear the question, “What do you listen to in your spare time?” Sheldon Person, viola, shares this notated playlist of a few of his jazz favorites. As we all have recently, I’ve found myself working from my home office more than usual. This time has given me an opportunity to spend some … Continued
This Valentine’s Day weekend (February 15, 16 and 17), the Houston Symphony pays tribute to one of the greatest singers of the twentieth century: Ella Fitzgerald. Get tickets and more information about these concerts here. While nearly everyone has heard of Ella Fitzgerald, few know of the remarkable path she took to become a legend … Continued
On January 4, 5 and 6, conductor and pianist Jeffrey Kahane performs Gershwin’s legendary Rhapsody in Blue in its rarely heard original form for jazz band and piano. In this post, discover the circumstances surrounding the genesis of this iconic masterpiece. Get tickets and more information here. On January 3, 1924, the Gershwin brothers were … Continued