Juraj Valčuha Music Director

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Connecting the dots: “Do Mode” verses “Think Mode”

I have a theory that people have two modes of existence. One is to do, and the other is to think. Some people are so focused on thinking about what they can or can’t do that they simply become ineffective or inactive. Conversely, others seem to do a lot, but don’t take the time to … Continued

Guest Artist Byron Stripling on the Music of Louis Armstrong

Guest Artist Byron Stripling will join the Houston Symphony January 18, 19 and 20, 2013 for our What a Wonderful World: The Best of Louis Armstrong concerts. Below are his thoughts on honoring the legendary New Orleans Jazz artist: Hello Texas friends. I can’t wait for January 18, 19 and 20 because I’ll have the … Continued

Thoughts from Dr. Robert Ivany, President of University of St. Thomas

In Houston, we are blessed with a vibrant arts community, providing a multitude of performing arts opportunities where new memories will be made in this joyous season. At the University of St. Thomas, we look forward to adding another bright star to the performing arts community tree with our planned Performing Arts Center. We at … Continued

Inside the Minds of Houston Symphony Musicians

It’s a new year and a time for new beginnings. In the spirit of newness, we thought we’d take a new approach for an interview with our featured soloists for next weekend’s performances of Copland’s Quiet City, on the same concert program as Dvořák’s New World Symphony. Read on as two of our own musicians … Continued

New Year’s Resolution: Make 2013 A Year of Music!

2013 — a great year to begin playing an instrument! The sounds of an instrument being played for the first time may not exactly be beautiful, but in just a few years of studying music, the benefits truly last a lifetime. Here are a few articles we found that describe research showing the effects of … Continued

Maestro Graf Discusses The Work of His Friend, Composer Henri Dutilleux

This month, the Houston Symphony will begin its 2013 series of concerts with an exciting weekend of performances featuring American themed music. “The concert program is really a commentary on Hans Graf’s time here in the United States,” stated Aurelie Desmarais, the Houston Symphony’s senior director of Artistic Planning. “He is an Austrian trained conductor … Continued

Handel’s “Messiah”…again.

What is it about Handel’s Messiah that makes it such an amazing masterpiece year after year? At first blush, performing the same piece each season could become repetitive and less interesting, but it doesn’t. How can a piece of music feel different each time you perform it, even though nothing on the page has changed … Continued

Andrea Bocelli: In His Own Words

In just over a week’s time on November 28th, the Houston Symphony will have the exciting opportunity to perform once more with one of the world’s most inspiring operatic legends: Andrea Bocelli. Bocelli was last in Houston in December of 2010, and is returning by popular demand. The Tuscany native, who suffered the loss of … Continued

Thank You Subscribers!

November is Subscriber Appreciation Month! It is subscriber appreciation month at the Houston Symphony. All month, we are celebrating the loyalty and contributions of our many dedicated subscribers by recognizing you with inserts in our November magazine at each concert. Please know how much we value the trust you place in us to provide you … Continued

The Secrets Behind the Wicked Divas’ On-Stage Magic

The Houston Symphony’s 12-13 POPS season is off to a great start this fall! After a wonderful season opener with the Midtown Men, we’re excited to welcome our next special guests Alli Mauzey and Nicole Parker to perform some Broadway favorites in our October POPS concert, Wicked Divas. I recently had the chance to interview … Continued

Catching Up with the Midtown Men

Perhaps you’ve heard some of the buzz about The Midtown Men. You’ve seen a few photos of them looking as sharp and snazzy as Frankie Valli. You may have even seen one of their fantastic and entertaining YouTube videos. But the question remains: who are these Midtown Men and what makes their show so great? … Continued

An Interview With A Legend of Zelda Fanatic

When I first heard that we might be presenting The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses, I think I leapt out of my chair and proclaimed that we HAD to do it! You see, I’ve loved video games for a very long time and the Zelda series is one of my all time favorites. … Continued

The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses Preview

The anticipation is palpable here at the Houston Symphony. Everyone is buzzing about this weekend’s upcoming performances of The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses. Check out a preview of what’s in store here: Balcony seats are now available for Friday and Saturday nights! But hurry, tickets are going quickly!

Sounds Like Fun! With Robert Franz

Conducting the “Sounds Like Fun!” concerts is really fun for me. As a person who is relatively new to Houston, the concerts have given me the opportunity to get to know the city, and more important, lots of great people throughout the metro area. One of the things that makes these concerts special to me … Continued