Inside Bluebeard’s Castle: Bringing Bartók’s Masterpiece to Life

On May 16 and 17, the Houston Symphony presents a spectacular, semi-staged production of Bluebeard’s Castle featuring world-renowned singers Michelle DeYoung and Matthias Goerne. In this post, the production’s creative director, Adam Larsen, discusses his vision for Bartók’s fascinating operatic masterpiece. Get tickets and more information here. When we asked the musicians of the Houston Symphony which concerts … Continued

Dance for me, Salome: Strauss’s Dance of the Seven Veils

On November 2, 3 and 4, the Houston Symphony welcomes renowned conductor Bramwell Tovey back to Jones Hall for The Seven Deadly Sins, a playfully provocative program of works by Strauss, Scriabin and Weill. Learn more about Salome’s Dance (also known as The Dance of the Seven Veils) from Strauss’s scandalous opera Salome in this post. One … Continued

Grammy Nomination for Wozzeck

The Houston Symphony has received a nomination for the 60th Grammy Awards for the recording of Alban Berg’s Wozzeck for Best Opera Recording in the classical category. Hailed by Gramophone as “One of the finest Wozzecks on record, orchestrally speaking,” and by Fanfare as a “Terrifically imposing performance” under the direction of an “experienced and confident conductor,” the two-disc album features former Music Director Hans … Continued

Reginald Smith Jr. Wishes You a Very Merry Pops!

Baritone Reginald Smith Jr. has had a busy 2015: he has traveled to Russia and across the United States for opera and concert performances and was also a winner of the 2015 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, one of the world’s most prestigious opera singing competitions (past winners have included Renée Fleming, Susan Graham, Thomas … 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