Get to Know Pianists (and Twins!) Christina and Michelle Naughton

This weekend, the Houston Symphony welcomes acclaimed pianists (and twin sisters) Christina and Michelle Naughton to Jones Hall for performances of Mozart’s Concerto for Two Pianos. Recently, I got to ask Michelle a few questions about what it’s like to play this masterpiece and share her career with her twin sister, Christina. Calvin Dotsey: So, what … Continued

Hans Graf Talks Ravel & Debussy

This weekend, the Houston Symphony welcomes back Conductor Laureate Hans Graf for a program of Debussy and Ravel. Recently, I got to ask Maestro Graf a few questions about this shimmering program of musical Impressionism. Calvin Dotsey: Ravel is known as one of the greatest orchestrators of all time. In terms of orchestration, do you … Continued

Rachmaninoff in Love: The Troubled Genesis of a Masterpiece, Part II

Last time, we discovered how Rachmaninoff overcame composer’s block with the help of Dr. Nikolai Dahl’s hypnosis therapy and ultimately produced once of his best loved pieces, his Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor.  What I didn’t tell you, though, was that Rachmaninoff also fell in love during this period, much to the dismay … Continued

Meet the Houston Symphony’s New Steinway Piano!

The Houston Symphony Central and Bay Area Leagues have given the orchestra a literal “gift of music” in the form of a brand new Steinway concert grand piano. Houston Symphony League, Vice President of Fundraising, Betty Tutor led the campaign that collected almost $130,000 in donations to fund the purchase of the new instrument. In … Continued

Tchaikovsky’s “Wrong” Note by Kirill Gerstein

The following is a portion of a blog post Kirill Gerstein wrote for The New York Review of Books: Recently, the British pianist Stephen Hough reported on his blog that he had made “The most exciting musical discovery of [his] life: Tchaikovsky’s wrong note finally corrected.” The article questioned a note in Tchaikovsky’s First Piano … Continued

Interview with a Semifinalist: Hanqing Zhou, Piano

Named to honor the memory of Miss Ima Hogg, a co-founder of the Houston Symphony, the Ima Hogg Competition is open to young musicians between the ages of 13 and 30 who play standard orchestral instruments or piano. Through the support of the Houston Symphony League since 1976, the Competition provides performance opportunities for aspiring … Continued

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