The new Houston Symphony season promises to be a momentous one. With several new collaborations, a new concert master, orchestra member solo spotlights and unique explorations of works, Hans Graf and the Houston Symphony have brought new ideas and innovation back to the concert stage. This is a season you will not want to miss!
Classical guest artists include returning friends of the Houston Symphony Joshua Bell, Gil Shaham and Yefim Bronfman, while debuting a new generation of musical talent in pianists Gabriela Montero and Markus Groh and conductors Juanjo Mena and Juraj Valcuha. Classical season highlights include Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony, Verdi’s Requiem, Scheherazade and Ravel’s Bolero.
Among the POPS line-up, Kenny Loggins, Chris Botti, and Broadway’s Mary Poppins, Ashley Brown, will visit Jones Hall in the new season. The POPS season also includes an homage to Frank Sinatra with another Houston debut artist, Matt Dusk. Ellis Hall, an American artist also making his Houston Symphony debut, will perform a tribute concert to Ray Charles. Hall was a former protégé and friend of the great Ray Charles.
New Concertmaster
In addition, the Houston Symphony is proud to announce our new concertmaster, Frank Huang, an award-winning violinist who grew up in the Houston area.
“Growing up in Houston, I loved going to symphony performances, and I feel so honored to be able to come back now and actually be a part of them!” said Mr. Huang. “It is so exciting to return to my hometown, and I am really looking forward to getting to know all the wonderful musicians and staff at the symphony.”
He debuts with the Symphony on Opening Night Saturday, September 11, 2010, performing Mozart’s Sinfonia concertante with Wayne Brooks, principal violist.
Collaborations
The Houston Symphony is also proud to announce several new collaborations this season. In November, 2010, the Houston Symphony will perform Lawrence Siegel’s Kaddish “I Am Here” in partnership with the Holocaust Museum Houston. The oratorio includes lyrics derived from interviews with 15 Holocaust survivors – four of whom live in Houston. In February of 2011, Hans Graf will conduct the concert Ravel’s Spain with Bolero where singers from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, featuring Susanne Mentzer, will join the Houston Symphony for a night of comedy with Ravel’s comedic one-act opera, The Spanish Hour followed by one of the most popular works ever written, Bolero. In the POPS arena, we’ll team up with the University of North Texas’ One O’Clock Lab Band in November to form the biggest band in Texas. This extravaganza, titled One O’Clock Swings! will feature songs from jazz greats like Duke Ellington, Count Basie and John Coltrane. Plus, include standards from the Great American Songbook with songs from Cole Porter and others.
Spotlights
This season, hear solos from your own Houston Symphony orchestra members: Frank Huang, newly appointed concertmaster; Brinton Averil Smith, principal cellist; Wayne Brooks, principal violist and Aralee Dorough, principal flute.
Exploration
The Classical season includes the concert Exploring Mahler 10, in which Maestro Graf and special guest, Fred Child, host of American Public Media’s Performance Today, will explore Mahler’s Symphony No. 10. This work was left unfinished at the time of Gustav Mahler’s death and was completed by British composer, Deryck Cooke, Join the Houston Symphony as we explore the completion with musical examples, images and discussions.
Tickets to these stellar concerts and more are available now through subscription only. As a subscriber, you get the best seats, added subscriber benefits and a season you won’t forget. Renewing subscribers receive FREE parking if you renew by March 5th. Click here for full details of the 2010-2011 Season and to purchase your subscription.
