Houston Symphony Previews November 2016 Programming

The Houston Symphony's November programming features a piano-packed lineup as pianists Daniil Trifonov, Tony DeSare and Jeffrey Kahane appear with the orchestra. Additionally, thousands of 4th and 5th grade Houston-area students will make the journey to Jones Hall for special student concerts.

Recently voted Gramophone's 2016 Artist of the Year, Daniil Trifonov will appear in Trifonov Plus Rachmaninoff at 8 p.m. Nov. 3and 5 and 2:30 p.m. Nov. 6. The 25-year-old Russian piano sensation will perform Schumann's lyrical Piano Concerto before Andrés Orozco-Estrada leads the orchestra in Rachmaninoff's lush Symphony No. 2. In 2011, Trifonov won first prize at both the Tchaikovsky and Rubinstein international competitions at the age of 20.

In a concert honoring the ultimate piano men of popular music, I Love a Piano will showcase the talents of Tony DeSare, a celebrated pianist, songwriter and singer. Featuring Gershwin's jazz-influenced hallmark Rhapsody in Blue, DeSare will also salute the songs of Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Billy Joel, Elton John and more. DeSare has recorded three top ten Billboard jazz albums and has appeared on the CBS Early Show, NPR, A Prairie Home Companion and the Today Show.

On Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 25-27, audiences will enjoy an all-Mozart program led by veteran soloist and conductor Jeffrey Kahane, best known for being an esteemed Mozart interpreter and the director of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) for two decades. A Mozart Thanksgiving will feature Piano Concerto No. 24, Piano Concerto No. 21 and Symphony No. 38, Prague.

Thousands of 4th and 5th grade students, many of whom will experience the Symphony for the first time, will attend the Upper Elementary School Concerts at 9:30 and 11:15 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 22 and Wednesday, Nov. 30. Titled "Creating Stories with Music," Associate Conductor Robert Franz will bring to life elements of music that will inspire these students to think creatively about the narratives that composers tell through sound. The concert is designed to develop students' critical thinking skills through active listening. (Note: Student concerts are open to the media but not the public.)

All concerts will take place at Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, 615 Louisiana Street, unless otherwise noted. For tickets and information, please call (713) 224-7575 or visit www.houstonsymphony.org. Tickets may also be purchased at the Houston Symphony Patron Services Center in Jones Hall (Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.). All programs and artists are subject to change.

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