Houston Symphony Announces Spring Lineup - Disney Concert, Mozart, Ravel and More!

The Houston Symphony will present a wide range of classical programming, as well as welcome the talents of Broadway performers in a special Disney concert, during the month of April. From the music of Mozart and Ravel to a North American musical premiere, the month will be packed as the season comes nearly to a close.

James Horner Plus Rachmaninoff will celebrate the legacy of late Oscar-winning cinematic composer James Horner with the North American premiere of Collage, A Concerto for Four Horns and Orchestra, at 8 p.m. March 31 and April 2 and 2:30 p.m. April 3. The piece is Horner's last completed work and will be performed by Principal Horn William VerMeulen, Associate Principal Robert Johnson, and guest hornists Richard Watkins and David Pyatt. Both Watkins and Pyatt were members of the original quartet who performed the concerto at its world premiere in London during 2015. Guest conductor Michael Francis will also lead swashbuckling film music from The Sea Hawk and Rachmaninoff's brilliant Symphonic Dances.

The next weekend, Quebec Symphony Orchestra conductor Fabien Gabel returns to Houston to lead Ravel's Boléro, a program that will highlight popular classical pieces with Dukas' The Sorcerer's Apprentice,featured in Disney's Fantasia, as well as a performance of Boléro, Ravel's most famous composition. Boléro is recognized by many as being as the featured music in many television shows, films and video games. Violinist Caroline Goulding will also join the orchestra for a performance of Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1, one of the most popular pieces in the violin repertoire.

Violinist Karen Gomyo joins the orchestra for Mozart and Bruckner at 8 p.m. April 14 and 16 and 7:30 p.m. April 17. Gomyo, a highly sought-after international performer, will perform Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 3 under the direction of guest conductor Thomas Søndergård. After intermission, the orchestra performs Bruckner's Symphony No. 7, an intensely spiritual work born of the composer's own deep faith.

Keeping things light, Disney in Concert brings the magic to Jones Hall for one night only at 7:30 p.m. April 15. Brought to life by the talents of Broadway performers and featuring animated film clips from favorite Disney films including Frozen, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Tangled and The Lion King, the concert will explore the brilliant storytelling and accompanying music from the fantastical world of Disney.

Renowned conductor David Zinman will appear with the Houston Symphony and Chorus for Fauré's Requiem at 8 p.m. April 28 and 30 and 2:30 p.m. May 1. An understated and affecting work from the foremost French composer, the piece will feature soprano Kiera Duffy, who will be making her Houston Symphony debut, and bass Stephen Powell, who last appeared with the orchestra in 2013. Also on the program is Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 4, a masterpiece inspired by the colors and atmosphere of Italy.

All concerts will take place at Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, 615 Louisiana Street, in Houston's Theater District, unless otherwise noted. For tickets and information, please call (713) 224-7575 or visitwww.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.

To post a comment, you must register and login.