Houston Symphony to Premiere Concerto by Late Composer James Horner

The Houston Symphony will present the North American premiere of celebrated film composer James Horner's last completed concert work, as well as perform Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances during James Horner Plus Rachmaninoff at 8 p.m. March 31 and April 2 and 2:30 p.m. April 3.

Commissioned by the Houston Symphony and International Horn Society, Collage, A Concerto for Four Horns and Orchestra comes from the same prolific composer who scored numerous blockbusters in his career, including "Titanic," "Braveheart" and "Avatar." The work will be performed by the orchestra and four French horn soloists: Principal Horn William VerMeulen, Associate Principal Horn Robert Johnson, and guest hornists Richard Watkins and David Pyatt.

Watkins and Pyatt, who will be making their Houston Symphony debuts, are veterans of Horner film score recording sessions and were personal friends of the composer before his death in June 2015. They were also two of the four horn soloists at the world premiere of the piece, given by the London Philharmonic Orchestra in March 2015.

The program will be led by guest conductor Michael Francis, who is music director of The Florida Orchestra. He will also conduct Korngold's The Sea Hawk - the score from the 1940 swashbuckler film of the same name - and Rachmaninoff's rhythmic and melodic Symphonic Dances.

Unless otherwise noted, the concerts will take place at Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, 615 Louisiana Street, in Houston's Theater District. 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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