Mercury Announces 2018-2019 Season

Antoine Plante, Artist Director, and Brian Ritter, Executive Director, announce Mercury's 2018-2019 season featuring a diverse range of masterpieces, from the Renaissance to the Romantic. Season soloists include violinist Rachel Barton Pine, tenor Nicholas Phan and pianist Alon Goldstein, as well as violinists Jonathan Godfrey and Oleg Sulyga. Of special note is the expansion of Mercury's Neighborhood Series due to popular demand, as well as the continuation of its collaboration with The Juilliard School's Historical Performance Program for the third consecutive year.

"With so many creative offerings showcasing baroque and romantic works, Mercury's 2018-19 season offers concertgoers a thrilling and diverse selection of musical journeys," stated Mr. Ritter.

Season highlights include a multi-media performance of Franz Schubert's complete song cycle, "The Miller's Daughter", arranged for full orchestra with acclaimed tenor Nicholas Phan; the annual holiday extravaganza - this year featuring Bach's Magnificat with the Houston Symphony Chorus Chamber Ensemble; celebrated violinist/violist Rachel Barton Pine leading a concert of Vivaldi's Concerto in D Major for Viola d'amore and Orchestra and more; and Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 with period flute expert David Ross. Mercury's annual free community concert at Houston's favorite outdoor venue, the Miller Outdoor Theatre, officially opens the orchestra's season, with violinists Jonathan Godfrey and Oleg Sulyga as soloists in a Vivaldi vs. Paganini themed program. Always accessible to its ever-growing audience, Houston's premier period instrument ensemble continues to perform in top venues around the city. Mercury is thrilled to return to its home in the renovated Wortham Center in October 2018 with its flagship seven-concert Downtown Series.

Carefully curated by Maestro Plante, the Downtown Series opens in October with Brahms' Third Symphony, and Mendelssohn's "Scottish" Symphony, followed by Schubert's "The Miller's Daughter" in November. In early December, Mercury is joined by the Houston Symphony Chorus Chamber Ensemble under the direction of Betsy Weber Cook to celebrate the Christmas season with Bach's Magnificat and several holiday selections. 2019 begins with a new concert experience inspired by the work of French poet Charles Baudelaire with music by Debussy and Ravel, followed by Mozart's last symphonies in February. Spring brings a musical duel in March with "Love & War: Baroque Style" featuring works by Vivaldi, Biber, Handel, and Locatelli with Rachel Barton Pine playing violin, viola and leading. The series closes in May with Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 and Piano Concerto No. 5 "Emperor" performed by pianist Alon Goldstein.

"We hope that the exciting variety of music offerings, as well as numerous community outreach programs throughout the season will contribute to audiences' enjoyment of and connection with this wonderful music throughout the Houston area." said Maestro Plante.

Mercury's popular Neighborhood Series, sponsored by Philips 66, offers short, affordable concerts performed in intimate atmospheres at four unique venues across Houston. The series expands this season due to popular demand, adding a second performance at 8:30 PM at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. Concertgoers have a variety to choose from - Bach's sublime Brandenburg Concerto No. 5; a festive program of Baroque and traditional holiday music from France; and the juxtaposition of string serenades by Tchaikovsky and Elgar - the sweeping strings and passionate lyricality of Tchaikovsky's work against the youthful allure of Elgar's composition.

A collaboration between The Juilliard School of Music Historical Performance Program and Mercury, the Mercury-Juilliard Fellowship encourages the development of talented young instrumentalists and fosters a strong relationship between two major players in America's period instrument performance scene. Auditions for the 2018-2019 Juilliard Fellows will be held on April 20, 2018 in New York City.

For more information, or to order a subscription, please call Mercury's Patron Services Team at 713-533-0080 or visit the website at www.mercuryhouston.org

Innovation, accessibility and dynamism are just three of the distinguishing characteristics of Mercury, the critically acclaimed Houston-based period instrument ensemble that continues to redefine the orchestra experience. Now in its 18th season, Mercury celebrates the power of music - from the Baroque period and more - serving the Houston community and beyond through teaching, sharing and performing with passion, intimacy and excellence.

Founded by conductor and Artistic Director Antoine Plante and three friends in 2000 with the goal to enrich and entertain Houston audiences with an exciting repertoire of Baroque music performed on period instruments, the ensemble gradually expanded its vision to offer fresh, original performances of a broader repertoire, and integrated multi-media, unique dance, costume and narrative elements into its programs. In 2013, the ensemble rebranded itself. In addition to performances in multiple venues throughout the Houston area, including its flagship series at Wortham Center's Cullen Theater, Mercury continues to invest in the community. It offers free community performances annually, including the community concert at The Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park, and the public concerts in the Crain Garden at Houston Methodist Hospital. Recognized for its award-winning education outreach programs comprising classroom music education and performances in Houston area schools, Mercury also presents master classes for school orchestras. Active in the recording scene, to date, Mercury has released eight albums on its own label, featuring works by Corelli, Mozart, Schubert, Rameau, Vivaldi, Piazzolla, and Handel.

Mercury continues its collaboration with The Juilliard School's Historical Performance Program for the third year. The Mercury-Juilliard Fellowship initiative encourages the development of talented young instrumentalists and fosters a strong relationship between two major players in America's period instrument performance scene, as well as introducing Houston audiences to the next generation of great period performance musicians. Mercury gratefully acknowledges the following organizations and corporations for their ongoing support: The City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance, Houston Endowment Inc., Texas Commission on the Arts, the Wyatt Foundation, the Ting Tsung and Wei Fung Chao Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Additional information on Mercury, its events and concerts, directions to the venues, and to learn more about its recordings, please visit www.mercuryhouston.org.

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