Intown Arts Fall 2024
A new arts season in Houston is upon us so it is time to discuss what our three major institutions will be offering in the first part of the 2024-2025 season. I am writing this from beautiful Petoskey, Michigan, near the tip of the lower peninsula. It is 8:45am and the temperature is 55F. Sorry, I just had to mention that!
For this article, I drew lots to determine the order of presentation and the results were Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera and the Houston Ballet. I know, that was the order last year but lots will be lots.
Let’s begin.
Houston Symphony Orchestra
The 2024-2025 season begins in October. It will feature the “Czech Rhapsody” by Martinů and Dvořák’s “From the New World” Symphony, Symphony 9. HSO Music Director Juraj Valčuha conducts. October 4, 5 at 7:30pm and Sunday the 6th at 2:00pm.
The Czech theme continues the next weekend with three interesting works. The “Military Sinfonietta” by Kapráová, Dvořák’s Violin Concerto and, in my opinion, one of the highlights of the entire season, Janáček’s masterpiece, “Sinfonietta.” James Ehnes is the violin soloist, and Valčuha conducts.
NOTE – two performances only, Saturday, October 12 at 7:30pm and Sunday, the 13th, 2024, at 2:00pm with the Violin Concerto. On Thursday, October 10 at 7:30pm, Grammy-winning pianist Daniil Trafinov will perform Dvořák’s Piano Concerto. Trafinov is a major talent. Enough said.
November brings an entire month of concerts beginning with Wagner’s Tannhaűser Overture, selections from Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel and Richard Strauss’s, Don Quixote. Soloists are Joan DerHovsepian, viola, HSO’s newly appointed principal viola and HSO’s principal cellist, Brinton Averil Smith. Conducting is the wonderful, Sir Donald Runnicles.
Performances are November 1 and 2 at 7:30pm, and Sunday the 3rd, 2024, at 2:00pm.
There will be a unique one-time performance of the Beethoven 9th Symphony on Thursday, November 14, 2024, at 7:30pm conducted by the esteemed Michael Tillson-Thomas along with the Houston Symphony Chorus.
In late November, there will be two performances of pieces by Bach, Mozart and Brahms. Featured will be the Violin Concerto No 1 by JS Bach, performed by Yoonsun Song, Mozart’s Serenade No.12, and Brahms’ Serenade No. 1. Ms Song will be leading members of the Houston Symphony for these chamber concerts. Two performances only, November 23 at 7:30pm and Sunday the 24th, 2024, at 2:00pm.
November closes out with a remarkable program, the Schubert “Unfinished” Symphony 8, Alban Berg’s “Three Pieces for Orchestra,” and Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5, the “Emperor” with favorite Yefim Bronfman, pianist. Valčuha conducts. November 29, 30 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, December 1, 2024, at 2:00pm.
“A Viennese Waltz Christmas” concert of multiple pieces will be featured twice, December 7 at 7:30pm and Sunday, the 8th, 2024, at 2:00pm.
On Monday, December 9, at 7:30pm there will be a single performance by legendary cellist, Yo Yo Ma, who will perform Dvořák’s Cello Concerto. Also featured will be Johann Strauss’ “Die Fledermaus Overture.” I personally have great memories of Ma performing the Dvořák with the HSO many, many years ago in the ‘70’s as a true wunderkind. After intermission he would quietly take a chair in the back of the cello section to perform the symphony that followed. Juraj Valčuha will conduct this very special evening.
Closing out the calendar will be three performances of Handel’s “Messiah” conducted by Jonathan Cohen and featuring the Houston Symphony Orchestra Chorus. December 20 and 21 at 7:30pm, and Sunday the 22nd at 2:00pm.
All performances at Jones Hall.
Houston Grand Opera
HGO’s 2024-2025 season begins with its fall repertoire with the immensely popular Il travatore by Verdi. This work premiered in 1853 and takes place in the 15th century in Spain. It is a story that brings out the best characteristics of opera, love, suspense, hatred, revenge and murder. After its premier Verdi stated, “People say that it is too sad, that there are too many deaths in it. But death is all that there is in life…”
“Il travatore” is part of what has been called the “popular trio” of Verdi. As mentioned above it was first performed in 1853, the same year as “La Traviata” and two years earlier was “Rigoletto.”
Friday, October 18, 2024 at 7:00pm, Sunday the 20th at 2:00pm, Saturday the 26th at 7:30pm, Tuesday the 29th at 7:30pm and Sunday, November 3 at 2:00pm.
The second opera of the fall rep is Cinderella (La Cenerentola) by Rossini. I doubt that there is much need to explain this famous story about the overworked young woman with cruel family members . It premiered in 1817 in Rome. Lighthearted and fun.
Friday, October 25 at 7:30pm, Sunday the 27th at 2:00pm, Friday, November 1 at 7:30pm, Thursday the 7th at 7:30pm and two performances on Saturday the 9th, at 2:00pm and 7:30pm.
All performances at the Wortham Theater Center, Brown Auditorium
Houston Ballet
There are two sets of ballets this fall. The first is The Little Mermaid. This is the Houston premiere of John Neumeier’s realization of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairytale of the Danish legendary Little Mermaid. Music by Lera Aurabach.
Grand Opening Night – November 6, 7:00pm, the 7th, 12th and 14th at 7:30pm with a matinee on the 14th at 1:39pm and the i8th and 15th at 2:00pm.
Then comes a triple bill of Velocity choreographed by Stanton Welch with music by Michael Torke, Come In by Aszure Burton to music of Vladimir Martynov, and an unnamed World Premier by Silas Farley with music by Kyle Werner. September 19, 21, 27 and 28 at 7:30pm, and the 22nd and 29th at 2:00pm.
Of course, let’s not forget the perennial The Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky with multiple performances running from November 29 to December 29, 2024.
All performances at the Wortham Theater Center.
That’s it for now. Let me hear from you at classicalmusicberquist@gmail.com.