Welcome to "Meet the Musician," a behind-the-scenes blog series getting to know the Houston Symphony's exceptional musicians. In this series, we take you up close and personal with the artists who sit on stage at Jones Hall every weekend. Read on to learn more about the inspirations, challenges, and musical passions that drive these remarkable artists. And, of course, you'll learn some fun facts along the way! Dive in and help us celebrate the diverse stories and experiences that make each musician an integral part of our symphonic family. Name: Yankı Karataş Position: Second Violin Homet ..read more

Step into the wonderful country of Colombia as the Houston Symphony performs Disney’s EncantoLive to Film in Concert! With music from composer Germaine Franco and Lin-Manuel Miranda, you’ll dance and groove to the music of cumbia and bambuco! As you experience the blockbuster hit live at Jones Hall, we encourage you to keep an eye out for some of the hidden gems found within the movie that honor Colombian culture. Whether it is an artist—or special details hidden inside a dance number, you will love seeing the authenticity and pride of beautiful Colombian heritage. The river in “Dos Orugui ..read more

Take an enchanted journey through the City of Seven Hills by joining the Houston Symphony and guest conductor Fabien Gabel on May 2, 4 & 5. These concerts will feature the first two installments of Ottorino Respighi’s beloved Roman Triptych, Fountains of Rome and Pines of Rome, plus the dazzling virtuosity of pianist Alexandra Dariescu, who will shine in Grieg’s Piano Concerto. Be sure to head up to the Jones Hall round bar after Saturday’s performance for a special Encore After Party. All you need for admission is your concert ticket. Renaissance Man Ottorino Respighi (1879–1936) is ..read more

On April 26, 27 & 28 the Houston Symphony presents Carl Orff’s spectacular masterpiece, Carmina Burana. In this post, discover how a once-obscure medieval tome inspired one of the most popular pieces of music of all time. Get tickets and more information here. On March 29, 1934, Carl Orff received a much anticipated parcel with his mail. It contained an obscure book whose title had happened to catch his eye in a catalogue some weeks before. He later recalled, “On opening it I immediately found, on the front page, the long famous picture of ‘Fortune with her wheel,’ and under it the li ..read more

Gustav Mahler Gustav Mahler (1860–1911) stands as one of the most influential and innovative composers of the late Romantic Era. Born in Bohemia (now part of the Czech Republic), he demonstrated exceptional musical talent from a young age. He received formal training in Vienna and quickly established himself as a gifted conductor, serving in prestigious positions, including the Vienna Court Opera and the New York Philharmonic. As a composer, Mahler’s symphonies, spanning nine works (or ten, depending on whom you ask), are epic in scale and are characterized by their vast emotional rang ..read more

“Ladies and gentlemen, here are four of the nicest young kids we’ve ever had on our stage. The Beatles!”—Ed Sullivan, February 1964 The Fab Four from Liverpool then step into a frame on one of the biggest stages in 1964. Playfully strumming to the tune of “She Loves You,” audiences everywhere tune into see the Liverpool natives create Beatlemania in America. With a whopping 73 million viewers and an in-studio audience of 700, The Beatles would become pioneers of the musical movement called The British Invasion. As the clock struck 8 p.m., families from around the country tuned into CBS ju ..read more

Join the Houston Symphony and Artistic Partner Itzhak Perlman on February 8, 10 & 11 to experience the majestic triumph of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5. In May of 1888, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky wrote to his friend and patron, Nadezhda von Meck, “I must work harder in the future; I want so much to show not only to others, but to myself, that I still haven’t expired… I don’t know whether I wrote to you that I had decided to write a symphony. At first, it was fairly difficult; now inspiration seems to have deserted me completely.” At the time of his letter, it had been 10 years since T ..read more

Join the Houston Symphony and Music Director Juraj Valčuha for the conclusion of the Tragedy and Triumph Festival on March 22, 23 & 24, and experience the power of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, Eroica. Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony has captivated and astounded audiences since its premiere over two centuries ago. For possibly the first time, a composer used a symphony not as a purely abstract musical work, but a vehicle to convey ideas and beliefs, all while constructing an overarching narrative design. This deepening of musical language played a profound role in pushing the genre forward ..read more

Tōru Takemitsu, a self-taught composer, stands as a remarkable figure in the musical landscape, seamlessly weaving together diverse influences to create a sound uniquely his own. While his early lessons with Japanese composer Yasuji Kiyose focused more on art and aesthetics than composition, Takemitsu’s post-World War II exploration of Japanese music and involvement in the “New Composition Group” marked the beginning of a journey that would see him leave an enduring legacy in the concert halls and silver screen. Takemitsu’s impact on film music is particularly noteworthy, boasting a ..read more

In the holiday realm filled with wonder and excitement, one film brings audiences of all ages through the doors of Halloween Town and Christmas Town. Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), directed by Henry Selick and produced by Tim Burton, is an American stop-motion film that blends two holidays into an adventure of a lifetime filled with memorable songs and kooky characters. Like the movie, the visual component of TNBC cannot exist without the insatiable score composed by American film composer Danny Elfman. As the Symphony prepares to launch into Christma ..read more