Houston Symphony Magazine — November 2014

Page 1

NOVEMBER 2014

PROGRAM GUIDE NOV. 3 p.14 | NOV. 13, 14, 15, 16 p.22 | NOV. 16 p.26 | NOV. 20, 22, 23 p.30 | NOV. 28, 29, 30 p.34






Contents November | 2014

Official Program Magazine of the Houston Symphony 615 Louisiana, Suite 102, Houston, Texas 77002 (713) 224-4240 | houstonsymphony.org For advertising contact New Leaf Publishing at (713) 523-5323 info@newleafinc.com | www.newleafinc.com | 2006 Huldy, Houston, Texas 77019

PROGRAMS

14 November 3 22 November 13, 14, 15, 16 26 November 16 30 November 20, 22, 23 34 November 28, 29, 30

FEATURES

4 Letter to Patrons 38 Meet Betsy Cook Weber 39 Education and Community Engagement 56 Backstage Pass— Meet the Musicians

orchestra 39 Community members recently played

the Houston Symphony a part 28 Make of your holiday plans! Read about three festive performances coming up in December.

side-by-side with Symphony musicians in rehearsals led by Associate Conductor Robert Franz.

EVENTS

10 Opening Night Recap 8 Upcoming Performances 2

YOUR HOUSTON SYMPHONY

6 Orchestra and Staff 8 Andrés Orozco-Estrada, Music Director 8 Chief Conductors and Music Directors 37 Houston Symphony Chorus

OUR SUPPORTERS

4 New Century Society 8 New Music Director Fund 40 Symphony Society Board 41 Centennial Angels 41 Leadership Council 42 Houston Symphony Endowment 43 Chorus Endowment Donors 44 Houston Symphony Donors

Weeks of Beethoven! Learn more 20 3about Part I of our three-season cycle of all nine Beethoven symphonies.

On the cover Photo by Jeff Fitlow Date: September 18, 2014

The Houston Symphony currently records under its own label, Houston Symphony Media Productions, and for Naxos. Houston Symphony recordings also are available on the Telarc, RCA Red Seal, Virgin Classics and Koch International Classics labels.

Music Director Andrés Orozco-Estrada leads the Houston Symphony in the heroic symphonic tone poem Ein Heldenleben (A Hero’s Life) by Richard Strauss.

Acknowledgements

Music Director Launch Presenting Partner

www.houstonsymphony.org

The Official Television Partner of the Houston Symphony

The Official Health Care Provider of the Houston Symphony

The Official Airline of the Houston Symphony



Photo by Anthony Rathbun

LETTER TO PATRONS

Photo by bruce bennett

Robert A. Peiser President

Mark C. Hanson Executive Director/CEO

Traditionally a month of thanks, November is the perfect opportunity to express our gratitude to Houston Symphony subscribers with our annual Subscriber Appreciation Month. On behalf of our conductors, musicians, Chorus, staff, volunteers and Board, we want to recognize all our subscribers for your loyal patronage and thank you for being part of the Houston Symphony family. We extend special thanks to those who are also donors to the Symphony. Your ongoing support and commitment are not only appreciated, but are absolutely vital to ensure the Symphony attains its vision to be an accessible, relevant, innovative and top-tier arts institution in Houston and beyond. We’re also thrilled to announce a momentous accolade for which we have you to thank. On November 19, the Houston Symphony will receive a 2014 National Philanthropy Day Award for the Centennial Ball fundraising program. Many generous contributions to the Centennial Ball campaign made it the most successful Symphony Ball ever. We thank all of the individuals, corporations and foundations that helped us usher in our second century with a spirit of giving. Also evident this month is the spirit (and music!) of Beethoven. This month’s 3 Weeks of Beethoven series is Part I of a three-season cycle of all nine Beethoven symphonies. Andrés and the orchestra will explore Beethoven’s glorious and grand compositional style, beginning with his powerful Fifth Symphony on November 14-16. Join André for a special “Musicalmente Hablando con Andrés” performance at Rice University’s Stude Concert Hall on November 16 at 7:30pm. This all-Spanish language, intimate concert experience features musical commentary and a Q&A about the significance and backstory of Beethoven’s monumental Fifth Symphony. With Andrés and co-host Carlos Andrés Botero as your guides, embark on an exploration filled with historical context, anecdotes and musical examples performed by the orchestra. Last, but certainly not least, we hope you will make the Symphony part of your holiday plans. The always-festive Mike Krajewski, our Principal Pops Conductor, will lead, once again, the annual Very Merry POPS spectacular on December 12–14. The following week, please join us for another holiday tradition: Handel’s Messiah. This fall, new Chorus Director Betsy Cook Weber will prepare our talented Houston Symphony Chorus for the December performances of Messiah as well as this month’s performances of Mozart’s Requiem and Brahms’ Schicksalslied. We invite you to learn more about Betsy in the interview on page 38. Enjoy the concert, and we hope to visit with you soon!

New Century Society for Artistic Excellence and Innovation The New Century Society for Artistic Excellence and Innovation recognizes the Houston Symphony’s most committed and loyal supporters who have pledged their leadership support over a three-year period to help secure the orchestra’s financial future. For more information or to pledge your support, please contact Mark C. Hanson, Executive Director/CEO, at (713) 238-1411 or David Chambers, Chief Development Officer, at (713) 337-8525.

Ms. Marie Taylor Bosarge Janice H. Barrow Mr. George P. Mitchell Mrs. Kitty King Powell Bobby & Phoebe Tudor Margaret Alkek Williams Lieutenant Governor & Mrs. David H. Dewhurst Mr. & Mrs. Jim R. Smith Mike Stude Mr. & Mrs. Jesse B. Tutor Robin Angly & Miles Smith Rochelle & Max Levit Cora Sue & Harry Mach Joella & Steven P. Mach Mr. & Mrs. J. Stephen Marks

www.houstonsymphony.org

Houston Methodist Nancy & Robert Peiser Mr. & Mrs. William K. Robbins Jr./ The Robbins Foundation Laura & Michael Shannon Baker Botts L.L.P. Beauchamp Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Edward F. Blackburne Jr. Mr. & Mrs. John P. Dennis III Stephen & Mariglyn Glenn The Joan & Marvin Kaplan Foundation Barbara & Pat McCelvey John Onstott / Geo H. Lewis & Sons Mr. & Mrs. James A. Shaffer Wells Fargo



ORCHESTRA AND STAFF Mark C. Hanson, Executive Director/CEO

AndrĂŠs Orozco-Estrada, Music Director Roy and Lillie Cullen Chair

Michael Krajewski

Hans Graf

Principal Pops Conductor

Robert Franz

Conductor Laureate

Associate Conductor Sponsor, Ms. Marie Taylor Bosarge

FIRST VIOLIN Frank Huang, Concertmaster Max Levine Chair Eric Halen, Associate Concertmaster Ellen E. Kelley Chair Assia Dulgerska, Assistant Concertmaster** Cornelia and Meredith Long Chair Qi Ming, Assistant Concertmaster Fondren Foundation Chair Marina Brubaker Sergei Galperin MiHee Chung Rodica Gonzalez Ferenc Illenyi Si-Yang Lao Kurt Johnson Christopher Neal Oleg Chelpanov* Anastasia Sukhopara*

DOUBLE BASS David Malone, Acting Principal Mark Shapiro, Acting Associate Principal Eric Larson Burke Shaw Donald Howey Michael McMurray FLUTE Aralee Dorough, Principal General Maurice Hirsch Chair Matthew Roitstein, Associate Principal Judy Dines Rebecca Powell Garfield*

SECOND VIOLIN Jennifer Owen, Principal Sophia Silivos, Acting Associate Principal Hitai Lee Kiju Joh Mihaela Frusina Ruth Zeger Martha Chapman Kevin Kelly** Tong Yan Tina Zhang Amy Teare

OBOE Jonathan Fischer, Principal Lucy Binyon Stude Chair Anne Leek, Associate Principal Colin Gatwood Adam Dinitz

TIMPANI Ronald Holdman, Principal Brian Del Signore, Associate Principal PERCUSSION Brian Del Signore, Principal Mark Griffith Matthew Strauss

E-FLAT CLARINET Christian Schubert

HARP Position Open KEYBOARD Scott Holshouser, Principal ORCHESTRA PERSONNEL MANAGER Michael Gorman ASSISTANT ORCHESTRA PERSONNEL MANAGER Position Open

BASS CLARINET Alexander Potiomkin Tassie and Constantine S. Nicandros Chair

LIBRARIAN Thomas Takaro

BASSOON Rian Craypo, Principal Eric Arbiter, Associate Principal Elise Wagner

ASSISTANT LIBRARIANS Erik Gronfor Michael McMurray

CONTRABASSOON J. Jeff Robinson

STAGE MANAGER Kelly Morgan

HORN William VerMeulen, Principal Robert Johnson, Associate Principal Brian Thomas Nancy Goodearl Katharine Caliendo*

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER Position Open STAGE TECHNICIANS Toby Blunt Zoltan Fabry Cory Grant *Contracted Substitute ** On Leave

sion Percus ets p m u Tr

Clarinets

rns Ho no

Flutes

Timpani Trombone s

Bassoons

Tub a

Oboes Basses

Ha rp

Pi a

BASS TROMBONE Phillip Freeman TUBA Dave Kirk, Principal

CLARINET Thomas LeGrand, Acting Principal Christian Schubert, Acting Associate Principal Lin Ma* Alexander Potiomkin

CELLO Brinton Averil Smith, Principal Janice and Thomas Barrow Chair Christopher French, Associate Principal Jeffrey Butler Kevin Dvorak Xiao Wong Myung Soon Lee James R. Denton Anthony Kitai Hellen Weberpal*

TROMBONE Allen Barnhill, Principal Bradley White, Associate Principal Phillip Freeman

PICCOLO Rebecca Powell Garfield*

ENGLISH HORN Adam Dinitz

VIOLA Wayne Brooks, Principal Mr. & Mrs. Jesse B. Tutor Legacy Society Chair Joan DerHovsepian, Associate Principal George Pascal, Assistant Principal Wei Jiang Linda Goldstein Sheldon Person Fay Shapiro Daniel Strba Phyllis Herdliska Suzanne LeFevre*

TRUMPET Mark Hughes, Principal George P. and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Chair John DeWitt, Associate Principal Robert Walp, Assistant Principal Micah Wilkinson*

Second Violins

First Violins

Violas

Conductor

Cellos

Steinway is the official piano of the Houston Symphony and James B. Kozak serves as Piano Technician. The Houston Symphony has two Steinway concert grand pianos. One is a gift of Mrs. Helen B. Rosenbaum in 2001. The other is a Centennial gift from the Houston Symphony Central and Bay Area Leagues in honor of the 75th anniversary of the Houston Symphony League which was celebrated during the 2012-13 season.

www.houstonsymphony.org

Pam Blaine, Chief of Education and Community Programming Steven Brosvik, General Manager/ Chief Operations Officer David Chambers, Chief Development Officer Aurelie Desmarais, Chief of Artistic Planning Amanda Dinitz, Chief of Strategic Initiatives Rauli Garcia, Chief Financial Officer Glenn Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer Meg Philpot, Director, Human Resources Stacey Spears, Executive Assistant and Board Liaison Artistic Sarah Berggren, Chorus Manager Erik Gronfor, Assistant Librarian Michael McMurray, Assistant Librarian Lesley Sabol, Director, Popular Programming Thomas Takaro, Librarian Roxanna Tehrani, Artistic Assistant Rebecca Zabinski, Manager, Artistic Administration Development Darryl de Mello, Associate Director, Annual Fund Noureen Faizullah, Development Operations Manager Mark Folkes, Senior Director, Development Vickie Hamley, Director, Volunteer Services Irma Molina, Development Associate, Gifts and Records Tyler Murphy, Assistant, Special Events Laura Neiman, Manager, Special Events Patrick Quinn, Director, Planned Giving Agnieszka Rakhmatullaev, Development Officer, Institutional Giving Jennifer M. Schoppe, Associate Director, Foundation and Government Grants Martin Schleuse, Development Communications Manager Sarah Slemmons, Patron Donor Relations Manager Lena Streetman, Manager, Prospect Research and Planned Giving Associate Jada Wright-Greene, Institutional Giving Coordinator Alexandra Yates, Director, Special Events Education/Community Partnerships Allison Conlan, Education Manager Steve Wenig, Director, Community Partnerships Finance/Administration/IT Sally Brassow, Controller Heather Fails, Manager, Ticketing Database Philip Gulla, Director, Technology Janis Pease LaRocque, Manager, Patron Database Kay Middleton, Receptionist Maria Ross, Payroll Manager Armin (A.J.) Salge, Network Systems Engineer Brandon VanWaeyenberghe, Director, Business Analytics Chris Westerfelt, Manager, Accounts Payable and Special Projects Marketing/Communications Sara Alvarado, Graphic Designer Vanessa Astros-Young, Senior Director, Communications Jeffrey Block, Assistant Marketing Manager Calvin Dotsey, Digital Marketing Coordinator Austin Dressman, Marketing & PR Assistant Jeff Gilmer, Assistant Manager, Patron Services Mandi Hunsicker-Sallee, Senior Director, Marketing and Sales Jason Landry, Senior Manager, Patron Services Melissa H. Lopez, Director, Single Tickets & Special Projects Keith Nickerson, Publications Editor Sarah Rendon, Patron Services Coordinator Jacqueline Shumate, Marketing Manager Jenny Zuniga, Director, Patron Services Operations Michael Gorman, Orchestra Personnel Manager Kristin L. Johnson, Director, Operations and Production Kelly Morgan, Stage Manager Kathryn Wene, Operations Assistant Meredith Williams, Operations Manager


CREDITS

Mark C. Hanson Executive Director/CEO Keith Nickerson Publications Editor Elaine Reeder Mayo Editorial Consultant

www.newleafinc.com (713) 523-5323 Janet Meyer Publisher janetmeyer@newleafinc.com Keith Gumney Art Director kgumney@newleafinc.com Jennifer Greenberg Associate Publisher jenniferg@newleafinc.com Frances Powell Account Executive Tricia Pucciarello Account Executive Jane Kremer Account Executive Carey Clark CC Catalyst Communications Marlene Walker Walker Media LLC The activities and projects of the Houston Symphony are funded in part by grants from the City of Houston, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Texas Commission on the Arts. The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion at The Woodlands is the Summer Home of the Houston Symphony. Digital pre-media services by Vertis APS Houston Contents copyright Š 2014 by the Houston Symphony

LATE SEATING In consideration of audience members, the Houston Symphony makes every effort to begin concerts on time. Ushers will assist with late seating at pre-designated intervals. You may be asked to sit in a location other than your ticketed seat until the end of that portion of the concert. You will be able to move to your ticketed seat at the concert break. CHILDREN AT CONCERTS In consideration of our patrons, we ask that children be 6 years and older to attend Houston Symphony concerts. Children of all ages, including infants, are admitted to Family Concerts. Any child over age 1 must have a ticket for those performances. CAMERAS, RECORDERS, CELL PHONES & PAGERS Cameras and recorders are not permitted in the hall. Patrons may not use any device to record or photograph performances. Please silence cell phones, pagers and alarm watches and refrain from texting during performances. November 2014


ANDRÉS OROZCO-ESTRADA

photo by dave rossman

Andrés Orozco-Estrada, born in Colombia and trained in Vienna, is one of the most sought after conductors of his generation. He begins his tenure as the Houston Symphony’s 15th Music Director this season. In addition to his appointment in Houston, Andrés will take up the position of chief conductor of the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra during the 2014-15 season, and he will become principal guest conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra beginning in the 2015-16 season. Since the 2009-10 season, he has held the post of music director of the Tonkünstler Orchester Niederösterreich, one of the most important institutions of traditional Austrian music culture, which holds subscription series at the Vienna Musikverein and is orchestra-in-residence at the Grafenegg Festival. He will conclude his tenure with the Tonkünstler Orchestra in summer 2015. From 2009 through 2013, Andrés was also principal conductor at the Basque National Orchestra in San Sebastián, Spain. As a guest conductor, he regularly works with the world’s most prominent orchestras, including the Vienna, Munich, London, Rotterdam, Royal Stockholm and La Scala Philharmonic Orchestras; Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra; Mahler Chamber Orchestra; London, City of Birmingham and Gothenburg Symphony Orchestras; the Santa Cecilia Orchestra in Rome; Radio Symphony Orchestra of Hamburg; the Orchestre National de France; Verbier Festival

Orchestra; and the St. Louis and Oregon Symphonies. Following his debut with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in 2010, Andrés was hailed “a brilliant stand-in” for EsaPekka Salonen and celebrated as an “eminent talent” by Austria’s Wiener Zeitung and Die Presse. In November 2012, Andrés stepped in once again with just one rehearsal’s notice to conduct the Vienna Philharmonic in the Musikverein for Riccardo Muti and was praised as a “stand-in worth his weight in gold” and “an inspired master of communication” by the Viennese daily newspapers Kurier and Der Standard. In the 2015-16 season, he will make his official debut with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra on its subscription season. Born in 1977 in Medellín (Colombia), Andrés began his musical studies on the violin and had his first conducting lessons at age 15. In 1997, he moved to Vienna where he joined the conducting class of Uroš Lajovic, pupil of the legendary Hans Swarowsky, at the renowned Vienna Music Academy and completed his degree with distinction by conducting the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra at the Vienna Musikverein. The emphasis of his artistic work lies in the Romantic repertoire and Viennese classics. At the same time, Andrés shows a keen interest in contemporary music and regularly performs premieres of Austrian composers as well as compositions of Spanish and South American origin. He currently lives in Vienna.

THE NEW MUSIC DIRECTOR FUND

photo by julie soefer

The New Music Director Fund supports the concert activities of Andrés Orozco-Estrada in his year as Music Director Designate (2013-14 Centennial Season) and his first years as Music Director of the Houston Symphony (2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons). Orozco-Estrada, appointed in January 2013, is a young, dynamic conductor who radiates charm and energy both on and off the podium. He is the orchestra’s first Hispanic music director. For information on how to become involved, please contact Mark C. Hanson, Executive Director/CEO, at (713) 238-1411 or David Chambers, Chief Development Officer, at (713) 337-8525.

The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts Ms. Marie Taylor Bosarge Bobby & Phoebe Tudor Margaret Alkek Williams

www.houstonsymphony.org

Janice H. Barrow Mr. Gary V. Beauchamp & Ms. Marian Wilfert Beauchamp Barbara & Pat McCelvey Nancy & Robert Peiser Mr. & Mrs. Jim R. Smith Mike Stude Mr. & Mrs. Jesse B. Tutor

CHIEF CONDUCTORS AND MUSIC DIRECTORS Julien Paul Blitz (1913-16)

André Previn (1967-69)

Paul Bergé (1916-18)

Lawrence Foster (1971-78)

Uriel Nespoli (1931-32)

Sergiu Comissiona (1980-88)

Frank St. Leger (1932-35)

Christoph Eschenbach (1988-99)

Ernst Hoffmann (1936-47) Efrem Kurtz (1948-54) Ferenc Fricsay (1954) Leopold Stokowski (1955-61) Sir John Barbirolli (1961-67)

Hans Graf (2001-13) Andrés Orozco-Estrada (2014-)



EVENTS

Thanks for a Spectacular Opening Night! The Houston Symphony’s Opening Night Concert and Gala with Andrés Orozco-Estrada on September 13 kicked off Andrés’ Inaugural Season as the Houston Symphony’s 15th Music Director. Alison Balsom, British trumpeter extraordinaire and the 2013 Gramophone Awards Artist of the Year, joined Andrés on stage at Jones Hall. The concert opened with Mozart’s delightful Overture to The Marriage of Figaro, and Balsom performed Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto. The performance concluded with Pictures at an Exhibition, Mussorgsky’s 10movement suite, in Maurice Ravel’s brilliant orchestration. After the sensational performance, guests arrived at The Corinthian to enjoy an unforgettable dinner and dance to the music of The Richard Brown Orchestra. Later, DJ SalsaEddy fired up the atmosphere with Colombian salsa! More than 500 guests attended the Gala, themed for the new Music Director’s native Colombia. The evening was chaired by Barbara and Pat McCelvey, who, along with other Symphony patrons, were ecstatic with the resulting revenue. The event raised more than $585,000 for the Houston Symphony’s Education and Community Programming. Outside of the Centennial, this was the most successful Opening Night in the event’s history, and it CONTINUED ON 12

Margaret Williams and Jim Daniel

Nancy and Bob Peiser

Barbara and Pat McCelvey, Julia and Andrés Orozco-Estrada

Aurelie Desmarais, Mike Stude and Mariquita Masterson

Andrés Orozco-Estrada and Alison Balsom

10

www.houstonsymphony.org

Evin Thayer, Marie Taylor Bosarge and Kenneth Gayle

Betty and Jesse Tutor

Colin Parfitt and Barbara Burger



was made possible through the leadership of Barbara and Pat, Underwriter Committee Chairs Viviana and David Denechaud, and members of the Underwriting Committee. ConocoPhillips, the Concert Sponsor and Lead Corporate Gala Underwriter, has been a proud sponsor of the Houston Symphony for the last 40 years. The Symphony honored Houston First Corporation, the Symphony’s Music Director Launch Presenting Partner. Houston First Corporation is leading the effort to have Houston recognized as one of the great cities of the world. Other honorees included the City of Houston, The Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts/The Foundation for Jones Hall, Miller Outdoor Theatre/Miller Theatre Advisory Board and Members of the Music Director Search Committee.

Kim and Richard Lucas

John Rydman, Lisa Rydman and Lindy Rydman

Thurmon and Lilly Andress

David and Viviana Denechaud

Jimmy Montgomery and Sharon Adams

Vintage Virtuoso

Sunday, December 14, 2014 River Oaks Country Club 11:30am to 1:30pm Kim Lucas, Chair Lilly Andress, Chair

Thursday, December 11, 2014 Royal Sonesta Hotel 6pm to 10:30pm Lindy and John Rydman, Chairs Lisa Rydman, Chair

This wintery morning will include a delectable brunch as well as plenty of fun activities for your young guests, including a visit and photo with Santa, the Instrument Petting Zoo, musical entertainment by a Houston Symphony musician, and arts and crafts stations. All proceeds from this event will benefit the Houston Symphony’s Education and Community Programming. Through educational concerts, school presentations by Symphony musicians and family concerts, the Houston Symphony reaches more than 97,000 children and students each year.

Take part in a delightful culinary experience hosted by Spec’s Charitable Foundation. Guests are invited to a tasting followed by a seated dinner. This glamorous and spirited event raises important funds in support of the Houston Symphony’s Education and Community Programming.

Tables for 10 (reserved seating): $5,000; $2,500 and $1,250 Individual Tickets (unreserved seating): $150 Adult; $75 Children

Beth Madison and Ralph Burch

12

www.houstonsymphony.org

David Wuthrich, Bob Weiner, Jesse. B. Tutor and guest

Magical Musical Morning

For more information about Magical Musical Morning, please contact the Special Events team at (713) 238-1485 or specialevents@ houstonsymphony.org.

Tables for 8: $25,000; $15,000; $12,000; $10,000 and $6,000 Individual Tickets: $300 (open seating) and $400 (reserved seating) For more information, contact Kylie Boaz at kylieb@specsonline.com or (713) 526-8787.

Save the Date: Houston Symphony Ball Saturday, May 2, 2015 Hilton Americas Lisa and Jerry Simon, Chairs Sherry and Jim Smith, Chairs

photo by catchlight photography

EVENTS CONTINUED



NOVEMBER 3, 2014

HOUSTON SYMPHONY PRESENTS

Gewandhausorchester Leipzig Riccardo Chailly, Gewandhauskapellmeister Nikolaj Znaider, violin Monday, November 3, 2014 7:30pm

Jones Hall

Mendelssohn Die Hebriden (The Hebrides), Opus 26

ca. 10

Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor, Opus 64 I Allegro molto appassionato—Presto— II Andante— III Allegretto non troppo—Allegro molto vivace

I

N

T

E

R

M

I

S

S

I

O

ca. 27

N

Mendelssohn Symphony No. 5 in D major, Opus 107 (Reformation) I Andante—Allegro con fuoco II Allegro vivace III Andante— IV Chorale, Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott!: Andante con moto— Allegro vivace—Allegro maestoso

Tour Sponsor: Porsche Official Logistic Partner: DHL

NOTE: All photography, video and audio recording of this performance are strictly prohibited.

14

www.houstonsymphony.org

ca. 29


The Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra is presented by the Houston Symphony and the Houston-Leipzig Sister City Association in conjunction with the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance and the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany Houston. Honorary Chairs President George H.W. Bush Secretary of State James A. Baker III Mayor Annise D. Parker, City of Houston Mayor Burkhard Jung, Leipzig Underwriting Chairs Wolfgang Schmidt and Angelika Schmidt-Lange This performance is generously supported in part by: Partner M.D. Anderson Foundation Dr. Gary L. Hollingsworth & Dr. Ken Hyde Houston Saengerbund Supporter Eric S. Anderson Robin Angly & Miles Smith City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany Houston Team Alloys LLC John G. Turner & Jerry G. Fischer Benefactor Gerhard & Birgit Adenacker Maass Flange Corporation Jackson Hicks Paul Kilpatrick Estate of Howard Pieper Wolfgang Schmidt & Angelika C. Schmidt-Lange Stephen & Kristine Wallace Grand Patron Sybil F. Roos Mr. & Mrs. James A. Shaffer Mr. & Mrs. Robert R. Springob, Laredo Construction, Inc. Southwest Stainless & Alloy, A Shale Inland Company SPIR STAR, Ltd. Mr. & Mrs. C. Clifford Wright, Jr.

Patron Anonymous Timm & Meredith Bohnert Stephen Braun Debbie & Frank Jones Sue Schwartz WEH Technologies Inc. Friend Shelby Allen Raphael Bojarczuk Herbert & Christa Buergermeister Elisabeth Duerr Barbara Goedecke Bill & Laurie Hammons Jackel Mund & Bruns LLC Sidney & Doris Johnston Hans & Lili Kirchner Hans & Karen Knickrehm Meteor International Travel Karen Settles Newton & Harvey Newton Ulrike Peto Leonard & Susan Teich Ellen & Peter Ulrich Drs. Volker & Ute Eisele Eugenia Weissenberger

November 2014 15


NOTES | GEWANDHAUSORCHESTER LEIPZIG | NOVEMBER 3 The Gewandhausorchester Leipzig and its United States Tour The Gewandhausorchester is the oldest civic symphony orchestra in the world. The Orchestra was founded in 1743 on the initiative of a group of 16 people, comprising both nobility and regular citizens, to perform for the newly formed concert society Das Große Concert. On taking residence in the trading house of the city’s textile merchants—the Gewandhaus—the Orchestra assumed the title Gewandhausorchester. Of the many celebrated Gewandhauskapellmeisters who have directed the Orchestra over the centuries, Johann Adam Hiller, Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Arthur Nikisch and Kurt Masur are worthy of particular mention. Riccardo Chailly’s tenure as Gewandhauskapellmeister commenced in 2005. Music lovers the world over treasure the unique sound of the Gewandhausorchester that distinguishes it from all other symphony orchestras. The unmistakable sound identity alongside the extraordinary diversity of repertoire to which the Orchestra dedicates itself in its three “homes” are cultivated in far in excess of 200 performances each year. The Orchestra performs weekly concerts in the Gewandhaus; it serves as the orchestra in the Leipzig Opera and joins the Thomanerchor each week in the performance of cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach in the Thomaskirche. No other elite symphony orchestra in the world performs such an abundance of the works of J.S. Bach. In addition to these core activities, the Orchestra has toured the world regularly since 1916. The Orchestra’s work is documented in an enormous wealth of CD and DVD recordings, as well as radio and television broadcasts.

16

www.houstonsymphony.org

Few orchestras have played such an active, formative role in the development of symphonic music as the Gewandhausorchester— still today an orchestra that attracts the world’s most highly celebrated composers, conductors and soloists. The Leipzigers performed a cycle of Beethoven’s nine symphonies during the composer’s lifetime (1825-26) as well as the first-ever complete cycle of Bruckner’s symphonic oeuvre (1919-20). The Gewandhausorchester has premiered an enviable amount of the works which the wider music world counts among its most beloved: Wagner’s prelude to Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Beethoven’s 5th Piano Concerto (the Emperor), Brahms’ Violin Concerto and Deutsches Requiem to name but a few. Today, the Orchestra continues to commission and perform new compositions every season. Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy must be credited with exerting decisive influence on the development of today’s core symphonic repertoire during his tenure as Gewandhauskapellmeister (18351847). During his incumbency, the Gewandhausorchester gave the first performances of several of his own most significant works, including the Violin Concerto in E minor, the Scottish Symphony and the overture to Ruy Blas. Mendelssohn also conducted the Orchestra in the world premieres of Schubert’s C major Symphony, The Great, as well as the 1st, 2nd and 4th symphonies of Robert Schumann. By way of innovative programming, Mendelssohn also broadened the Leipzig audience’s horizons toward the masterpieces of the past, in particular reintroducing and resurrecting interest in Bach’s instrumental works—music that until Mendelssohn’s arrival in Leipzig was, astonishingly, largely forgotten. Thanks to


NOTES | GEWANDHAUSORCHESTER LEIPZIG | NOVEMBER 3 Mendelssohn’s inspiration and commitment to the undertaking, Germany’s first conservatoire was founded in Leipzig in 1843, the modern-day University of Music and Theatre “Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy.” In keeping with Mendelssohn’s original conception for the institution of providing the next generation of orchestral musicians with training to the highest professional standards, the Gewandhausorchester collaborates with the University in the provision of the Mendelssohn Orchestra Academy. Graduates of the Academy receive a master’s degree in orchestral musicianship. The recordings released by the Gewandhausorchester and Riccardo Chailly have been decorated with an enviable array of the music world’s most coveted awards, including a Golden Disc. Among the most celebrated highlights of this partnership’s extensive discography are the complete cycles of the symphonies of Schumann, Brahms and Beethoven, a Gershwin album with the pianist Stefano Bollani, Bach’s keyboard concertos with Ramin Bahrami, Christmas Oratorio, St. Matthew Passion and the Brandenburg Concertos, Brahms’ piano concertos with Nelson Freire, Mendelssohn’s Lobgesang and the Mendelssohn Discoveries disc. Not only was the Gewandhausorchester founded during Johann Sebastian Bach’s tenure as Thomaskantor, it also had a strong connection to this most revered of all musicians. Bach was responsible for the sacred music in Leipzig’s principal churches (including those of St. Thomas and St. Nikolai) for 27 years. In this capacity, he was music director of the musicians in the employment of the city, the Stadtpfeiffer (“Town Pipers”), as well as directing one of the Collegia musica, consisting of students from the university. 1743

saw the founding of the concert society Das Große Concert. The orchestra initially comprised the professional Stadtpfeiffer, members of Bach’s Collegiums musicum, as well as pupils of the Great Master. A few short decades later, this orchestra was to assume the name Gewandhausorchester. It is a source of great pride that the majority of the original members of the Orchestra regularly made music with the Übervater of western music. Toward the end of the 18th century the duties of the musicians of the Gewandhausorchester extended to include that previously entrusted exclusively to the Stadtpfeiffer: the provision of sacred music in the churches of St. Thomas and St. Nikolai. This most privileged field of activity for the Gewandhausorchester has developed an enormously rich tradition—now more than two centuries old—of dedication to the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. Today, the Orchestra performs the Great Master’s cantatas together with the Thomanerchor in the Thomaskirche on a weekly basis. The great Christian festivals are marked with performances of the Christmas Oratorio and the St. John and St. Matthew Passions. The fact that the instrumental and orchestral music of J.S. Bach is not lost to us in the concert hall today is largely due to the endeavours of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy. During his tenure as Gewandhauskapellmeister, Mendelssohn introduced a series of “Historic Concerts” to the Gewandhaus season in which he focussed the Orchestra’s and the audience’s attention on the music of centuries past, none more so than that of J.S. Bach. Musicologists and historians perceive Leipzig in the early 19th century as being at the forefront of Beethoven performance outside

November 2014 17


NOTES | GEWANDHAUSORCHESTER LEIPZIG | NOVEMBER 3

HOUSTON—November 3, 2014

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: The Hebrides (Fingal’s Cave) - Overture, op. 26, MWV P 7 Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Violin Concerto in E minor, op. 64 Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Symphony No. 5 in D minor, op. 107, Reformation Symphony

WASHINGTON, D.C.—November 5, 2014

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Violin Concerto in E minor, op. 64 Anton Bruckner: Symphony No. 7 in E major, WAB 107

18

www.houstonsymphony.org

BOSTON—November 7, 2014

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: The Hebrides (Fingal’s Cave) - Overture, op. 26, MWV P 7 Ludwig van Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D major, op. 61 Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Symphony No. 5 in D minor, op. 107, Reformation Symphony

NEWARK—November 8, 2014

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: The Hebrides (Fingal’s Cave) - Overture, op. 26, MWV P 7 Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Violin Concerto in E minor, op. 64 Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Symphony No. 5 in D minor, op. 107, Reformation Symphony

NEW YORK—November 9, 2014

Johann Sebastian Bach: Orchestral Suite No. 4 in D major Anton Bruckner: Symphony No. 7 in E major, WAB 107

NEW YORK—November 10, 2014

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: The Hebrides (Fingal’s Cave) - Overture, op. 26, MWV P 7 Ludwig van Beethoven: Violin Concerto D major, op. 61 Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Symphony No. 5 in D minor, op. 107, Reformation Symphony

biographies RICCARDO CHAILLY, Gewandhauskapellmeister

photo by gert mothes

Vienna. Not only did Ludwig van Beethoven allow his symphonies to be performed at the Gewandhaus shortly after their respective premieres in Vienna, but he entrusted the Gewandhausorchester itself with the first performances of two of his most significant works: the Triple Concerto, opus 56 (1808) and the 5th Piano Concerto in E flat major (the Emperor), opus 73 (1811). A year before Beethoven’s death, in the 1825-26 season, the Gewandhausorchester became the first orchestra in the world to stage a complete cycle of his nine symphonies. The Gewandhausorchester’s first Beethoven symphony cycle on foreign soil took place (twice) in 1961 during the Orchestra’s first tour to Japan. Anton Bruckner’s first appearance at the Gewandhaus was, in fact, as an organist. On December 29, 1884—18 days after the inauguration of the New Gewandhaus—the celebrated composer gave a recital on the new organ. The following day, he was present as the Gewandhausorchester gave the world premiere of his 7th Symphony under the direction of Arthur Nikisch. This performance was to afford Bruckner his first resounding success; the recognition as a composer and international fame he subsequently enjoyed were due in no small measure to the success of this premiere in Leipzig. Nikisch was, indeed, a great admirer of Bruckner’s music and conducted the Gewandhausorchester in the first complete cycle of the nine symphonies ever to take place in the 1919-20 season. Music historians are unified in their opinion that this monumental achievement was “the single most important instance in the history of Bruckner performance since the composer’s death.” At the end of the concert on February 12, 1920, at which the 7th Symphony was performed, Nikisch spontaneously delivered a speech to express his gratitude to the audience: “If someone had said to Bruckner: ‘Hey, don’t be disheartened, there’s a city in Germany in which, in the not too distant future, your complete symphonies will be performed within one season,’ he would have declared him to have taken leave of his senses ... This cyclical performance of all Bruckner’s symphonies has only been possible thanks to the everincreasing enthusiasm of the Gewandhaus audience ...” Bruckner’s symphonic oeuvre has played a central role in the Gewandhausorchester’s work ever since. In the 1974-75 season, Gewandhauskapellmeister Kurt Masur conceived a 10-programme cycle comprising the symphonies and the Te Deum to honour the 150th anniversary of the composer’s birth. Masur conducted seven of the concerts himself; the remaining three were entrusted to esteemed guest conductors, among them Herbert Blomstedt. The concerts of the works of Bruckner that Blomstedt was later to conduct, having assumed the office of Gewandhauskapellmeister, and subsequently record for commercial release during the years 2005-11 were universally acclaimed as being interpretations of superlative quality.

Riccardo Chailly devotes himself to both concert and operatic repertoire. The native of Milan has conducted the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonics, the Gewandhaus Orchestra, the Munich Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Chailly’s first artistic encounter with the Gewandhaus Orchestra took place at the Salzburg Festival in 1986. He took up his position as Gewandhauskapellmeister (Music Director) of the Gewandhaus Orchestra in September 2005. Previously, Chailly was principal guest conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra from 1983 to 1986 and chief conductor of the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra from 1982 to 1989. From 1986 to 1993, he was music director of the Teatro Comunale di Bologna, where he conducted numerous opera productions with resounding success. Since his appointment as chief conductor of the Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra (1988 to 2004), he has also devoted himself increasingly to symphonic repertoire. He delights a steadily growing audience not only with his performances of the great standard works, but also with many 20th-century works.


BIOGRAPHIES | GEWANDHAUSORCHESTER LEIPZIG | NOVEMBER 3 Chailly has an exclusive contract with Decca and has recorded an extensive repertoire of symphonic works and operas—more than 100 CDs in total. His first CD/DVD with the Gewandhaus Ochestra was released in September 2005.

photo by george lange

NIKOLAJ ZNAIDER, violin Nikolaj Znaider is not only celebrated as one of the foremost violinists of today, but is fast becoming one of the most versatile artists of his generation by uniting his talents as soloist, conductor and chamber musician. As a soloist, Znaider works regularly with the world’s leading orchestras. Highlights of the coming season include performances with WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln under JukkaPekka Saraste, Orchestre de Paris and David Zinman, Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala and Fabio Luisi, Cleveland Symphony Orchestra under Pierre Boulez, Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra and a European tour with the SWR Sinfonieorchester under

Stéphane Denève, Orchestre National de Lyon with Alan Gilbert, Bayerischer Rundfunk and Franz Welser-Möst, and Orchestre de la Suisse Romande under Neeme Järvi. He will also perform with the Aalborg Symphony Orchestra and Rumon Gamba at the grand opening of their new concert hall. In recital and chamber music, Znaider appears at all the major concert halls. Znaider is passionate about the education of musical talent and was for 10 years the founder and artistic director of the Nordic Music Academy, an annual summer school whose vision it was to create conscious and focused musical development based on quality and commitment. Nikolaj Znaider plays the “Kreisler” Guarnerius “del Gesu” 1741, which is on extended loan to him by The Royal Danish Theater through the generosity of the VELUX FOUNDATIONS and the Knud Højgaard Foundation.

November 2014 19


3 WEEKS OF BEETHOVEN

T

his month’s 3 Weeks of Beethoven is Part I of a three-season cycle of all nine Beethoven symphonies. Considering that we perform these symphonies as a regular staple of our concert offerings, why has our new Music Director, Andrés Orozco-Estrada, chosen to explore them as a cycle over the next three seasons? It is really about developing a shared language and strengthening the ensemble. The notes on the page of a musical composition are very much like words on the page of a play. It’s one thing to understand them; it’s entirely another thing to perform them. Like a troupe of actors, an orchestra also needs the rehearsal process so that they may explore the music while concentrating on the nuance and subtlety of communication. The more shared this language becomes among the orchestra members and conductor, the more quickly they play together intuitively. Andrés and the Houston Symphony begin the exploration with Beethoven’s powerful Fifth Symphony on November 14-16. On November 20-23, experience the drama and grandeur of Mozart’s Requiem performed by the Houston Symphony and Chorus along with two Beethoven overtures in Mozart’s Requiem Plus Beethoven. The 2014-15 season’s exploration of Beethoven will conclude over the Thanksgiving weekend with Beethoven 1 & 4, two glorious examples of his compositional style coupled with nods to Mozart and Haydn’s spirited Classical tradition. 20

www.houstonsymphony.org


3 Weeks of Beethoven is generously supported in part by: Guarantor The Brown Foundation, Inc. Performances of Concertmaster Frank Huang are presented in memory of Max Levine. Underwriter Drs. M. S. and Marie-Luise Kalsi / Kalsi Engineering, Inc. Medistar Corporation / Monzer Hourani Beverly Johnson, Ralph Wyman and Jim Foti, and Thane and Nicole Wyman in memory of Winthrop Wyman Sponsor Baker Botts L.L.P. Nancy and Robert Peiser Partner Janet F. Clark Terence Murphree Supporter Mark and Christina Hanson VRTC Benefactor Ms. Lynne Lipsitz

The Classical Season is endowed by The Wortham Foundation, Inc. in memory of Gus S. and Lyndall F. Wortham.

November 2014 21


NOVEMBER 13 - 16, 2014

3 WEEKS OF BEETHOVEN

Beethoven’s Fifth Andrés Orozco-Estrada, conductor Frank Huang, violin Thursday, November 13, 2014 8pm

Sugar Land Baptist Church

Friday, November 14, 2014 8pm Saturday, November 15, 2014 8pm Sunday, November 16, 2014 2:30pm

Jones Hall

G. L. Frank Three Latin-American Dances I Introduction: Jungle Jaunt: Allegro Selvático II Highland Harawi: Atmosférico Andino III The Mestizo Waltz: ¡Feliz!

ca. 17

Lalo Symphonie espagnole for Violin and Orchestra, Opus 21 I Allegro non troppo II Scherzando: Allegro molto III Intermezzo: Allegretto non troppo IV Andante V Rondo: Allegro

ca. 31

I

N

T

E

R

M

I

S

S

Beethoven Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Opus 67 I Allegro con brio II Andante con moto III Allegro— IV Allegro

Andrés Orozco-Estrada’s biography appears on page 8.

22

www.houstonsymphony.org

I

O

N ca. 30


BEETHOVEN’S FIFTH | NOVEMBER 13 - 16

Shell Favorite Masters

This weekend’s performances of Concertmaster Frank Huang are presented in memory of Max Levine. Sponsor Baker Botts L.L.P. Nancy and Robert Peiser Supporter VRTC The Houston Symphony’s composer-in-residence and commissioning initiatives are supported in part by Robin Angly and Miles Smith. These concerts are also supported by Donors to the New Music Director Fund. For a full listing of supporters, please refer to page 8. For a full listing of sponsors of the 3 Weeks of Beethoven, please refer to page 21. The Classical Season is endowed by The Wortham Foundation, Inc. in memory of Gus S. and Lyndall F. Wortham. To enjoy this concert again, tune in to Houston Public Media’s broadcast series on Wednesdays at 8pm on Classical 91.7. Recent enhancements to the Jones Hall recording suite generously provided by Silver Circle Audio. November 2014 23


NOTES | BEETHOVEN’S FIFTH | NOVEMBER 13 - 16 THREE LATIN-AMERICAN DANCES Gabriela Lena Frank (1972–) Composer’s Note. I. Introduction: Jungle Jaunt. This introductory scherzo opens in an unabashed tribute to the Symphonic Dances from West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein before turning to harmonies and rhythms derived from various pan-Amazonian dance forms. These jungle references are sped through (so as to be largely hidden) while echoing the energy of the Argentinian composer Alberto Ginastera who was long fascinated with indigenous Latin American cultures. II. Highland Harawi. This movement is the heart of Three LatinAmerican Dances, and evokes the Andean Harawi, a melancholy adagio traditionally sung by a single bamboo quena flute so as to accompany a single dancer. As mountain music, the ambiance of mystery, vastness and echo is evoked. The fast middle section simulates what I imagine to be the “zumballyu” of Illapa, which is a great spinning top belonging to Illapa, the Peruvian-Inca weather deity of thunder, lightning and rain. Illapa spins his great top in the highland valleys of the Andes before allowing a return to the more staid Harawi, alluding to the music of Hungarian composer Béla Bartók. III. The Mestizo Waltz. As if in relief to the gravity of the previous movement, this final movement is a lighthearted tribute to the “mestizo” or mixed-race music of the South American Pacific coast. In particular, it evokes the “romancero” tradition of popular songs and dances that mix influences from indigenous Indian cultures, African slave cultures and western brass bands. — Gabriela Lena Frank

SYMPHONIE ESPAGNOLE FOR VIOLIN AND ORCHESTRA, OPUS 21 Édouard Lalo (1823-92) In a Tweet. Lalo’s Symphonie espagnole, the composer’s most famous work by far, immerses violin virtuosity in the vivid colors of Spain. It’s not deep, but it sure is delectable. The Back Story. Lalo’s reputation chiefly rests on a single work: the Symphonie espagnole (Spanish Symphony) for Violin and Orchestra, composed in 1874. It deserves a place near the top of Spanish-flavored pieces by French composers, along with such works as Bizet’s Carmen, Chabrier’s España and Ravel’s Rapsodie espagnole. The surname Lalo is itself Spanish. The composer descended from ancient Spanish lineage, though the family had already dispersed to Flanders and Northern France in the 16th century. What’s more, he wrote this piece with a Spanish violinist in mind: the esteemed virtuoso Pablo de Sarasate, for whom Lalo had composed a violin concerto a year previously. That earlier work displayed nothing that can be considered explicitly Spanish in flavor, nor did it display much else that would ensure it a place in the active repertoire. The Symphonie espagnole could not be more different, and Sarasate scored a major hit when he brought his national insight to the interpretation of the score. Although it’s a characteristic concerto in the way it gives virtuosic prominence to the violin and plumbs the potential drama that exists in the contrast between the soloist and the orchestra, the Symphonie espagnole

24

www.houstonsymphony.org

Baker Botts is a globally respected law firm with offices around the world. We provide the highest ethical and professional standards combined with our reach and depth of understanding of the law to help us deliver better, and more innovative solutions. We have supported the Houston Symphony for decades and continue this support today with one of our partners serving as the Symphony’s general counsel. The Houston Symphony has always been at the forefront of cultural progress in Houston, and continues to enrich our city with original and inspiring performances. Baker Botts has consistently delivered results-oriented services to establish us as one of the world’s leading law firms. We have earned the privilege of working on some of the most fascinating and complex legal matters in the world. Since 1840, we have provided creative and effective legal solutions for our clients while demonstrating an unrelenting commitment to excellence. BakerBotts.com is not structured as most 19th-century concertos are. Instead of the normal three, or maybe four, movements, we have five. The Intermezzo was sometimes cut in times past, but it is almost always included in modern performances; nonetheless, the shortened form still lurks in older recordings. The Instruments. 2 flutes and piccolo, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani, percussion, harp and strings, in addition to the solo violin What to Listen For. Each of the five movements runs between six and eight minutes in length except for the second (Scherzando), which lasts only about four. The preludial movement sets the scene with stentorian grandeur, but after that the movement’s pace tends toward the lightweight and ingratiating, recalling the style of violin concertos by Wieniawski and Vieuxtemps. Rhythms and melodic turns that we are sure to recognize as Spanish pepper the piece, and the very famous finale infuses the spirit of Iberia into a delightful, quick-paced Rondo. —James M. Keller

SYMPHONY NO. 5 IN C MINOR, OPUS 67 Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) In a Tweet. One of the most revered of all artistic creations, Beethoven’s famous Fifth Symphony never fails to grip listeners’ attention as it travels from darkness into light. The Back Story. It is one of the most famous monuments in all of music, its opening motto—Ta-Ta-Ta-Taaaa—so potent that the media adopted it to symbolize Allied forces during World War II (acknowledging its resemblance to the Morse Code pattern for “V,” as in Victory). Beethoven’s secretary, Anton Schindler, related that the composer pointed to this motif in his score and proclaimed “Thus Destiny knocks at the door!” Whether it happened or not— Schindler embroidered many a tale—it has become so entrenched


BIOGRAPHY | BEETHOVEN’S FIFTH | NOVEMBER 13 - 16 in Beethoven lore that most people choose to think of the piece in that way. In this music we may imagine we find reflected a composer who was frantically confronting a life in disarray, struggling against encroaching deafness and other medical crises, distressed by repeated rejection in love, living in an uneasy Vienna occupied by Napoleon’s armies. Even so, in the variations of the second movement we may also catch fleeting glimpses of more peaceful episodes suggesting the relief Beethoven sought during his cherished walks in Vienna’s suburban parks.

mysterious tunnel of sound, the finale emerging out of its murkiness in a blaze of triumphant illumination. —James M. Keller

The Instruments. 2 flutes and piccolo, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons and contrabassoon, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani and strings

First prize winner of the 2003 Walter W. Naumburg Foundation’s International Violin Competition and the 2000 Hannover International Violin Competition, Concertmaster Frank Huang has established a major career as a violin virtuoso. At age 11, he performed with the Houston Symphony in a nationally broadcast concert and has since performed with orchestras throughout the world, including the Cleveland Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Saint Paul

BiographY FRANK HUANG, violin

photo by eric arbiter

What to Listen For. Although the much-repeated claim that the entire first movement is built out of the famous rest-plus-fournotes cell at the opening may be an exaggeration, that motif does pervade the movement almost incessantly, its rhythm taking on arresting prominence in the composer’s arsenal of materials. Even the second theme, a graceful tune in the major mode, is underscored by rhythmic reminiscences of the famous gesture. The single spot where Beethoven breaks the tension—the tiny oboe cadenza two-thirds of the way through the movement— seems less a respite from the onslaught than the plaintive wail of a lost lamb in an orgy of ravenous wolves. The third movement is an edgy, even menacing Scherzo with a gruff, comical central Trio section that Hector Berlioz said “resembles somewhat the gambols of a delighted elephant.” It connects to the fourth via a

The printed music for Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 was donated by Catherine Jane Merchant in memory of Maxine Merchant.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 55

November 2014 25


16 DE NOVIEMBRE 16, 2014

3 SEMANAS DE BEETHOVEN

Musicalmente Hablando con Andrés Andrés Orozco-Estrada, director y anfitrión Carlos Andrés Botero, co-anfitrión

16 de Noviembre, 2014 7:30pm

Stude Concert Hall

Diálogo sobre la Quinta de Beethoven con ejemplos musicales.

ca. 25

Beethoven Sinfonía No. 5 en C menor, Opus 67 I Allegro con brio II Andante con moto III Allegro— IV Allegro

ca. 30

26

www.houstonsymphony.org


MUSICALMENTE HABLANO CON ANDRÉS | 16 DE NOVIEMBRE SINFONÍA No. 5 EN C MENOR, OPUS 67 Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) En un tweet. Una de las creaciones artísticas más veneradas de todos los tiempos, la famosa Quinta Sinfonía de Beethoven, siempre captura la atención de las audiencias en su travesía de la oscuridad a la luz.

Estos conciertos también son apoyados por Donors to the New Music Director Fund. Para obtener una lista completa de los partidiarios, favor de consultar la página 8. Para obtener una lista completa de los patrocinadores de “3 semanas de Beethoven”, favor de consultar la página 21. La Temporada Clásica es dotada con fondos del Wortham Foundation, Inc. en memoria de Gus S. y F. Lyndall Wortham.

Como gran partidario de las artes locales, Rand Group se enorgullece en patrocinar a la Orquesta Sinfónica de Houston. Rand Group es una empresa que ofrece servicios profesionales a las industrias de petróleo, gas, manufactura, distribución y segmentos de la construcción en el sur de los Estados Unidos. Rand Group combina la visión empresarial de contadores y especialistas de dichas industrias con la reconocida experiencia tecnológica de programadores de software y especialistas en mejora de procesos que generan resultados positivos para toda clase de empresas. Reconocida como un Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, Rand Group ofrece soluciones de gestión empresarial “end-to-end”, enfocadas en las necesidades particulares para cada cliente, haciendo al Rand Group un socio orientado a la acción y el éxito de su negocio.

Antecedentes. “Guardemos silencio sobre esta obra!” escribió Robert Schumann, uno de los distinguidos sucesores de Beethoven en el ámbito de la sinfonía. “No importa qué tan frecuentemente se escuche, ya sea en el hogar o en la sala de conciertos, esta sinfonía siempre ejerce su poder sobre la gente de todas las edades al igual que los grandes fenómenos de la naturaleza que nos llenan de miedo y admiración en todo momento, sin importar cuántas veces los experimentemos.” Es uno de los monumentos más famosos de toda la música: su motivo de apertura Ta-Ta -Ta-Taaaa - tan poderosa que los medios la han adoptado para simbolizar las fuerzas aliadas durante la II Guerra Mundial (que reconoce su semejanza con el patrón del código Morse de “V”, como en Victoria). El secretario de Beethoven, Anton Schindler, relató que el compositor señaló este motivo en su partitura y proclamó “¡Así es como el destino llama a la puerta!”. Si esto ocurrió o no -- Schindler inventó muchas historias-- se ha convertido en una anécdota tan arraigada a la leyenda de Beethoven que la mayoría de la gente prefiere considerarla auténtica. En esta música podemos imaginar que vemos reflejado a un compositor que se enfrentaba frenéticamente a una vida en un estado de confusión, batallando contra de una sordera degenerativa y otras crisis médicas, abatido por numerosos desaires amorosos, y viviendo en una precaria Viena ocupada por los ejércitos de Napoleón. A pesar de ello, en las variaciones del segundo movimiento también se pueden percibir fugaces imágenes de episodios más pacíficos que sugieren el sosiego que Beethoven experimentaba durante sus atesoradas caminatas por los parques suburbanos de Viena. Los instrumentos. 2 Flautas y flautín, 2 oboes, 2 clarinetes, 2 bajones y contrafagot, 2 cornetas, 2 trompetas, 3 trombones, timbales y cuerdas. Lo que hay que escuchar. A pesar de que la muy repetida afirmación de que todo el primer movimiento se construyó sobre la base de las famosas cuatro notas en la apertura puede ser una exageración, ese motivo perdura en todo el movimiento en forma casi incesante, su ritmo adoptando una avasallante prominencia en el arsenal de los materiales del compositor. Incluso en el segundo tema, una graciosa melodía en el modo principal, se manifiesta a través de rítmicas reminiscencias del famoso gesto. El único punto donde Beethoven rompe la tensión, la diminuta cadencia de oboe a dos tercios del movimiento, parece ser menos un respiro de la embestida que el quejoso aullido de un cordero perdido en una orgía de lobos rapaces. El tercer movimiento es un nervioso scherzo, incluso amenazador, con una brusca sección central de trío cómico que Hector Berlioz dijo que “se asemeja en parte a los alegres bullicios de un elefante deleitado”. Se conecta al cuarto movimiento a través de un misterioso túnel de sonido, el final emergiendo de su oscuridad en un resplandor de luz triunfal. —James M. Keller

Biografías ANDRÉS OROZCO-ESTRADA, director y anfitrión (Andrés Orozco-Estrada’s English biography and photo appear on page 8.) Andrés Orozco-Estrada, nacido en Colombia y formado en Viena, es uno de los directores más codiciados de su generación. Esta temporada inicia su debut como el 15vo Director Musical de la Sinfónica de Houston. Además de su nombramiento en Houston, Andrés asumirá el cargo de director titular de la Orquesta Sinfónica de Frankfurt durante la temporada 2014-15, y se convertirá en principal director invitado de la Orquesta Filarmónica de Londres a partir de la temporada 2015-16. Desde la temporada 2009-10, ha ocupado el puesto de director musical de la Tonkünstler Orchester Niederösterreich, una de las más importantes instituciones de CONTINUED ON PAGE 54 November 2014 27


UPCOMING PERFORMANCES December 2014 and January 2015

Very Merry POPS

December 12, 13, 14, 2014 Michael Krajewski, conductor Houston Symphony Chorus Betsy Cook Weber, director

’Twas the Night Before Christmas

Family Concert Series December 13, 2014 Stuart Chafetz, conductor Mirron Willis, narrator

Handel’s Messiah

Symphony Special December 19, 20, 21, 2014 Christopher Warren Green, conductor Anna Devin, soprano Lawrence Zazzo, countertenor Barry Banks, tenor Derek Welton, bass-baritone Houston Symphony Chorus Betsy Cook Weber, director

Mozart and Shostakovich January 15, 17, 18, 2015 Andrés Orozco-Estrada, conductor Christina and Michelle Naughton, piano Mendelssohn: The Fair Melusina Mozart: Concerto for Two Pianos Shostakovich: Symphony No. 12, The Year 1917 Twin sisters Christina and Michelle Naughton share the Jones Hall stage to perform Mozart’s Concerto for Two Pianos. Next, experience the Houston Symphony’s first performance in 45 years of Shostakovich’s expansive Symphony No. 12, The Year 1917. Note: The Thursday program is part of the Musically Speaking Series format and only includes Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 12.

Mozart’s The Abduction from the Seraglio (Opera-In-Concert) January 23, 25, 2015 Andrés Orozco-Estrada, conductor Collaboration with Shepherd School and Moores School of Music vocal soloists Mozart: Die Entführung aus dem Serail (The Abduction from the Seraglio) Laugh along to Mozart’s humorous opera, filled with colorful and exotic musical themes. The Symphony and guest vocalists portray a classic damsel-in-distress story. Captured by Turkish pirates, an affluent Spanish woman awaits her fate—will her fiancé come to rescue her, or will she forever belong to the Pasha’s harem?

Sutton Foster: Broadway’s Leading Lady January 30, 31, February 1, 2015 Steven Reineke, conductor Sutton Foster, vocalist and dancer Triple threat and Tony Award®-winning singer, actress and dancer Sutton Foster, who starred in Broadway’s Thoroughly Modern Millie, Anything Goes and Shrek: The Musical, joins the orchestra to help kick off the New Year with a powerhouse song-and-dance extravaganza.

Symphony Apps & Social Media

Scan this code or go to houstonsymphonyapps.org to download our app or connect on social media. Check out our new content app for “The Planets—An HD Odyssey.” houstonsymphony.org | (713) 224-7575

Thank you to our media partners:

Official Television Partner

Public Media Partner

Exclusive Print Media Sponsor, Special Events

Official Publisher

Hispanic outreach and marketing support provided by Agua Hispanic Marketing. Hispanic PR support provided by VRTC. 28

www.houstonsymphony.org



NOVEMBER 20, 22, 23, 2014

3 WEEKS OF BEETHOVEN

Mozart’s Requiem Plus Beethoven Andrés Orozco-Estrada, conductor Yulia Van Doren, soprano *Elizabeth DeShong, mezzo-soprano *Joel Prieto, tenor Evan Boyer, bass Houston Symphony Chorus Betsy Cook Weber, director Thursday, November 20, 2014 8pm Saturday, November 22, 2014 8pm Sunday, November 23, 2014 2:30pm

Jones Hall

Beethoven Overture to Coriolan, Opus 62

ca. 8

Beethoven Overture to Egmont, Opus 84

ca. 8

Brahms Schicksalslied (Song of Destiny) for Chorus and Orchestra, Opus 54

I

N

T

E

R

M

I

S

S

I

O

Mozart/Süssmayr Requiem, K.626 I Introitus (Requiem): Adagio— II Kyrie: Allegro III Sequenz 1 Dies irae: Allegro assai 2 Tuba mirum: Andante 3 Rex tremendae 4 Recordare 5 Confutatis: Andante— 6 Lacrimosa: Larghetto IV Offertorium 1 Domine Jesu: Andante con moto 2 Hostias: Andante—Andante con moto V Sanctus: Adagio—Allegro VI Benedictus: Andante—Allegro VII Agnus Dei VIII Communio (Lux aeterna)—Allegro Andrés Orozco-Estrada’s biography appears on page 8. *Houston Symphony Debut

30

www.houstonsymphony.org

ca. 15

N ca. 60


MOZART’S REQUIEM PLUS BEETHOVEN | NOVEMBER 20, 22, 23 OVERTURE TO CORIOLAN, OPUS 62 Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) In a Tweet. Grrrrr … Bark! Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture opens like a snarling pit bull, composed to introduce a play about a Roman hero who does an about-face against his nation.

Frost Bank Gold Classics Series Underwriter Drs. M. S. and Marie-Louise Kalsi/ Kalsi Engineering, Inc. This performance of Mozart’s Requiem includes new basset horns donated by Beverly Johnson, Ralph Wyman and Jim Foti, and Thane and Nicole Wyman in memory of Winthrop Wyman. These concerts are also supported by Donors to the New Music Director Fund. For a full listing of supporters, please refer to page 8.

The Back Story. Beethoven’s music for the stage includes only one completed opera, Fidelio. He was more productive in other theatrical genres, producing music for two ballets and incidental music for a half-dozen stage plays, including Coriolan. This was not Shakespeare’s Coriolanus, but rather a tragedy by Viennese Court Secretary Heinrich Joseph von Collin that was premiered in 1802 backed up by music from Mozart’s opera Idomeneo. It considered the dilemma of a political leader torn among the conflicting forces of patriotic impulse, family devotion and personal pride. Coriolan, a Roman general banished from Rome despite valiant service to his people, seeks vengeance by leading an opposing army against his native city; he ultimately withdraws and places his fate in the hands of the furious Roman mob, effectively choosing suicide as the solution to his situation. Richard Wagner, in an essay about this overture, characterized the Coriolan to which Beethoven was drawn as “the man of force untamable, unfitted for a hypocrite’s humility.” Beethoven completed his Overture in early 1807 and introduced it in a concert that March before it was presented at a one-night revival of Collin’s play the following month. The Instruments. 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, timpani and strings What to Listen For. The Coriolan Overture seems like a harbinger of a programmatic, descriptive symphonic poem, describing the serious, tortured state of the title character. Beethoven here chooses the key of C minor, to which he often attached the sentiment of heroism wedded to tragedy. At the end, the Overture dies away, leaving the listener expectant and somewhat up in the air. We should remember, however, that Beethoven intended this music not to serve as an ending at all, but rather as an introduction to the onstage action that would follow. —James M. Keller The actual scores for Beethoven’s Overture to Coriolan were donated by Fiddle & Bow Music Company.

For a full listing of sponsors of the 3 Weeks of Beethoven, please refer to page 21.

The Classical Season is endowed by The Wortham Foundation, Inc. in memory of Gus S. and Lyndall F. Wortham. The SoundPlusVision series is sponsored by Margaret Alkek Williams and supported in part by The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts Endowed Fund for Creative Initiatives. Video enhancement of Houston Symphony concerts is made possible by the Albert and Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation. To enjoy this concert again, tune in to Houston Public Media’s broadcast series on Wednesdays at 8pm on Classical 91.7. Recent enhancements to the Jones Hall recording suite generously provided by Silver Circle Audio.

Monzer Hourani attended the University of Texas in Austin where he earned degrees in Structural Engineering and Architectural Studies in 1969. He also holds a degree in Physics from the French Institute. In 1971, Mr. Hourani founded M. Hourani and Associates Consulting Engineers and was involved in engineering innovations of many building techniques and engineering concepts which have had a great impact on the construction and economy of the building industry in the U.S. Mr. Hourani has been involved in over 800 buildings nationwide. A major accomplishment as an engineer was Mr. Hourani’s development of the state-of-the-art system in post-tension foundation, which changed the construction industry in the U.S. Mr. Hourani has several patented inventions, including an oil skimmer for major oil spills. His latest invention is the Hurricane Window Brace for hurricane forces over category 4 or 5. As the CEO and founder of Medistar Corporation, Monzer Hourani currently directs the successful operations of one of the most dynamic medical real estate development companies in the U.S. Medistar develops all types of healthcare facilities throughout the U.S., primarily acutecare hospitals, long-term acute-care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, integrated medical facilities, ambulatory and outpatient buildings, medical office buildings, cancer treatment centers and imaging centers. The philosophy that Mr. Hourani has always followed in each of his development endeavors is to develop, design and construct very modern healthcare buildings to complement the latest advances in technology and medicine. The most recent project completed in the Houston area is the Bay Area Regional Medical Center, a 104-bed, state-of-the-art acute-care hospital, in Clear Lake. Medistar is also developing a high-rise hotel and luxury apartment project in the Texas Medical Center. Mr. Hourani is involved in many charitable organizations.

November 2014 31


NOTES | MOZART’S REQUIEM PLUS BEETHOVEN | NOVEMBER 20, 22, 23 OVERTURE TO EGMONT, OPUS 84 Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) In a Tweet. Beethoven leapt at the chance to provide incidental music for a revival of Goethe’s drama Egmont, including an overture that depicts victory over political tyranny. The Back Story. Beethoven’s incidental music for stage plays ranges from single numbers to multi-movement collections that he crafted for a half-dozen dramas. Except for Goethe’s Egmont, all these plays would be profoundly forgotten in most quarters but for Beethoven’s contributions to their productions. Beethoven idolized Goethe, whom he referred to as “the foremost German poet,” and when the Vienna Hoftheater commissioned the composer to write music for an 1810 revival of Goethe’s 1786 tragedy Egmont, he leapt at the opportunity, providing an overture plus nine movements to fit within the play itself. The subject appealed greatly to Beethoven’s political taste, derived as it was from a 16th-century historical incident in which Count Egmont (a Flemish nobleman) defied occupying Spanish forces and sealed his own doomed fate in order to afford his people a vision of freedom. Beethoven wrote to Goethe, adopting a tone of uncharacteristic humility: “You will soon receive my music for Egmont—this wonderful Egmont which I read and felt and set to music thinking warmly of you. I am eager to know what you think of it. Even censure will be beneficial to me and my art and will be just as welcome as unmitigated praise.” In the event, Goethe was very pleased. The Instruments. 2 flutes (1 doubling piccolo), 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, timpani and strings What to Listen For. According to traditional lore about the Egmont Overture, its slow introduction depicts the Flemish populace suffering under the yoke of Spanish oppressors. This yields to a rapid section meant to suggest the optimistic spirit of revolt harbored by the Flemish and, at the end, a celebratory climax that symbolizes their inevitable victory over oppression. That climactic music would return at the play’s end under the title Siegessinfonie—“Symphony of Victory.” —James M. Keller The printed music for Beethoven’s Overture to Egmont was donated by Carolyn and James Royan in honor of George Albert and Georgann Filak’s 50th anniversary.

SCHICKSALSLIED (SONG OF DESTINY) FOR CHORUS AND ORCHESTRA, OPUS 54 Johannes Brahms (1833-97) In a Tweet. In his rarely heard Song of Destiny, Brahms uses exquisite skill in choral-orchestral writing to ponder questions of man’s fate, reaching no certain conclusion. The Back Story. Though we encounter Brahms most often through his instrumental compositions—symphonies, chamber music and piano works—he was also a fertile composer of vocal music. His work as a choral conductor early in his career instilled a hands-on appreciation for choral textures, and his compositions for chorus with orchestra, most particularly A German Requiem, tower tall among music’s masterpieces. His more modestly scaled choral pieces include such affecting works as Schicksalslied (Song of Destiny). One morning in 1868, while on vacation along the North Sea, he read a poem by Friedrich Hölderlin, “Hyperions Schicksalslied.” 32

www.houstonsymphony.org

Within hours, he planted himself on the shore to begin sketching the musical setting it inspired. Its subject—how happiness eludes mankind—played to the somber inclinations that came naturally to the composer. Quipped one of his colleagues, “When Brahms is in a good mood, he sings, ‘The grave is my joy!’” The Instruments. 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani, strings and chorus What to Listen For. At its outset, Schicksalslied proclaims Brahms’ mastery at orchestration, its elegiac tones (with muted strings) being underscored by the quiet, insistent rhythms of the timpani, the symbol of fate. The singers enter in hymn-like phrases, but in the faster middle section they break into heated outbursts, despairing that they are doomed to wander “blindly from one hour to the next.” Brahms was stymied over how to end the piece but eventually followed the advice of his conductor-friend Hermann Levi to give the final “chapter” to the orchestra alone. This he does with heart-breaking poignancy, revisiting the opening music but casting it in a new key (C major instead of E-flat major), thereby using harmony to imply that the question of man’s fate has not reached true resolution. —James M. Keller

REQUIEM, K.626 Wolfgang Amadè Mozart (1756-91) (completed by Franz Xaver Süssmayr) In a Tweet. Mozart left his Requiem unfinished at his untimely death (at age 35), but, completed by his pupil Süssmayr, it became one of his most revered and widely performed works. The Back Story. In the summer of 1791, Mozart accepted a commission to compose a Requiem. The offer was tendered anonymously, but we know (as Mozart perhaps did not) that it was delivered by an emissary of Count Franz von Walsegg-Stuppach, a wealthy music lover who had a habit of recopying the pieces he commissioned and passing them off as his own. He was shopping for a Requiem—a Roman Catholic Mass for the Dead—to commemorate his young bride, who had died that winter. Mozart accepted half his fee as a down payment, spent some months composing and producing a pair of operas (La clemenza di Tito and Die Zauberflöte) and focused on the Requiem that autumn. He fell ill around November 20 and died on December 5, leaving the score far from finished. Rather than return the commission money already received (and largely spent), Mozart’s widow had his pupil Franz Xaver Süssmayr complete the unwritten sections, which he did partly by attaching new words to musical passages Mozart had already used and partly through original material. Later musicologists have tendered competing completions, but Süssmayr had the advantage of being closest to the source. The Instruments. 2 basset horns (tenor clarinets), 2 bassoons, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani, strings and organ, plus 4 solo singers and chorus What to Listen For. The dominance of mid-ranged and lowpitched instruments lends moody intensity to Mozart’s Requiem. We hear it when basset horns and bassoons play in pseudocanon at the beginning of the Introit, above the staccato pacing of the strings. Starkness also adds a distinctive sound to this work. The Requiem’s final sonority, for example, is the same


BIOGRAPHIES | MOZART’S REQUIEM PLUS BEETHOVEN | NOVEMBER 20, 22, 23 bone-chilling sound that concluded the Kyrie, haunting open fifths that shout emptiness. —James M. Keller The printed music for Mozart’s Requiem was donated by Dr. Eleanor D. Montague in memory of Dr. Meredith Montague III.

photo by andrew schaff

YULIA VAN DOREN, soprano Recognized by Opera magazine as “a star-to-be” following her Lincoln Center debut, Russian-American soprano Yulia Van Doren maintains an extensive international performance schedule. After 2013 debuts with orchestras in Toronto, Nashville, Baltimore, Milwaukee and Albany, the Los Angeles Master Chorale and two performances with the Netherlands Radio Chamber Philharmonic, Van Doren continues her very busy performance schedule this season. In addition to these performances with the Houston Symphony, her engagements include appearances with Music of the Baroque, Boston Baroque, the Columbus and Indianapolis Symphony Orchestras, the San Francisco Symphony and Washington, D.C.’s Folger Consort. Her well-received artistic collaborations with Mark Morris also continue with a production of Handel’s Acis and Galatea for New York’s Mostly Mozart Festival, conducted by Nicholas McGegan. The only singer awarded a top prize in all four U.S. Bach vocal competitions, Van Doren has been presented as a soloist by almost all of the North American early music festivals and orchestras. Her recordings include two Grammy-nominated opera recordings with the Boston Early Music Festival and the world-premiere recording of Shostakovich’s Orango, recorded with the LA Philharmonic and released by Deutsche Grammophon. Yulia Van Doren is an Astral Artist, a Paul and Daisy Soros Fellow and a Beebe Grant recipient.

ELIZABETH DESHONG, mezzo-soprano In 2012, Elizabeth DeShong sang the title role of Rossini’s La Cenerentola at the Glyndebourne Festival, and The Guardian wrote: “It is dominated by DeShong, whose voice combines a contralto opulence with blazing top notes and some of the most staggering coloratura you will ever hear.” This season, DeShong’s operatic and orchestral engagements took her to the Canadian Opera Company for performances as Suzuki in Madama Butterfly and Carnegie Hall with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s for Mendelssohn’s Die erste Walpurgisnacht. Upcoming engagements include the Vienna State Opera for Angelina in La Cenerentola

JOEL PRIETO, tenor

photo by Broede

biographies

photo by kristin hoebermann

The printed choral music for Mozart’s Requiem was donated by Stephen and Pamalah Tipps.

and Los Angeles to perform Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia. She will sing Elgar’s The Kingdom with the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra, the Mozart Requiem with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Hermia in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Aix en Provence Festival. Last season, at the Metropolitan Opera, she sang two Hermias: in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and in the pastiche opera, The Enchanted Island, as well as Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, a role she also performed at the San Francisco Opera. She performed Handel’s Messiah, Bernstein’s Jeremiah Symphony and the Mozart Requiem, among others. Elizabeth DeShong received the Washington National Opera’s Artist of the Year Award (2010) for her debut performance as the Composer in Richard Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos. Her portrayal of Maffio Orsini in the San Francisco Opera’s production of Lucrezia Borgia, was released on DVD on EuroArts Music and Naxos of America. Since he was unanimously awarded the highly coveted distinction of first prize in Placido Domingo’s 2008 Operalia Competition, Joel Prieto has become one of the most sought-after and exciting artists of his generation. He sings in some of the most prestigious opera houses and concert venues around the world. The Spanishborn singer, who grew up in Puerto Rico, captivates his audiences, bringing depth and subtlety to his leading roles, infusing his characters with vitality, elegance and beauty. This season, Prieto will perform as Tamino in Die Zauberflöte at the Teatro Municipal de Santiago, as Fernando Soler in Doña Fracisquita at the Théâtre du Capitole in Toulouse, in Cosí Fan Tutte at the Gran Teatre del Liceu, and his debut at the Santa Fe Opera as Count Belfiore in La Finta Giardinera. In the 2013-14 season, Prieto performed as Fenton in Falstaff, as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni and as Iopas in Les Troyens all at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, as Tamino in Die Zauberflöte and as Narraboth in Salome at the Staatsoper Berlin, Contino Belfiore in La Finta Giardiniera at the Glyndebourne Festival. He also performed in a televised Christmas concert in Vienna with the Vienna Radio Symphony and the Vienna Children Choir. CONTINUED ON PAGE 55 November 2014 33


NOVEMBER 28-30, 2014

3 WEEKS OF BEETHOVEN

Beethoven 1 & 4 Andrés Orozco-Estrada, conductor Brinton Averil Smith, cello Friday, November 28, 2014 8pm Saturday, November 29, 2014 8pm Sunday, November 30, 2014 2:30pm

Jones Hall

Beethoven Symphony No. 1 in C major, Opus 21 I Adagio molto—Allegro con brio II Andante cantabile con moto III Menuetto and Trio: Allegro molto e vivace IV Adagio—Allegro molto e vivace

ca. 25

Schumann Cello Concerto in A minor, Opus 129 I Nicht zu schnell— II Langsam— III Sehr lebhaft

ca. 26

I

N

T

E

R

M

I

S

S

I

Beethoven Symphony No. 4 in B-flat major, Opus 60 I Adagio—Allegro vivace II Adagio III Allegro vivace IV Allegro ma non troppo

Andrés Orozco-Estrada’s biography appears on page 8.

34

www.houstonsymphony.org

O

N ca. 32


BEETHOVEN 1 & 4 | NOVEMBER 28-30 SYMPHONY NO. 1 IN C MAJOR, OPUS 21 Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) In a Tweet. The first of Beethoven’s nine symphonies is rooted in Classicism but strains toward his audacious future. It’s witty, entertaining and groundbreaking all at once. The Back Story. When Beethoven left his native Bonn in 1792 to seek his fortune as a pianist and composer in the cultural capital of Vienna, he was entering a world dominated by the spirit of the late Mozart and the still-living, universally revered Haydn. Shortly after he arrived, he sought out Haydn for lessons; and although that turned into an unfruitful experience, it didn’t hurt Beethoven to launch his career through an attachment to the composer who then represented the pinnacle of symphonic music. Beethoven’s First Symphony is anchored in tradition but strains in new directions. A century later, Gustav Mahler described this work as “Haydn raised to the highest degree of perfection. … And that was Beethoven’s good fortune!” He continued, “For precisely this fact gave him access to his contemporaries. They could find a link with what they already understood—whereas he himself, the later, totally individual Beethoven, would probably have seemed to them completely incomprehensible—in fact, quite mad.” The piece was warmly received at its premiere in April 1800, with one critic applauding it for “considerable art, novelty and a wealth of ideas.”

These concerts are also supported by Donors to the New Music Director Fund. For a full listing of supporters, please refer to page 8. For a full listing of sponsors of the 3 Weeks of Beethoven, please refer to page 21.

The Classical Season is endowed by The Wortham Foundation, Inc. in memory of Gus S. and Lyndall F. Wortham. To enjoy this concert again, tune in to Houston Public Media’s broadcast series on Wednesdays at 8pm on Classical 91.7. Recent enhancements to the Jones Hall recording suite generously provided by Silver Circle Audio.

The Instruments. 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, timpani and strings What to Listen For. Succinct themes capable of extensive development; imaginative melodic manipulation; startling dynamic contrasts; complete, if sometimes unanticipated, formal mastery: these are all glimpsed at least in embryonic form in Beethoven’s First Symphony. Already the opening sonority is radical: not the standard tonic chord to establish the note on which the symphony will be anchored, but rather an unstable seventh chord demanding resolution elsewhere and leading to harmonic ambiguity before settling with certainty on the tonic C. Let’s not overlook Beethoven’s wit, either, as in the stuttering scales that open the finale with comical hesitation. —James M. Keller The printed music for Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1 was donated by Earnest W. Wotring.

CELLO CONCERTO IN A MINOR, OPUS 129 Robert Schumann (1810-56) In a Tweet. Schumann died in an insane asylum having never heard his deeply touching Cello Concerto, a work of tenderness and introspection composed in the span of just two weeks. The Back Story. Robert Schumann composed three works he identified as concertos: one for piano, one for violin and the work heard here, a keystone in the cello literature. The Cello Concerto, written during two weeks in October 1850, departs from certain time-honored structures of the classic concerto. Its running time—between 20 and 25 minutes—clocks in at the short side for

GDF SUEZ is a global energy player and an expert operator in the three key sectors of electricity, natural gas and energy services. The group supports changes in society that are based as much on economic growth as on social progress and the preservation of natural resources. The largest independent power producer, supplier of energy and environmental services, and third largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) importer in the world, GDF SUEZ operates in almost 70 countries on five continents. GDF SUEZ Energy North America manages the operations of GDF SUEZ in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The group’s natural gas and power generation footprint in North America is part of a rich history that spans two centuries. GDF SUEZ Energy North America is a proud sponsor of the Houston Symphony’s Community Connections program. November 2014 35


NOTES | BEETHOVEN 1 & 4 | NOVEMBER 28-30 a full Romantic concerto, and its character is more introverted than bravura; in fact, Schumann harbored plans, never realized, to arrange the orchestra part for string quartet so the piece might be presented in intimate spaces as a chamber work. Sadly, he never heard the concerto played. He scrapped a performance planned for 1852 when the soloist started making obdurate demands about musical revisions. Following a suicide attempt in 1854, Schumann committed himself to an insane asylum lest he endanger his family. There he revised the score, but the work was not premiered until 1860, in a Leipzig concert that honored what would have been the 50th birthday of the late composer, who had died institutionalized nearly four years earlier.

shards, the beginning of a playful fast movement. The Finale is also a boisterous outpouring of good spirits that, at places, reaches a point of hilarity, perhaps most famously at the spot where the theme is stated not by the full orchestra but rather by a single bassoon, chortling bumptiously (though marked dolce) through a flurry of rapid-fire 16th notes. —James M. Keller The printed music for Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4 was donated by Dr. and Mrs. Daniel E. Lehane.

Biography BRINTON AVERIL SMITH, cello

What to Listen For. Schumann was among the most original of composers, and even his works that are ostensibly structured in standard forms generally show idiosyncratic touches. In his Cello Concerto, we have a three-movement work, typical of concertos, but the edges of the movements are softened such that everything is elided into a single, uninterrupted span with touches of recurrent musical material helping to unify the piece. There is, moreover, no orchestral exposition of the principal themes in the first movement, a longstanding given of concertos; instead, the cello leaps immediately into the fray. —James M. Keller The printed music for Schumann’s Cello Concerto was donated by Ann and Joe Hightower.

SYMPHONY NO. 4 IN B-FLAT MAJOR, OPUS 60 Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) In a Tweet. Beethoven’s delightful Fourth, so different from his momentous Third and Fifth. Schumann famously called it “a slender Grecian maiden between two Nordic giants.” The Back Story. Beethoven was pressed for cash when he wrote his Fourth Symphony, trying to cover his own expenses as well as debts piled up by relatives. Though accustomed to renting modest residences outside Vienna in which to spend his summer vacations, he decided to forego that pleasure in 1806 except for a quick jaunt to visit Count Franz von Oppersdorff, who maintained a small private orchestra at his castle in Silesia and who received the dedication of the new symphony Beethoven completed at about that time. He expressed his thanks with a most welcome gift of 500 florins. Viewing Beethoven’s Fourth in the context of his corpus of nine symphonies, listeners may be tempted to focus on what the piece is not rather than on what it is. What it is not, most immediately, is Beethoven’s Third Symphony, the Eroica or Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, those two punch-packing exercises in superhuman grandeur and titanic power. Robert Schumann captured the Fourth’s relationship to its neighbors when he called it “a slender Grecian maiden between two Nordic giants.” The Instruments. flute, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, timpani and strings What to Listen For. Beethoven launches his Fourth Symphony with a hushed, introspective introduction, harmonically evasive but emphasizing the minor mode. This leads to a rapidly ascending scale figure that cuts through the darkness and breaks apart into ever smaller fragments, not unlike a firework explosion disintegrating into sparkling 36

www.houstonsymphony.org

photo by sandy lankford

The Instruments. 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, timpani and strings, in addition to the solo cello

Hailed for “stunningly beautiful” performances by the American Record Guide, Houston Symphony principal cellist Brinton Averil Smith garners rave reviews, praising virtuosic performances with musical ideals rooted in the golden age of string playing. His debut recording of Miklós Rózsa’s Cello Concerto with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (Koch Classics) won international critical acclaim, with Gramophone praising Brinton as a “hugely eloquent, impassioned soloist.” A passionate advocate of compelling unfamiliar repertoire, Brinton recently gave the North American premieres of rediscovered works of Jean Sibelius and Alexander Zemlinsky. His performances have been broadcast on CBS’ Sunday Morning and on NPR’s Performance Today and SymphonyCast. Brinton has appeared regularly as a soloist with the Houston Symphony since joining the orchestra in 2005. Previously, he was the first musician chosen by Lorin Maazel to join the New York Philharmonic and the principal cellist of the San Diego Symphony and Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. In addition to his solo activities, he has collaborated in chamber music performances with musicians, including Gil Shaham, Yo-Yo Ma, Cho-Liang Lin, James Ehnes, Lynn Harrell, Sarah Chang, Dawn Upshaw and members of the Beaux Arts Trio and the Guarneri, Emerson String, Juilliard String, Cleveland and Alban Berg Quartets. He is a faculty member of the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University and the Aspen Music Festival. The son of a mathematician and a pianist, Brinton Averil Smith was admitted to Arizona State University at age 10, taking courses in mathematics and German. At age 17, he completed a B.A. in mathematics. He became a student of Eleonore Schoenfeld at the University of Southern California, where he was also a teaching assistant in the mathematics department, and completed work for an M.A. in mathematics at age 19. He subsequently studied with the renowned cellist Zara Nelsova at The Juilliard School, and earned a doctorate, writing on the playing of Emanuel Feuermann. He lives in Houston with his wife, pianist Evelyn Chen, their daughter, Calista, and two slightly evil, but kind-hearted dogs. For further information, visit www.brintonaverilsmith.com.


HOUSTON SYMPHONY CHORUS

Betsy Cook Weber, Director Joseph Evans Vocal Coach Sarah Berggren Chorus Manager

BETSY COOK WEBER, director Dr. Betsy Cook Weber, who begins her tenure as director of the Houston Symphony Chorus this season, is professor of music and director of choral studies at the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music. She teaches a full course load, oversees the large and varied choral area at the Moores School and is an internationally active conductor, clinician, adjudicator and lecturer. In 2013, Betsy became the 13th person and first woman to receive the Texas Choral Directors Association’s coveted Texas Choirmaster Award. Under her leadership, The Moores School Concert Chorale has established a reputation as one of the world’s finest collegiate choirs. It has been a featured choir at multiple state and national conventions. Internationally, Chorale has received acclaim at prestigious competitions, including the National Eisteddfod of Wales, winning or placing in every category in which it was entered, and the Florilège Vocal in Tours, France. In May 2013, she led Chorale to a first-place finish as one of only 10 choirs selected worldwide to compete in the famous International Chamber Choir Competition in Marktoberdorf, Germany. She has prepared singers for Da Camera and early music orchestras Ars Lyrica and Mercury Houston. She is routinely called upon to prepare singers for touring shows, including Josh Groban, NBC’s Clash of the Choirs, Telemundo’s Latin Grammys and Star Wars in Concert. Betsy served seven years as assistant and, later, associate director of the Houston Symphony Chorus, helping prepare major works for renowned conductors, including Robert Shaw, Christoph Eschenbach, Roger Wagner, Nicholas McGegan and Christopher Seaman. She holds degrees from the University of North Texas, Westminster Choir College (Princeton, NJ) and the University of Houston.

Steve Abercia Wilton Adams Jonathan Aigner Bob Alban Joe Anzaldua Rich Arenschieldt ^ Melissa Bailey Adams Cynthia Bauder Justin Becker Sarah Berggren Eldo W. Bergman Nicholas Berkley Randy Boatright Ryan Bogner John Bond Bruce Boyle Nancy Shelton Bratic* Mischa Brinkmeyer Amanda Bryant Pat Bumpus James R. Carazola Beth Casey Susan Casper Peter Christian Nancy Christopherson Sarah Clark M. Evelyn Clift Nicole Colby John Colson Pamela Cramer Andrea Lee Creath Roger Cutler Corita Dubose Dana Dupont Christine Economides Deborah Edwin Chris Fair Ian Fetterley David Fox Joseph S. Frybert Mary Gahr Michael Gilbert Marta-Marie Giles Katura Gilmore Robert Gomez* Heather Goodwin John Grady Suzanne Gregory Thi Ha Susan Hall* J. Patrick Hanley Ally Hard

Timothy Jones Diction Coach Scott Holshouser Accompanist

Scott Hassett Matthew C. Henderson Terry L. Henderson* Megan Henry* Linda A. Herron Judy Hill Christopher Holman Eileen Holshouser Sophia Hou Catherine Howard George Howe Donald Howie Sylvia J. Hysong Austin Ishee Yukiko Iwata Francisco Izaguirre Stephen M. James Holly R. Johnson Tokiko Kato Berma Kinsey Nobuhide Kobori Kat Kunz Karen Lach Hojung Lee Jay Lopez Mary Lopushansky Pamela Magnuson Jacqueline Maricelli Matthew McCue Gregory D. McDaniel Melissa Medina Janet Menzie Edgar Moore ^ James K. Moore Theresa Olin ^ Christopher M. Ortiz Marie Parisot Bill Parker Greg Railsback Linda Renner Katie Richardson Douglas Rodenberger Carolyn Rogan* Tyson Ruhmann Doug Sander David Schoe * Gary Scullin Tony Sessions Evan Shoemaker Jeffrey Simmons Andrea Slack Beth Slaughter

Tony Sessions Librarian Brian Smith Holly Soehnge Karla Sosa Dewell Springer Mark Standridge Cecilia Sun Suzy Thacker Carol Ostlind Thornburg* Charles Thornburg Alisa Tobin Lisa Rai Trewin Paul Van Dorn David A. Van Wyk Jr. Jeanna Villanueva Mary Voigt Heidi Walton Jenny Warkentin Alyssa Weathersby Beth Anne Weidler Eric West Vicki Westbrook Kathleen White ^ Lee E. Williams Margaret Winchell Miller Kaye Windel-Garza * Chorus Council Member ^ Section Leader As of October 8, 2014

For more information regarding the Houston Symphony Chorus, please go to: www.houstonsymphony.org/About-Us/Houston-Symphony-Chorus. November 2014 37


MEET BETSY COOK WEBER, DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON SYMPHONY CHORUS We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Betsy Cook Weber as the new Director of the Houston Symphony Chorus. As she began her new responsibilities, we spoke with Betsy about her plans for the Chorus and her love of choral music. Houston Symphony Magazine: As you began your tenure with the Symphony, you re-auditioned the entire Chorus. What was that process like? Betsy Cook Weber: The process was both grueling and gratifying. We had an astounding response to the audition announcement and heard 249 singers, including both existing and prospective Chorus members. At 12 minutes per singer, the auditions took 50 long hours. A panel of distinguished choral directors from the area heard and scored each audition, which consisted of three parts: vocalizing, performing prepared musical excerpts and sight singing. These were blind auditions, meaning the singers sang from behind a sheet so the panel did not know who they were, just as for orchestra auditions. The auditions were important to make absolutely certain, as any new director would, that the Chorus consists of only the very best singers. We will use only 120 of those 249 singers for the first concert, so the selection process was quite rigorous, particularly when one realizes that those who auditioned didn’t just walk in off the street—everyone who auditioned brought experience, training, skill and talent.

HSM: You’re the Houston Symphony’s first new Chorus Director in nearly 30 years, and you worked extensively over the years with your predecessor, Charles Hausmann. What did your experience working with him show you about leading this Chorus? BCW: I had fairly substantial experience with the choral orchestral repertoire before working with Charles. Working with him as his Assistant Director and later Associate Director gave me an inside glimpse of how to organize rehearsals and how to prepare for conductors whom we might not meet until the week of the performance. HSM: Why have you devoted your career to choral music? BCW: I love the collaborative nature of the genre, and I believe that a beautiful choral performance (or orchestral performance, for that matter) is a perfect example of the sum being greater than its parts. In addition, I love words, and the texts of the choral-orchestral repertoire, whether from Scripture or poetry, are beautiful and often explore issues that confound all of mankind. HSM: What performances are you looking forward to in the 201415 season? BCW: I am particularly excited about our first performance of the season, the Mozart Requiem and Brahms’ Schicksalslied. I am already a big fan of our new Music Director, Andrés Orozco-Estrada, and I can’t wait to see what he does with these sublime works! Please visit our blog houstonsymphonyblog.org/11/03/betsy-cookweber to read the full interview with Betsy Cook Weber.

EducaTIon and Community Engagement programming The Houston Symphony acknowledges those individuals, corporations and foundations that support our education and community engagement activities. Each year, these activities impact the lives of more than 97,000 children and students and provide access to our world-class orchestra for more than 150,000 Houstonians free of charge. GUARANTOR - $100,000+ Ms. Marie Taylor Bosarge The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts Lieutenant Governor David H. Dewhurst City of Houston through the Miller Theatre Advisory Board Houston Endowment Houston Symphony Endowment John & Lindy Rydman / Spec’s Wines, Spirits and Finer Foods UNDERWRITER - $50,000+ Cameron International Corporation The Elkins Foundation ExxonMobil Mrs. Alfred C. Glassell Jr. GDF SUEZ Energy North America Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Marathon Oil Corporation John P. McGovern Foundation Mr. and Mrs. William K. Robbins Jr./ The Robbins Foundation Shell Oil Company

SPONSOR - $25,000+ The Boeing Company Mr. & Mrs. John P. Dennis III Sterling-Turner Foundation PARTNER - $15,000+ Anadarko Petroleum Corporation Ruth & Ted Bauer Family Foundation CenterPoint Energy The Melbern G. & Susanne M. Glasscock Foundation Macy’s Wells Fargo SUPPORTER - $10,000+ East West Bank Enbridge Energy Company George & Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation Houston Symphony League The Powell Foundation Schlumberger, Ltd. Vivian L. Smith Foundation

BENEFACTOR - $5,000+ Albert & Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation Houston Symphony League Bay Area Randalls Food Markets Strake Foundation DONOR - $1,000+ Lilly and Thurmon Andress Diane and Harry Gendel Kinder Morgan Foundation Robert W. & Pearl Wallis Knox Foundation Lillian Kaiser Lewis Foundation Nancy and Robert Peiser Chester Pitts Foundation Tricia and Mark Rauch Texas Commission on the Arts

These programs are also supported by the following endowed funds which are part of the Houston Symphony Endowment: Margarett & Alice Brown Endowment Fund for Education Lawrence E. Carlton M.D. Endowment Fund for Youth Programs Richard P. Garmany Fund for the Houston Symphony League Concerto Competition The William Randolph Hearst Endowed Fund for Education Programs Selma S. Neumann Fund Spec’s Charitable Foundation Salute to Educators Concert Fund

38

www.houstonsymphony.org


EducaTIon and Community Engagement

Houston Symphony Musicians Play “Side-by-Side” with the Houston Civic Symphony and the Texas Medical Center Orchestra In a city with such a vibrant arts scene, it’s not surprising that Houston is home to a robust community of adult amateur musicians. These committed weekend (and frequently weeknight) warriors spend large portions of their free time rehearsing and performing as members of community orchestras. In early September, two ensembles were invited to the Jones Hall stage for side-by-side rehearsals with Houston Symphony musicians. They were led by Associate Conductor Robert Franz.

Associate Conductor Robert Franz chats with Matthew Roitstein, Houston Symphony Associate Principal Flute, and Lynn Zechiedrich, musician of the Texas Medical Center Orchestra.

photo by jeff fitlow

On two consecutive evenings, Houston Civic Symphony and Texas Medical Center Orchestra members paired up with a Houston Symphony musician to rehearse repertoire they are preparing for concerts later this fall. Side-by-side rehearsals offer community orchestras the opportunity to play alongside professional musicians and learn about ensemble skills, intonation, practice tips and more. Each spring, the Houston Symphony works with local youth orchestras to prepare for the annual Spec’s Charitable Foundation Salute to Educators concert, but this September marked the first time the Symphony modified the concept for adult musicians. Wonderfully, these rehearsals are beneficial for both sides. While the community musicians benefit from access to the Houston Symphony as an educational resource to further their musical development, our musicians benefit from deeper relationships with more Houstonians. Feedback from the groups has been extremely positive, and we look forward to growing new relationships with community organizations and their members.

The Houston Symphony and the Houston Civic Symphony rehearse side by side.

Members of the Houston Symphony and Texas Medical Center Orchestra horn sections rehearse.

photo by jeff fitlow

“Sitting next to a pro and receiving immediate feedback felt like having a private lesson during orchestra practice—an experience that rarely can be duplicated or so highly valued. Maestro Franz—whose passion for music is an inspiration— has a true talent and an easy-going and inviting approach to working with community orchestra members.” — Libi Lebel, Music Director, Texas Medical Center Orchestra

November 2014 39


Symphony Society Board Executive Committee President Robert A. Peiser

Chairman of the Board Jesse B. Tutor

Executive Director/CEO Mark C. Hanson

Immediate Past President Robert B. Tudor III

Chairman Emeritus Mike S. Stude

Vice President, Artistic and Orchestra Affairs Justice Brett Busby

President Elect and Vice President, Board Governance and Secretary Steven P. Mach

Vice President, Volunteers and Special Events Mary Lynn Marks

Vice President, Community Partnerships Donna Shen

Vice President, Education Billy McCartney

Vice President, Development Jerome B. Simon

General Counsel Paul R. Morico

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS Adam Dinitz, Orchestra Representative Vicki West, President, Houston Symphony League Mark Hughes, Orchestra Representative Rodney Margolis Brinton Averil Smith, Orchestra Representative Stacey Spears, Assistant Secretary Ed Wulfe, Immediate Past Chair

Vice President, Finance Anthony Bohnert Vice President, Popular Programming Danielle Batchelor Vice President, Marketing and Communications Gloria G. Pryzant President, Endowment Steven P. Mach

At-Large Members Ms. Marie Taylor Bosarge Janet Clark Gene Dewhurst Helen Shaffer Jim R. Smith

Governing Directors Graham Baker * Janice H. Barrow Danielle Batchelor Darlene Bisso Anthony Bohnert Ms. Marie Taylor Bosarge Terry Ann Brown Ralph Burch Justice Brett Busby Donna Josey Chapman Janet Clark Michael H. Clark Audrey Cochran Ryan Colburn Scott Cutler Andrew Davis Viviana Denechaud

Trustees

Samuel Abraham Philip Bahr JoAnna Barrett Devinder Bhatia, M.D. Meherwan Boyce Walter Bratic Barbara Burger Prentiss Burt Cheryl Byington John Caley Dougal Cameron Lynn Caruso * John T. Cater Evan D. Collins, M.D. MBA Past Presidents of the Houston Symphony Society Mrs. Edwin B. Parker Miss Ima Hogg Mrs. H. M. Garwood Joseph A. Mullen, M.D. Joseph S. Smith Walter H. Walne H. R. Cullen Gen. Maurice Hirsch Charles F. Jones Fayez Sarofim John T. Cater Richard G. Merrill Ellen Elizardi Kelley John D. Platt E. C. Vandagrift Jr. J. Hugh Roff Jr. Robert M. Hermance Gene McDavid Janice H. Barrow Barry C. Burkholder Rodney H. Margolis Jeffrey B. Early

40

Gene Dewhurst Michael Doherty Susanna Dokupil John Esquivel Kelli Cohen Fein, M.D. Tom Fitzpatrick Julia Frankel David Frankfort Ronald G. Franklin Allen Gelwick Mauro Gimenez Stephen Glenn Susan Hansen Stephanie C. Hildebrandt Gary L. Hollingsworth, M.D. Brian James Joan Kaplan

* Ulyesse LeGrange Rochelle Levit, Ph.D. * Cora Sue Mach Steven P. Mach Paul M. Mann, M.D. * Rodney Margolis Jay Marks Mary Lynn Marks David Massin Jackie Wolens Mazow Billy McCartney Barbara McCelvey * Alexander K. McLanahan Kevin O. Meyers Paul R. Morico Bobbie Newman Robert A. Peiser

David Pruner Stephen D. Pryor Gloria G. Pryzant Ron Rand John Rydman Manolo Sanchez Helen Shaffer Donna Shen Jerome B. Simon Jim R. Smith Miles Smith Jim Stein * Mike S. Stude William J. Toomey III * Robert B. Tudor III * Betty Tutor * Jesse B. Tutor

Judith Vincent Margaret Waisman, M.D. Fredric A. Weber Mrs. S. Conrad Weil Robert Weiner * Margaret Alkek Williams * Ed Wulfe Scott Wulfe David Wuthrich Robert A. Yekovich Ex-Officio James Moore

Cindy Deere Azar Delpassand Ronald DePinho, M.D. Tracy Dieterich Craig A. Fox Mary Fusillo Evan Glick Stanley Haas Eric Haufrect, M.D. Kathleen Hayes Marianne Ivany Catherine Kaldis I. Ray Kirk, M.D. Carlos J. Lopez

Carolyn Mann Michael Mann, M.D. Judy Margolis John Matzer III * Gene McDavid Gary Mercer Marilyn Miles Michael Mithoff Janet Moore Tassie Nicandros Scott S. Nyquist Dana Ondrias John Onstott Edward Osterberg Jr.

Chester M. Pitts II Greg Powers, Ph.D. Roman F. Reed Gabriel Rio Richard Robbins, M.D. * J. Hugh Roff Jr. * Michael E. Shannon Robert Sloan, Ph.D. Jule Smith David Stanard David Tai L. Proctor (Terry) Thomas Andrew Truscott Art Vivar

Vicki West James T. Willerson, M.D. Steven J. Williams Frank Yonish Ex-Officio Adam Dinitz Mark C. Hanson Mark Hughes Brinton Averil Smith Stacey Spears

Michael E. Shannon Ed Wulfe Jesse B. Tutor Robert B. Tudor III Past Presidents of the Houston Symphony League Miss Ima Hogg Mrs. John F. Grant Mrs. J. R. Parten Mrs. Andrew E. Rutter Mrs. Aubrey Leon Carter Mrs. Stuart Sherar Mrs. Julian Burrows Ms. Hazel Ledbetter Mrs. Albert P. Jones Mrs. Ben A. Calhoun Mrs. James Griffith Lawhon Mrs. Olaf La Cour Olsen Mrs. Ralph Ellis Gunn Mrs. Leon Jaworski Mrs. Garrett R. Tucker Jr. Mrs. M. T. Launius Jr. Mrs. Thompson McCleary

www.houstonsymphony.org

Mrs. Theodore W. Cooper Mrs. Allen H. Carruth Mrs. David Hannah Jr. Mary Louis Kister Ellen Elizardi Kelley Mrs. John W. Herndon Mrs. Charles Franzen Mrs. Harold R. DeMoss Jr. Mrs. Edward H. Soderstrom Mrs. Lilly Kucera Andress Ms. Marilou Bonner Mrs. W. Harold Sellers Mrs. Harry H. Gendel Mrs. Robert M. Eury Mrs. E. C. Vandagrift Jr. Mrs. J. Stephen Marks Terry Ann Brown Nancy Strohmer Mary Ann McKeithan Ann Cavanaugh Mrs. James A. Shaffer Lucy H. Lewis Catherine McNamara Shirley McGregor Pearson

Paula Jarrett Cora Sue Mach Kathi Rovere Norma Jean Brown Barbara McCelvey Lori Sorcic Nancy Willerson Jane Clark Nancy Littlejohn Donna Shen Susan Osterberg Kelli Cohen Fein PAST PRESIDENTS OF THE Houston Symphony League BaY AREA Fran Strong Selma Neumann Julia Wells Dagmar Meeh Priscilla Heidbreder Harriett Small Nina Spencer Elizabeth Glenn

* Life Trustee

Ebby Creden Charlotte Gaunt Norma Brady Cindy Kuenneke Helen Powell Sharon Dillard Diane McLaughlin Roberta Liston Suzanne Hicks Sue Smith Shirley Wettling Jo Anne Mills Phyllis Molnar Pat Bertelli Emyre B. Robinson Dana Puddy Angela Buell Pat Brackett Joan Wade Yvonne Herring Deanna Lamoreux Glenda Toole Carole Murphy Patience Myers


Centennial Angels As the Houston Symphony celebrates a century of music making, a core group of leadership donors are making commitments of $100,000 and above to recognize the significance of this important occasion and honor those who have worked diligently over the years to ensure Houston is home to a world-class orchestra. Centennial Angels understand the importance of philanthropy to allow the Houston Symphony to not only exist, but thrive. To learn more or to pledge your support, contact Mark C. Hanson, Executive Director/CEO, at (713) 238-1411 or David Chambers, Chief Development Officer, at (713) 337-8525. M.D. Anderson Foundation Robin Angly & Miles Smith Janice H. Barrow BBVA Compass Beauchamp Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Edward F. Blackburne Jr. Ms. Marie Taylor Bosarge The Brown Foundation, Inc. Chevron City of Houston and Theater District Improvement, Inc. City of Houston through the Miller Theatre Advisory Board Janet F. Clark ConocoPhillips The Cullen Foundation The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts Mr. & Mrs. John P. Dennis III Gene & Linda Dewhurst The Elkins Foundation ExxonMobil Allen & Almira Gelwick – Lockton Companies Houston Endowment Houston Methodist Rochelle & Max Levit Cora Sue & Harry Mach

Joella & Steven P. Mach Beth Madison Mr. & Mrs. J. Stephen Marks Barbara & Pat McCelvey Mr. George P. Mitchell Palmetto Partners Ltd./ The Robert & Janice McNair Foundation John Neighbors in memory of Jean Marie Neighbors John B. Onstott, Geo H. Lewis & Sons Nancy & Robert Peiser Mr. & Mrs. William K. Robbins Jr. / The Robbins Foundation Sybil F. Roos John & Lindy Rydman / Spec’s Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods Mr. & Mrs. James A. Shaffer Laura & Michael Shannon Shell Oil Company Mr. & Mrs. Jim R. Smith Mike Stude Nancy & David Tai Bobby & Phoebe Tudor Mr. & Mrs. Jesse B. Tutor Margaret Alkek Williams The Wortham Foundation, Inc.

LEADERSHIP COUNCIL Leadership Council donors have committed $45,000 or more in support of the Annual Fund, special projects and fundraising events over a three-year period ($15,000+ annually). For more information or to pledge your support, please contact David Chambers, Chief Development Officer, at (713) 337-8525 or Mark Folkes, Senior Director, Development, at (713) 337-8521. Graham & Janet Baker Justice Brett & Erin Busby Janet F. Clark Mr. Richard Danforth Gene & Linda Dewhurst The Elkins Foundation Angel & Craig Fox Allen & Almira Gelwick – Lockton Companies The Melbern G. & Susan M. Glasscock Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Fred L. Gorman Mr. & Mrs. U. J. LeGrange

Ms. Nancey G. Lobb Terence Murphree John Neighbors in memory of Jean Marie Neighbors Susan & Edward Osterberg Gloria & Joe Pryzant Donna & Tim Shen Mr. & Mrs. Jerome B. Simon Nancy & David Tai Mr. & Mrs. Fredric A. Weber Mr. & Mrs. C. Clifford Wright Jr.

November 2014 41


Houston Symphony Endowment The Houston Symphony Endowment is a separate nonprofit organization that invests contributions to earn income for the benefit of the Houston Symphony Society. Trustees James Lee Michael Mithoff Alexandra Pruner

Steven P. Mach, President

Jesse B. Tutor Fredric A. Weber

An endowed fund can be permanently established within the Houston Symphony Society through a direct contribution or via a planned gift such as a bequest. The fund can be designated for general purposes or specific interests. For further information, please contact Patrick Quinn, Director, Planned Giving, at (713) 337-8532 or patrick.quinn@houstonsymphony.org. General Endowment Funds that support operational and annual activities: Accenture (Andersen Consulting) Fund AIG American General Fund Mr. & Mrs. Philip Bahr Fund Janice H. & Thomas D. Barrow Fund Mrs. Ermy Borlenghi Bonfield Fund The Charles Engelhard Foundation Fund Jane & Robert Cizik Fund Mr. Lee A. Clark Fund Cooper Industries, Inc. Fund Gene & Linda Dewhurst Fund DuPont Corporation Fund Elkins Charitable Trust Agency Fund The Margaret & James A. Elkins Foundation Fund Virginia Lee Elverson Trust Fund Charles Engelhard Foundation Fund William Stamps Farish Fund Dr. Kelli Cohen Fein & Martin J. Fein Fund Stephen & Mariglyn Glenn Fund Jo A. & Billie Jo Graves Fund George & Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation Fund Dr. Gary L. Hollingsworth & Dr. Ken Hyde Fund Houston Arts Combined Endowment Fund Drs. M.S. & Marie-Luise Kalsi Fund Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Kaplan Fund Ann Kennedy & Geoffrey Walker Fund Martha Kleymeyer Fund Rochelle & Max Levit Fund Mr. E. W. Long Jr. Fund

M.D. Anderson Foundation Fund Mr. & Mrs. Rodney H. Margolis Fund Jay & Shirley Marks Fund Mr. & Mrs. J. Stephen Marks Fund/The Marks Charitable Foundation Marian & Speros Martel Foundation Fund Barbara & Pat McCelvey Fund The Menil Foundation Fund Monroe Mendelsohn Jr. Estate Sue A. Morrison & Children Fund National Endowment for the Arts Fund Stewart Orton Fund Papadopoulos Fund Nancy & Robert Peiser Fund Rockwell Fund, Inc. Fund Mr. & Mrs. Clive Runnells Fund Estate of Mr. Walter W. Sapp Fund Mr. & Mrs. Matt K. Schatzman Fund The Schissler Foundation Fund Mr. & Mrs. James A. Shaffer Fund Mr. & Mrs. William T. Slick Jr. Fund Texas Eastern Fund Dorothy Barton Thomas Fund Bobby & Phoebe Tudor Fund Mr. & Mrs. Jesse B. Tutor Fund Dede & Connie Weil Fund The Wortham Foundation Fund Anonymous (5)

Designated funds to support annual performance activity: The Brown Foundation Guest Pianist Fund The Cullen Foundation Maestro’s Fund General & Mrs. Maurice Hirsch Memorial Concert Fund in memory of Theresa Meyer and Jules Hirsch, beloved parents of General Maurice Hirsch, and Rosetta Hirsch Weil and Josie Hirsch Bloch, beloved sisters of General Maurice Hirsch The Houston Symphony Chorus Endowment Fund Fayez Sarofim Guest Violinist Fund through The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts The Wortham Foundation Classical Series Fund endowed in memory of Gus S. & Lyndall F. Wortham

42

www.houstonsymphony.org


Houston Symphony Endowment Endowed Chairs to assist the Houston Symphony attract, retain and support world class conductors, musicians and guest artists: Janice & Thomas Barrow Chair: Brinton Averil Smith, principal cello Roy & Lillie Cullen Chair: Andrés Orozco-Estrada, music director designate Fondren Foundation Chair: Qi Ming, assistant concertmaster General Maurice Hirsch Chair: Aralee Dorough, principal flute Ellen E. Kelley Chair: Eric Halen, associate concertmaster Max Levine Chair: Frank Huang, concertmaster Cornelia & Meredith Long Chair: Assia Dulgerska, assistant concertmaster George P. & Cynthia Woods Mitchell Chair: Mark Hughes, principal trumpet Tassie & Constantine S. Nicandros Chair: Alexander Potiomkin, bass clarinet Lucy Binyon Stude Chair: Jonathan Fischer, principal oboe Winnie Safford Wallace Chair Endowed funds to assist the Houston Symphony attract, retain and support world class conductors, musicians and guest artists: American General Fund Speros P. Martel Fund Stewart Orton Fund Dan Feigal Prosser Fund Endowed funds to support the Houston Symphony’s annual education and community engagement activities: Margarett & Alice Brown Endowment Fund for Education Lawrence E. Carlton M.D. Endowment Fund for Youth Programs Richard P. Garmany Fund for the Houston Symphony League Concerto Competition The William Randolph Hearst Endowed Fund for Education Programs Selma S. Neumann Fund Spec’s Charitable Foundation Salute to Educators Concert Fund Endowed funds to support new commissions and innovative artistic projects: The Micajah S. Stude Special Production Fund Endowed funds to support access and expand geographic reach: The Alice & David C. Bintliff Messiah Concert fund for performances at First Methodist Church The Brown Foundation’s Miller Outdoor Theatre Fund in memory of Hanni and Stewart Orton Mach Family Audience Development Fund George P. & Cynthia Woods Mitchell Summer Concerts Fund Endowed funds to support electronic media initiatives: The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts Fund for Creative Initiatives Legacy commitments through The Brown Foundation Challenge to support artistic excellence: Janet F. Clark Gloria Goldblatt Pryzant Mr. & Mrs. Jesse B. Tutor Legacy Society Chair: Wayne Brooks, principal viola Ms. Vicki West in honor of Hans Graf Anonymous (1) Leadership gifts of working capital provided as part of the Campaign for the 20th Century, Campaign for Houston Symphony and My Houston, My Symphony – Campaign for a Sound Future: Hewlett Packard Company Fund The Robert and Janice McNair Foundation Neva Watkins West Fund Gift in memory of Winifred Safford Wallace for the commission of new works

CHORUS ENDOWMENT DONORS $500 or more

As of October 1, 2014 Mr. Eldo Bergman, Family Literacy Network, Inc. Mr. & Mrs. Paul Davis Joyce & David Fox Robert Lee Gomez Christina & Mark Hanson

Nobuhide Kobori Alan L. McAdams & Vicki L. Colvin Dr. William McCallum Bryan & Vickie McMicken David G. Nussman Mr. & Mrs. Peter C. Peropoulos

Mr. & Mrs. Gabriel Rio Ms. Susan E. Scarrow Mr. & Mrs. Richard J. Sommer Mr. & Mrs. James R. Wilhite

November 2014 43


Houston Symphony Donors

The Sustainability Fund

The Houston Symphony pays special tribute to those who support our Sustainability Fund. Their extraordinary leadership investment has made it possible for the Symphony to provide the deep level of cultural service so richly deserved by the communities of Greater Houston and the Gulf Coast region. For further information about The Sustainability Fund, please contact Mark C. Hanson, Executive Director/CEO, at (713) 238-1411.

Houston Endowment The Estate of Jean R. Sides Ms. Marie Taylor Bosarge Bobby & Phoebe Tudor Mrs. Alfred C. Glassell Jr. Mrs. Kitty King Powell

Janice H. Barrow The Cullen Foundation The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts The Brown Foundation, Inc. M.D. Anderson Foundation

Annual Support

The Houston Symphony gratefully acknowledges those who support our artistic, educational and community engagement programs through their generosity to our Annual Fund and our Special Events. Below is a listing of those who have so generously given within the past year. We are honored to count these donors among our closest Houston Symphony friends, and we invite you to consider becoming a member of one of our giving societies. For more information, please contact David Chambers, Chief Development Officer, at (713) 337-8525.

Ima Hogg Society, $150,000 or More

Janice H. Barrow Ms. Marie Taylor Bosarge Lieutenant Governor & Mrs. David H. Dewhurst Cora Sue & Harry Mach Mr. George P. Mitchell Kitty King Powell Sybil F. Roos John & Lindy Rydman / Spec’s Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods Mike Stude Bobby & Phoebe Tudor Margaret Alkek Williams

Centennial Society, $100,000 - $149,000 Rochelle & Max Levit Joella & Steven P. Mach Beth Madison Barbara & Pat McCelvey Janice & Robert McNair Nancy & Robert Peiser Mr. & Mrs. Jim R. Smith Mr. & Mrs. Jesse B. Tutor

Founder’s Society, $75,000 - $99,999 Darlene & Cappy Bisso Billy & Christie McCartney Laura & Michael Shannon 44

www.houstonsymphony.org


Houston Symphony Donors Maestro’s Society, $50,000 - $74,999 Robin Angly & Miles Smith Mr. & Mrs. Philip A. Bahr Mr. & Mrs. Edward F. Blackburne Jr. Donna & Max Chapman Mrs. Alfred C. Glassell Jr. The Estate of Miss Ima Hogg

Mr. Monzer Hourani Drs. M.S. & Marie-Luise Kalsi Mr. & Mrs. J. Stephen Marks Mr. & Mrs. William K. Robbins Jr. / The Robbins Foundation Louisa Stude Sarofim

Concertmaster’s Society, $25,000 - $49,999 Eric S. Anderson & R. Dennis Anderson John Barlow Mr. Gary V. Beauchamp & Ms. Marian Wilfert Beauchamp Dr. & Mrs. Devinder Bhatia Todd & JoAnna Brooks Drs. Dennis & Susan Carlyle Janet F. Clark Mr. Michael H. Clark & Ms. Sallie Morian Mr. & Mrs. John P. Dennis III Gene & Linda Dewhurst Mr. & Mrs. Donald Faust Sr. Allen & Almira Gelwick Lockton Companies

Mr. & Mrs. Melbern G. Glasscock Stephen & Mariglyn Glenn Mr. & Mrs. Robert M. Griswold Susan & Dick Hansen Dr. Gary L. Hollingsworth & Dr. Ken Hyde The Joan & Marvin Kaplan Foundation Mr. & Mrs. U. J. LeGrange Cornelia & Meredith Long Dr. & Mrs. Michael Mann Mr. & Mrs. Rodney H. Margolis Mr. & Mrs. Alexander K. McLanahan John & Bobbie Nau John Neighbors in memory of Jean Marie Neighbors

Mr. & Mrs. James A. Shaffer Mr. Brian Teichman & Mr. Andrew Cordes Alice & Terry Thomas Ms. Judith Vincent

John & Cynthia Onstott Dave & Alie Pruner Mr. & Mrs. Jerome B. Simon Nancy & David Tai Stephen & Kristine Wallace Mr. & Mrs. Fredric A. Weber Steven & Nancy Williams Mr. & Mrs. C. Clifford Wright Jr. Anonymous (1)

Conductor’s Circle, Platinum Baton $15,000 - $24,999 Rolaine & Morrie Abramson Graham & Janet Baker Mr. & Mrs. Ken Barrow James M. Bell Mr. Ralph Burch Justice Brett & Erin Busby Mr. & Mrs. James Chao Jane & Robert Cizik Mr. Richard Danforth Dr. Alex Dell Mrs. William Estrada Martin & Kelli Cohen Fein Angel & Craig Fox Janet Gurwitch & Ron Franklin Mr. & Mrs. Fred L. Gorman Mrs. Gloria Pepper & Dr. Bernard Katz

Ms. Nancey G. Lobb Jay & Shirley Marks Dr. & Mrs. Malcolm L. Mazow Mr. Keith McFarland Stephen & Marilyn Miles / Stephen Warren Miles & Marilyn Ross Miles Foundation Melissa & Michael Mithoff Terence Murphree Susan & Edward Osterberg Gloria & Joe Pryzant Radoff Family Foundation Ken & Carol Lee Robertson Ann & Hugh Roff William J. Rovere & Kathi F. Rovere Donna & Tim Shen The Julia & Albert Smith Foundation

Ms. Kelly Somoza Mr. & Mrs. Robert R. Springob, Laredo Construction, Inc. James Stein / Bank of Houston Paul Strand Thomas Margaret Waisman, M.D. & Steven S. Callahan, Ph.D. Ms. Diana Wander Dede & Connie Weil Robert G. Weiner & Toni Blankmann Vicki West Mrs. Jeanie Kilroy Wilson & Mr. Wallace S. Wilson Ralph Wyman & Jim Foti Thane & Nicole Wyman Nina & Michael Zilkha

Conductor’s Circle, Gold Baton $10,000 - $14,999 Lilly & Thurmon Andress Edward H. Andrews III Danielle & Josh Batchelor Mr. & Mrs. Anthony W. Bohnert Mr. & Mrs. Walter V. Boyle Nancy & Walter Bratic Ms. Terry A. Brown Cheryl & Sam Byington John & Candace Caley Albert & Anne Chao Mr. & Mrs. Bert Cornelison Dr. Scott Cutler Leslie Barry Davidson & W. Robins Brice David & Cindy Deere Dr. & Mrs. Ebrahim S. Delpassand, Excel Diagnostics & Nuclear Oncology Ms. Susanna Dokupil John & Minerva Esquivel Aubrey & Sylvia Farb Mr. & Mrs. Marvy A. Finger

Mr. & Mrs. Russell M. Frankel Dr. & Mrs. Robert H. Fusillo Jo A. & Billie Jo Graves Christina & Mark Hanson Mr. & Mrs. James E. Hooks Beverly Johnson Janice & Allan King Dr. & Mrs. I. Ray Kirk Carol & Michael Linn Marilyn Lummis Dr. & Mrs. Paul M. Mann Betty & Gene McDavid Martha & Marvin McMurrey Mr. & Mrs. D. Bradley McWilliams Mr. Gary Mercer Catherine Jane Merchant Ginni & Richard Mithoff Kathryn & Richard Rabinow Ron & Demi Rand Lila Rauch

Mr. & Mrs. Thomas R. Reckling III Beth Robertson Ms. Charlotte A. Rothwell Mr. & Mrs. Clive Runnells Mr. & Mrs. Walter Scherr Dr. & Mrs. Robert B. Sloan Mr. & Mrs. Tad Smith Alana R. Spiwak & Sam L. Stolbun David & Paula Steakley Stephen & Pamalah Tipps Birgitt van Wijk Shirley & Joel Wahlberg Janet & Tom Walker Dr. Jim T. Willerson Cyvia & Melvyn Wolff Lorraine & Ed Wulfe Mr. & Mrs. Scott Wulfe Anonymous (1)

November 2014 45


Houston Symphony Donors Conductor’s Circle, Silver Baton $7,500 - $9,999 Josie & Joe Amador Frances & Ira Anderson Mrs. Bonnie Bauer Mr. & Mrs. David J. Beck Mr. & Mrs. Karl H. Becker Mr. & Mrs. Charles G. Black III Mr. & Mrs. John F. Bookout III Dr. & Mrs. Meherwan P. Boyce Lilia Khakimova & C. Robert Bunch David Chambers & Alex Steffler Audrey & Brandon Cochran Ryan & Laurie Colburn Roger & Debby Cutler J.R. & Aline Deming Judge & Mrs. Harold DeMoss Jr. Viviana & David Denechaud

Mr. Scott Ensell S. David Frankfort & Erika Bermeo Ms. Darlene Clark & Mr. Edwin C. Friedrichs Mrs. Lila-Gene George Mauro H. Gimenez & Connie A. Coulomb Mr. Evan B. Glick Mr. & Mrs. Frank Herzog Marianne & Robert Ivany, University of St. Thomas Brian James Mr. & Mrs. Jacek Jaminski Mrs. Ann B. Jennings April & Tom Lykos Mr. & Mrs. David Massin Mr. & Mrs. John N. Matzer III Bryan & Vickie McMicken

Dr. & Mrs. Robert M. Mihalo Dr. Cameron Mitchell Rita & Paul Morico Nancy Morrison Bobbie Newman Scott & Judy Nyquist Mr. & Mrs. Jonathan E. Parker Roman & Sally Reed Mr. & Mrs. Gabriel Rio Mr. Glen A. Rosenbaum Linda & Jerry Rubenstein Carol & Michael Stamatedes Mr. Stephen C. Tarry Shirley Toomim Mr. & Ms. Andrew Truscott Mr. Art Vivar

Conductor’s Circle, Bronze Baton $5,000 - $7,499 Mr. & Mrs. Samuel Abraham Mrs. Nancy C. Allen Dr. & Mrs. Jeffrey B. Aron Anne Morgan Barrett Beth & Jim Barton Mrs. Mercedes T. Bass Michelle H. Belco Mr. & Mrs. Michael E. Bowman Ruth White Brodsky Ms. Barbara Burger Dougal & Cathy Cameron Marilyn Caplovitz Rhona & Bruce Caress Mrs. Lily Carrigan Mr. & Mrs. William T. Carter IV Mr. & Mrs. Thierry Caruso Mr. & Mrs. Donald Childress William J. Clayton & Margaret A. Hughes Mr. William E. Colburn Coneway Family Foundation Mr. Larry Corbin Valerie Palmquist Dieterich & Tracy Dieterich Mr. & Mrs. Carr P. Dishroon Jennifer & Steve Dolman Mr. Robert Durst Connie & Byron Dyer Mrs. Jane Egner Mr. Roger Eichhorn Mr. William Elbel & Ms. Mary J Schroeder Mr. Stephen Elison Mr. Parrish N. Erwin Jr. Maestro Christoph Eschenbach Mr. & Mrs. Tom Fitzpatrick Mr. & Mrs. Henry S. Florsheim Mr. & Mrs. Peter Fluor Eugene Fong Mr. & Mrs. Michael S. Francisco Mr. Shane T. Frank Mr. & Mrs. Harry Gendel Michael B. George Mr. & Mrs. Martyn Goossen The Estate of Aileen Gordon Dorothy & Bill Grieves Mr. & Mrs. Stanley Haas Mr. & Mrs. Jerry L. Hamaker Kathleen & Dick Hayes Mr. & Mrs. Edd C. Hendee Mr. Jackson Hicks Mr. Ronald Holley & Dr. Natasha Holley 46

www.houstonsymphony.org

Mr. & Mrs. John F. Joity Debbie & Frank Jones Dr. Rita Justice Catherine & Andrew Kaldis Nina Andrews & David Karohl Mary Louis Kister William & Cynthia Koch Mr. & Mrs. John P. Kotts Willy Kuehn Michael & Kelley Lang Mr. & Mrs. Gordon Leighton Ms. Lynne Lipsitz Mr. & Mrs. Stevens Mafrige Mr. & Mrs. Bruce March Mr. William McDugald Terry & Kandee McGill Mr. & Mrs. J. Douglas McMurrey Jr. Mr. & Mrs. William B. McNamara Mr. & Mrs. Harvin Moore IV Sidney & Ione Moran Sami & Jud Morrison Juliet Moths, Louis Vuitton Gerald & Barbara Moynier Richard & Juliet Moynihan Mr. & Mrs. Robert E. Nelson Mr. & Mrs. Charles G. Nickson David G. Nussman The Estate of C. Howard Pieper Mr. Robert J. Pilegge Tim & Katherine Pownell Jean & Allan Quiat Vicky & Michael Richker Mr. & Mrs. Claud D. Riddles Mr. & Mrs. George A. Rizzo Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Manolo Sanchez Mr. & Mrs. Richard P. Schissler Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Wolfgang Schmidt Dr. Susan Gardner & Dr. Philip Scott Mr. & Mrs. Rufus S. Scott Mr. & Mrs. William T. Slick Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Mark R. Smith Mr. David Stanard & Ms. Beth Freeman Dr. John R. Stroehlein & Miwa Sakashita Mr. & Mrs. Hans Strohmer Mr. & Mrs. Antonio M. Szabo Mr. Jim Teague & Ms. Jane DiPaolo Sue Trammell Whitfield Nancy Willerson Ms. Jennifer R. Wittman

Daisy S. Wong / JCorp Woodell Family Foundation Sally & Denney Wright Edith & Robert Zinn Erla & Harry Zuber Anonymous (4)

Grand Patron’s Circle $2,500 - $4,999

John & Pat Anderson Dr. Angela R. Apollo Mr. & Mrs. John S. Arnoldy Mr. & Mrs. John M. Arnsparger Mrs. John Bace Mrs. Pat Biddle & Mr. Ron Kahl Dr. Joan Hacken Bitar Mrs. Ann M. Bixby Mr. & Mrs. James D. Bozeman Ting & John Bresnahan Divya & Chris Brown Hon. Peter H. Brown Dr. Robert N. Chanon Mr. & Mrs. Allen Clamen Mr. & Mrs. Gerald F. Clark Mr. & Mrs. Byron Cooley Mike Cox Lois & David Coyle Mr. & Mrs. James W. Crownover Mr. & Mrs. Harry H. Cullen Mr. Andrew Davis & Ms. Corey Tu Mr. & Mrs. Mark P. Day Ms. Niki DeMaio Mr. & Mrs. Mark Diehl Amanda & Adam Dinitz Mr. & Mrs. Jack N. Doherty Mr. & Mrs. Michael Doherty David & Carolyn Edgar Mr. & Mrs. J. Thomas Eubank Mr. & Mrs. Jonathan B. Fairbanks Mr. & Mrs. Richard E. Fant Mary Ann & Larry Faulkner Ms. Ursula H. Felmet Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Ference Jerry E. & Nanette B. Finger Katie Flaherty Courtney Fretz Rauli & Danna Garcia Ms. Lucy Gebhart Thomas & Patricia Geddy Mr. Bert & Mrs. Joan Golding Robert Lee Gomez Mr. & Mrs. Herbert I. Goodman


Houston Symphony Donors Young Associates Council Young Associate, Premium $2,500 or more James M. Bell David Chambers & Alex Steffler Audrey & Brandon Cochran Valerie Palmquist Dieterich & Tracy Dieterich Sami & Jud Morrison Juliet Moths, Louis Vuitton Melissa L. Nance Toni Oplt & Ed Schneider Emily Paull, Louis Vuitton Alexander Robart Christopher Robart & Katelyn Bracksieck Ahmed Saleh Seth Williams Young Associate $1,500 - $2,499 Lindley & Jason Arnoldy Ann & Jonathan Ayre Cristina & Tanner Bailey William & Laura Black Margaret & Brian Bravo Ting & John Bresnahan Divya & Chris Brown Pamela Brylski Mike Cox Mandy & Rafael Diaz Amanda & Adam Dinitz Jennifer & Steve Dolman Terry Everett & Eric Cheney

Evin Ashley Erdowdu Katie Flaherty Mark Folkes & Christopher Johnston Courtney Fretz Danna & Rauli Garcia Rebecca Gentry Michael A. Gonser Claudio J. Gutierrez Kathleen & James Jennings/ BeautyNow Kurt Johnson & Colleen Matheu Jessica Q. Johnston Gerrit Leeftink Catherine & Matt Matthews Georgia Braun McBride Kristen & Steve McDaniel Cara & Tanner Moran Amanda & Justin Morton Brooke & Nathaniel Richards Amanda Russell & Matt Calhoun Paulina Sergot & Theo Shybut Jo A. Simmons Steve & Judy Sohn Mark Stadnyk, Norton Rose Fulbright Ishwaria & Vivek Subbiah Carol Tai Candace & Brian Thomas Rachael & Jason Volz – A Fare Extraordinaire The Young Associates Council is supported in part by Bank of America.

For more information, please contact Mark Folkes, Senior Director, Development, (713) 337-8521.

Maestro Hans Graf & Mrs. Graf Dr. & Mrs. Carlos R. Hamilton Jr. Dr. & Mrs. Eric J. Haufrect Ms. Michele Hebl Ms. Christine Heggeseth Mark & Ragna Henrichs Mr. & Mrs. Frank J. Hevrdejs Ms. Stephanie C. Hildebrandt Dr. Volker Hirsinger Mark & Marilyn Hughes Kathleen & James Jennings/ BeautyNow Mr. & Mrs. Richard P. Keeton Mr. & Mrs. H. Arthur Littell Mr. & Mrs. Carlos J. López Mr. & Mrs. Bob Lunn Mr. & Mrs. Richard Mattix Mr. Derek Maxwell Mr. & Mrs. Michael McGuire Mr. Russell J. Miller & Mrs. Charlotte M. Meyer Julia & Chris Morton Melissa L. Nance Mr. & Mrs. Ralph S. O’Connor Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Olfers Toni Oplt & Ed Schneider Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth F. Owen Mr. & Mrs. Robert Pacini Emily Paull, Louis Vuitton Michael & Shirley Pearson Mr. & Mrs. James D. Penny Dr. Gregory & Mrs. Catherine Powers Mr. & Mrs. Stephen D. Pryor Darla & Chip Purchase Mr. & Mrs. Cris Pye Allyn & Jill Risley Ms. Regina J. Rogers Drs. Alex & Lynn Rosas

Ahmed Saleh Dr. & Mrs. Barry Samuels Hinda Simon Barbara & Louis Sklar Mr. & Mrs. Alan L. Smith Mark Stadnyk, Norton Rose Fulbright Ishwaria & Vivek Subbiah Susman Family Foundation/ Ellen & Steve Susman Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Thurmond Mr. & Mrs. William Toomey II Ann G. Trammell Mr. & Mrs. Tyson Voelkel Mr. & Mrs. James L. Ware General & Mrs. Jasper Welch Ms. Joann E. Welton Dr. David A. White Dr. Robert Wilkins & Dr. Mary Ann Reynolds Wilkins Seth Williams Ms. Ellen A. Yarrell Mr. & Mrs. Dan Yates Robert & Michele Yekovich Mr. Frank Yonish Anonymous (3)

Patron

$1,000 - $2,499

Dr. & Mrs. George J. Abdo Mrs. Suzon Adam Ms. Sofia Adrogue & Mr. Sten Gustafson Joan & Stanford Alexander Mr. & Mrs. William L. Anderson Jr. Mr. William J. Anderson Lindley & Jason Arnoldy Dr. & Mrs. Roy Aruffo Paul H. & Maida M. Asofsky Mr. Jeff Autor

Ms. Mary S. Axelrad Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Axelrod Mr. & Mrs. Jonathan Ayre Dr. & Mrs. Jamil Azzam Cristina & Tanner Bailey Ms. Regina Balderas Mr. & Mrs. David M. Balderston Mr. & Mrs. Bill Barnett Mr. & Mrs. J. Kirby Barry II Mr. & Mrs. Paul M. Basinski Dr. & Mrs. Robert C. Bast Jr. Ms. Margaret Basu Dr. & Mrs. Arthur L. Beaudet Mr. & Mrs. Lloyd M. Bentsen III Eldo Bergman/Family Literacy Network Mr. & Mrs. Philippe Berteaud Drs. Henry & Louise Bethea Mr. & Mrs. Chris Birdsall William & Laura Black Mr. & Mrs. James E. Blackwell Mr. & Mrs. George Boerger Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Bolam Mr. & Mrs. A.J. Brass Brian & Margaret Bravo Joe Brazzatti Katherine M. Briggs Mr. Chester Brooke & Dr. Nancy Poindexter Mr. Steven Brosvik Pamela Brylski Dr. & Mrs. Fred Buckwold Mrs. Anne H. Bushman Ms. Vicki P. Buxton Mr. & Mrs. Raul Caffesse Dr. Maria Calcina Mr. & Mrs. Joseph L. Campbell Mrs. Mary Ann Carrico Nicole & Rueben Casarez Margot & John Cater Mr. & Mrs. John M. Cavanaugh Honorable Theresa Chang & Dr. Peter Chang Virginia A. Clark Mr. Robert L. Clarke Dr. & Mrs. Alfred C. Coats Mr. & Mrs. Ernest D. Cockrell II Jim R. & Lynn Coe Ms. Ellen T. Cokinos Mr. Mark C. Conrad James D. Cox & Ritsuko Komaki-Cox Dr. & Mrs. Joe F. Crabb Ms. Marsha K. Crawford Mr. & Mrs. John Crum Katie & Harry Cullen Mr. & Mrs. James D. Dannenbaum Mr. Blakke Davis Mr. & Mrs. Paul Davis Mr. & Mrs. Antoine de Gramont Ms. Caroline Deetjen Mr. & Mrs. Rene Degreve Brian & Leah Del Signore Becky & Joe Demeter Dr. Ronald DePinho & Dr. Lynda Chin Ms. Aurelie Desmarais Mr. & Mrs. Ralph DeVore Mandy & Rafael Diaz Bruce B. Dice Ms. Cynthia Diller Mike & Debra Dishberger Charles Dishman Mr. Michael Dooley Mr. & Mrs. James P. Dorn Robert J. Doyle Dr. Burdett S. & Mrs. Kathleen C.E. Dunbar Mrs. Dan L. Duncan Mrs. Deborah Dunkum Egon & Elisa Durban Drs. Rosalind & Gary Dworkin Mr. & Mrs. Edward N. Earle Mr. Michael Eichhorn Mr. & Mrs. Jack Ellis Hon. & Mrs. John D. Ellis Mr. & Mrs. Thomas L. Elsenbrook

Terry Everett & Eric Cheney Evin Ashley Erdowdu Annette & Knut Eriksen Dr. & Mrs. Wendell Erwin Dr. Louis & Mrs. Paula Faillace Mrs. Fran Fawcett Peterson Mrs. Carolyn Grant Fay Mrs. Ronald Fischer Mr. Dale Fitz Mr. & Mrs. Harvey Fleisher Joyce & David Fox Elizabeth & Ralph Frankowski Mr. Colin Gatwood & Ms. Aralee Dorough Mr. & Mrs. Neil Gaynor Mr. & Mrs. John Gee Mr. & Mrs. Joe Genitempo Mrs. Rosanne Hudson & Mr. Jim Gensheimer Rebecca Gentry Mr. & Dr. David K. Gibbs Joan M. Giese Dr. & Mrs. Jack Gill Walter Gilmore Drs. Nancy Glass & John Belmont Mr. Morris Glesby Mrs. Barbara Goedecke Ms. Lisa Goetz Dr. John Gomez & Dr. Cora Mihu Michael A. Gonser Dr. & Mrs. Bradford S. Goodwin Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Gossett Mr. & Mrs. Joshua Gravenor Kendall & Pauline Gray Ms. Joyce Z. Greenberg Mr. & Mrs. Charles H. Gregory Dennis Griffith & Louise Richman Mr. & Mrs. Steve K. Grimsley Melinda & Doug Groves Claudio Gutierrez Eric & Angelea Halen Mrs. Thalia Halen Mr. & Mrs. Don H. Haley Ms. Liz Hampton Mr. & Mrs. Paul Hanson Marion S. Hargrove Dr. & Mrs. William S. Harwell Mr. & Mrs. John Havens Mr. & Mrs. Houston Haymon Mr. & Mrs. Frank L. Heard Jr. Mr. & Mrs. David J. Hemenway Mr. & Mrs. Matt Hennessy Marilyn & Robert M. Hermance Mrs. Maureen Higdon Ann & Joe Hightower Dr. Suzanne M. Hite Mr. Robert Hoff Mr. Stanley Hoffberger Mr. Tim Hogan Mr. & Mrs. John Homier Dr. Matthew Horsfield & Dr. Michael Kauth John Horstman Mr. & Mrs. George Hricik Mr. Frank Huang Mr. & Mrs. Robert Humphries Jay Jackson & Barbara Waugh Mr. & Mrs. Paul M. Janicke Dr. & Mrs. Joseph Jankovic Stephen Jeu & Susanna Calvo Ms. Arlene J. Johnson Mr. Eric S. Johnson & Dr. Ronada Davis Mr. Robert E. Johnson & Ms. Ariella Perlman Jessica Q. Johnston Ms. Sheila K. Johnstone Ms. Alisha Jones Mr. & Mrs. Carl Jones Mr. & Mrs. Steve Jones Mr. & Mrs. Thorro Jones Dr. & Mrs. Robert E. Jordon Mr. & Mrs. Harvey Katz Ms. Carolyn C. Keeble Lynda & Frank Kelly Louise & Sherwin Kershman

November 2014 47


Houston Symphony Donors Capital Investments The Houston Symphony thanks the generous donors, who since 2012, have made possible infrastructure additions to further enhance the sound and quality of our orchestral performances: Beauchamp Foundation Miller Outdoor Theatre Sound Shell Ceiling and Portativ Organ The Fondren Foundation Miller Outdoor Theatre Sound Shell Ceiling Albert & Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation Enhancements to Jones Hall Video System Houston Symphony League Steinway Concert Grand Piano and Instrument Petting Zoo Ms. Nancey G. Lobb Piccolo Timpano Vicky and Michael Richker Family Adolfo Sayago, Orquestas Sybil F. Roos Rotary Trumpets Silver Circle Audio Enhancements to Jones Hall Recording Suite Beverly Johnson, Ralph Wyman and Jim Foti, and Thane & Nicole Wyman in memory of Winthrop Wyman Basset Horns and Rotary Trumpets Mr. and Mrs. Charles Zabriskie Conductor’s Podium

Nora J. Klein, M.D. Mr. & Mrs. J.C. Kneale Jimmy & Kaelyn Koch Lucy & Victor Kormeier Mr. & Mrs. Sam Koster Mr. & Mrs. Kevin W. Kremer Mrs. Deanna Lamoreux Mr. William H. Lane Jr. Mr. Richard Lang Ms. Joni Hartgraves Latimer Mr. David Leebron & Mrs. Y. Ping Sun Gerrit Leeftink Dr. & Mrs. Daniel E. Lehane Ms. Joyce Lehrfeld Dr. & Mrs. Morton Leonard Jr. Dr. Golda & Dr. Robert B. Leonard Mr. & Mrs. Robert Leonard Seth & Karen Lerner Velva G. & H. Fred Levine Ms. Cindy Levit Mr. & Mrs. Bob Licato Mr. William W. Lindley Mr. James C. Lindsey Mr. Jeff Lippold Dr. & Mrs. James R. Lloyd Dr. & Mrs. Kelly B. Lobley Renee & Michael Locklar Robert & Gayle Longmire Mr. Paul F. Longstreth & Ms. Marilyn Maloney Mr. & Mrs. & Ms. Alberto Lozano Ms. Sue Ann Lurcott Mr. & Mrs. Frederic V. Malek Mr. Michael Mankins Mr. & Mrs. Mark Matovich Catherine & Matt Matthews Mr. William L. Maynard Dr. William McCallum

48

www.houstonsymphony.org

Linda & Jim McCartney Laurence McCullough & Linda Jean Quintanilla Kristen & Steve McDaniel Dr. A. McDermott & Dr. A. Glasser Ms. Judi McGee Mr. & Mrs. Martin McIntyre Dr. & Mrs. Jack G. McNeill Ernie & Martha McWilliams Mr. & Mrs. Prasad Menon Mr. Ronald A. Mikita Mr. & Mrs. Arnold M. Miller Mr. & Mrs. Robert M. Miller Mr. & Mrs. Thomas J. Mireles Mr. & Mrs. Robert Mitchell Mr. & Mrs. R. S. Moen Mr. & Mrs. John C. Molloy Mr. Thomas L. Molloy Mr. & Mrs. David M. Monk Cara & Tanner Moran Mr. & Mrs. William Morgan Sue A. Morrison Amanda & Justin Morton Mr. & Mrs. Keith Mosing Mr. William R. Mowlam Mr. & Mrs. Marvin Mueller Mr. & Mrs. Richard Murphy Mr. & Mrs. Joe Murray Daniel & Karol Musher Patience Myers & Murray Herbert Mr. & Mrs. William J. Napier Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Mo & Heli Nashef Mr. & Mrs. Geoffrey B. Newton Ms. Sheila Neylon Ms. Dorothy Nicholson Mr. Stephen Nicol Mr. & Mrs. Lipscomb Norvell Marie-Theres F. Odermatt Mariloli & Marvin Odum Steve & Sue Olson Mr. & Mrs. Sheldon I. Oster Dr. Holly Holmes & Mr. Paul Otremba Ms. Jennifer Owen & Mr. Ed Benyon Jane & Kenneth Owen Mr. & Mrs. Robert Page Mr. Jonathan Palmer Ms. Martha Palmer Christine & Robert Pastorek Mr. & Mrs. Raul Pavon Mr. David Peavy & Mr. Stephen McCauley Mr. & Mrs. Peter C. Peropoulos Mr. & Mrs. Walter Peterson JoAnn & John Petzold Ms. Debra Phillips Mrs. Meg Philpot Mr. James D. Pitcock Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Chester M. Pitts II Ms. Linda Posey Mr. & Mrs. James Postl Kim & Ted A. Powell Mr. Thomas Power Mrs. Dana Puddy Mr. & Mrs. David Pursell Mr. Patrick Quinn Dr. & Mrs. Henry H. Rachford Jr. Ms. Ranelle Randles Clinton & Leigh Rappole Mr. & Mrs. Mark S. Rauch Mr. Cameron Ray Mr. & Mrs. Allan Reich Mrs. Laura L. Jones & Dr. David W. Reininger Mr. & Mrs. Hank & Karen Rennar Mrs. Linda Rhodes Brooke & Nathaniel Richards Mr. & Mrs. James L. Robertson Ms. Lillie Robertson Mr. Floyd W. Robinson Mrs. Evie Ronald Dr. & Mrs. Franklin Rose Milton & Jill Rose Mr. & Mrs. Edward Ross Mr. Chadwick Royston Amanda Russell & Matt Calhoun

Ms. Robin Russell Kent Rutter & David Baumann Mr. & Mrs. John Ryder Harold H. Sandstead, M.D. Mrs. Holly Sansing Dr. & Mrs. David Sapire Mr. & Mrs. Raymond E. Sawaya Mr. & Mrs. Eric Schaeffer Mr. Lawrence Schanzmeyer Beth & Lee Schlanger Dr. & Mrs. H. Irving Schweppe Jr. Donna Scott Mr. Joe L. Scott Charles & Andrea Seay Mr. Victor E. Serrato Mr. Don W. Shackelford Ellen Shelton Paulina Sergot & Theo Shybut Jo A. Simmons Mr. Geoff Simpson Mr. Ryan T. Sims Mr. & Mrs. Steve B. Sims Mr. David Silverling Mr. Brinton Averil Smith & Ms. Evelyn Chen Mr. Hilary Smith & Ms. Lijda Vellekoop Mr. & Mrs. Tom Smith Dean & Kay L. Snider Steve & Judy Sohn Mr. & Mrs. Richard Spies Ms. Georgiana Stanley Mrs. Jeaneen Stastny Ms. Joyce Steensrud Karen & Bruce Steffler Mr. & Mrs. Alan Stein Mr. & Mrs. Arthur E. Stephens Mr. & Mrs. James R. Stevens Cassie B. Stinson & Dr. R. Barry Holtz Jack & Karen Stopnicki Dr. & Mrs. David Sufian Mr. Mark Sullivan Mrs. Mary Swafford Mr. Clifford A. Swanlund Jr. Barb Swartz Mr. & Mrs. Gregory D. Sweet Ms. Jeanine Swift Mr. & Mrs. Adam Szczepanski Mr. & Mrs. Albert S. Tabor Jr. Carol Tai Mr. Garry Tanner Glenn & Cay Taylor Mr. & Mrs. Van Teeters Candace & Brian Thomas Jean & Doug Thomas Jacob & Elizabeth Thomas Eric & Carol Timmreck Mrs. Glenda C. Toole Ms. Beverly Turner McDonald Mr. Eddie Turner Mr. John Turner & Mr. Jerry Fischer Mr. & Mrs. David M. Underwood Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Timothy J. Unger Mr. & Mrs. Duane Utecht Mr. & Mrs. Paolo Valente Susan J. & Gary W. Valka Mr. & Mrs. Donn K. Van Arsdall Dr. & Mrs. Gage Van Horn Mr. & Mrs. William A. Van Wie Matthew VanBesien & Rosanne Jowitt Ms. Jana Vander Lee Rachael & Jason Volz/ A Fare Extraordinaire Dr. & Mrs. Edward C. Wade Dean B. Walker Betty & Bill Walker Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Walt Mr. H. Richard Walton Alton & Carolyn Warren Mr. & Mrs. James A. Watt Mr. Chien-Wey Wei Ms. Bryony Jane Welsh Mr. & Mrs. Andrew White Mr. Bradley White James & Pamela Wilhite

Mr. & Mrs. William Wilkins Gene & Sandra Williams Mr. & Mrs. Sidney B. Williams Mr. & Mrs. Neil A. Wizel Ms. Beth Wolff Dr. & Mrs. Jerry S. Wolinsky Ms. Susan Wood Mr. & Mrs. Donald E. Woodard Jr. Drs. Randall & Crystal Wright David & Tara Wuthrich Mr. & Mrs. Charles Zabriskie Mr. & Mrs. Stuart Zarrow Anonymous (15)

Director $500 - $999

Mr. & Mrs. W. Kendall Adam Donalee & Noel T. Adams Mr. & Mrs. Dan Ahuero Mr. & Mrs. Michael Alexander Mr. Robert J. Alexander & Ms. Becky A. Stemper Mr. Roy Allice Ms. Joan Ambrogi Mr. & Mrs. Ed Ambs Ms. Sally S. Andrews Mrs. Roya Arfa Mr. & Mrs. John C. Averett Mr. Henry Bair Mr. Bobby Baiva Mr. & Mrs. Gabriel Baizan Dr. Saul & Ursula Balagura Trace Trahan Bannerman Mr. Allen Barnhill Dan Barnum & Marilyn Lewis Mr. A. Greer Barriault & Ms. Clarruth A. Seaton Mr. & Mrs. David Barringer Dr. & Mrs. David Barry Ms. Bernice L. Beckerman Ms. Roberta Benson Mr. & Mrs. Frank R. Benton Mrs. Robert L. Berge Mr. Benedict Bertrand Mr. & Mrs. Alan L. Bigman Mr. Philip Booth Chris & Ruth Borman Bob Frank Boydston Mr. & Mrs. Walter E. Bozeman Ms. Margaret Bragg James & Dale Brannon Sally & Carl Brassow Maurice & Karey Bresenhan Mr. Thomas N. Britton & Ms. Debra A. Ewing Mrs. Catherine Campbell Brock & Dr. Gary Brock Mr. Kevin P. Brophy Mr. J. W. Brougher Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Brougher Sally & Laurence Brown Mr. Eric Brueggeman Mr. Kurt Brungardt Mr. & Mrs. Larry W. Buck Ms. Helen P. Burwell Mrs. Charles Callery Virginia & William Camfield Mr. & Mrs. J. Scott Campbell Louise Carlson & Richard Larrabee Mr. Richard N. Carrell Mr. Steven E. Chancellor Mr. & Mrs. E. Thomas Chaney Ms. Irene Chang Mr. Michael Chang / Directron.com Mr. & Mrs. Alan R. Christensen Mr. & Mrs. David A. Cockrell Dr. & Mrs. Martin Cohen Donna M. Collins Mr. & Mrs. Tulio Colmenares Mr. & Mrs. Clayton A. Compton Mr. H. Talbot Cooley Ms. Miquel A. Correll Sarah & Ben Cotting


Houston Symphony Donors Mr. & Mrs. Hugo Coumont Mr. & Mrs. John F. Crawford Mr. & Mrs. T. N. Crook Mr. Calvin Crossley Mr. & Mrs. Timothy J. Crull Mrs. Deborah Culp Mr. Carl R. Cunningham Nigel Curtlet Dr. Lida S. Dahm Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Dauber Masden & Lupita Davis Mr. Darryl de Mello Mr. Joseph A. Dellinger Dr. Peter Dempsey James R. Denton Ms. Joan DerHovsepian Mr. & Mrs. Paul Destephano Ms. Elisabeth DeWitts Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Dokell Col. & Mrs. John Jay Douglass Elizabeth H. Duerr Mr. Jean-Claude Dulac & Mrs. Nathalie Dulac-Forestier Ms. Emma Dunch & Ms. Elizabeth Scott Mr. & Mrs. Bill Edgmon Mr. Paul Ehrsam Mr. Ramsay M. Elder Mr. & Mrs. Billie Ellis Ruth W. Ereli Mr. & Mrs. James Etherton Mr. & Mrs. Robert M. Eury Robert H. Fain Jr., M.D. Mr. Jonathan Fischer Mr. & Mrs. Cecil Fong Ms. Eleanor Fontenot Jessica Ford Mr. & Mrs. David Fortner Ms. Diane L. Freeman Bill & Diana Freeman Martha & Gibson Gayle Jr. Ms. Margaret Wendy Germani Ms. Josephine Gilmore Nancy Glanville Jewell Gary & Marion Glober Mr. & Mrs. David Glodt Mrs. Cathy Goettee Mr. Irving L. Gold, M.D., P.A. Helen B. Wils & Leonard Goldstein Mr. Bert & Patricia Gordon Dr. Harvey L. Gordon Mr. Mark Gordon & Mrs. Ilona C. Pall Dr. & Mrs. David Gorenstein Ms. Adelma Graham Mr. Garrett Graham Mr. David M. Gray Jr. & Ms. Mary A. Pearce Mr. & Mrs. Steve Greenberg Mrs. Adriana Greene Mr. Gerald Greiner Mr. & Mrs. William K. Grittman Dr. Teruhiko Hagiwara Mr. & Mrs. Uzi Halevy Gaye & Dennis Halpin Mr. Brett L. Hamilton Mrs. Vickie Hamley Rita & John Hannah Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Harbachick Michael D. Hardin Mr. & Mrs. Tod P. Harding W. Russel Harp & Maarit K. Savola-Harp Mr. Christopher K. Harris Thomas F. & Catherine Mary Hastings Mr. Michael Heath Mr. David T. Hedges Jr. Sheila & Isaac Heimbinder Mr. & Mrs. Jared N. Heindel Mr. John Heiny Dr. & Mrs. William Heird Mr. & Mrs. James P. Hennessy Mr. & Mrs. David Hergert Mr. & Mrs. Robert P. Herrmann

Donald & Rosemary Herron Mr. & Mrs. W. Grady Hicks Susan Hodge Mr. Todd Holowisky Mr. Scott Holshouser Patricia P. Hubbard Dr. Vicki Huff & Dr. Eric Boerwinkle Mr. & Mrs. Dean Huffman Ms. Mandi Hunsicker-Sallee Ms. Kimberly Isaac Ms. Kathy Jackson Mr. Mark Johansson Kurt Johnson & Colleen Matheu Mr. & Mrs. Randal E. Jones Mr. & Mrs. Arnold M. Kaestner Ms. Natalia Kalitynska Dr. Richard A. Kasschau Mr. & Mrs. Yoshi Kawashima Mr. & Mrs. James L. Ketelsen Dr. James Killian Mr. & Mrs. Sheldon M. Kindall Dave & Laura Kirk Dr. Carolyn Kneese Mr. & Mrs. William H. Knull III Nobuhide Kobori Ms. Deborah Kosich Dr. & Mrs. James H. Krause Suzanne A. & Dan D. Kubin Mr. & Mrs. David W. Kuenneke Mr. & Mrs. Todd Lachenmyer Ramille Law Mr. Bryan LeBlanc Mr. Manuel Lemelle Dr. Daniel Lemke Mr. & Mrs. Earl L. Lester Jr. Mr. Scott Link Ms. Priscilla L. List Ms. Sylvia Lohkamp Ms. Nina K. Lynn Mr. & Mrs. Peter MacGregor Mr. Rocky Mafrige Ms. Barbara Manna Ms. Renee Margolin Mr. & Mrs. Jesse Marion Mr. & Mrs. David Martin Mr. & Mrs. Alexander Matiuk James G. Matthews Mr. R. Scott McCay Mr. & Mrs. Scott McCool Mr. & Mrs. Michael McGinity Dr. & Mrs. Robert McGlashan Ms. L. Dianne McGreevy Mr. George McKee Mr. & Mrs. Theron McLaren Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence McManus Mr. & Mrs. James L. McNett Ms. Maria Carolina Mendoza Ellen Ochoa & Coe F. Miles Mr. & Mrs. Herbert G. Mills Jennifer & David Mire Ms. Marsha L. Montemayor Mr. & Mrs. James Moore Mr. & Mrs. Jim K. Moore Mr. & Mrs. James T. Murphy Mr. & Mrs. Tyler Murphy Ms. Dorothy Sharp Myers Ms. Jennifer Naae Mr. & Mrs. David S. Neuberger Ms. Amy Ng Ms. Khanh Nguyen John & Leslie Niemand Mr. & Mrs. Rufus W. Oliver III Mr. Roel Olson Mr. & Dr. Michael Ondrias Ms. Judith Oppenheim Drs. M. & V. Orocofsky Mr. Edgar J. Ortiz Mr. & Mrs. Enrique Ospina Valerie J. Sherlock Mr. & Mrs. Marc C. Paige John E. (Sandy) Parkerson Prof. & Mrs. Jordan Paust Jim & Arlene Payne

Dr. & Mrs. Joseph Penn Mr. & Mrs. Ed Perkins Mr. & Mrs. William Phelps Grace & Carroll Phillips Mr. Robert W. Powell Mr. & Mrs. J. E. Pybus Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Manuel E. Quintana Elias & Carole Qumsieh Agnieszka & Marat Rakhmatullaev Mr. & Mrs. Paul Ramirez Dr. & Mrs. Michael Rasmussen Mr. & Mrs. William B. Rawl Mr. Frederic Rechlin Mr. & Mrs. Dwain Reeves Ms. Louisa B. Reid Margaret & Walter Rhodes Ms. Amy Richards Mr. & Mrs. Guy Ridout Ms. Ellen Rienstra Mr. & Mrs. Charles E. Rinehart J. Jeff Robinson Mr. & Mrs. Paul R. Robinson Mr. & Mrs. Charles Rockwell Douglas & Alicia Rodenberger Mr. & Mrs. Keith A. Rogers Kelly & David Rose Mr. Autry W. Ross Mr. & Mrs. Paul A. Ross Mr. & Mrs. Alan Rossiter Mr. & Mrs. Gregory M. Ruffing Ms. Kimberly Ruona Mr. & Mrs. John E. Ryall Mr. Robert Ryan Mr. Robert T. Sakowitz Mr. & Mrs. Ramon L. Sanchez Mr. Charles King Sanders Mr. & Mrs. Carl W. Sandlin Mr. & Mrs. Ross Saunders Ms. Cynthia Scanland Ms. Susan E. Scarrow Mrs. Myrna Schaffer Mrs. Jennifer Schoppe Drs. Helene & Robert Schwartz Amanda & John Seaberg Ms. Elizabeth Shack Mr. & Mrs. Paul Shack Mr. & Mrs. Vic Shainock Mr. & Mrs. Richard Shell Louis H. Skidmore Jr. Mr. Eric G. Smith Mr. Jason Smith Mr. & Mrs. Richard J. Sommer Mary Louise Spencer Ms. Crystol K. Spillars Richard P. Steele & Mary J. McKerall Mr. & Mrs. Michael Stelling Mr. & Mrs. Jonathon Stewart Ms. Betsy J. Strong Mr. Alan Stuckert Ms. Kathy Suave Mr. Roger Suter & Ms. Lakessia Fry Mr. John L. Sutterby Ms. Amy Sutton Dr. Jeffrey Sweterlitsch Mr. & Mrs. Robert B. Symon Mr. Monsour Taghdisi Ms. Carolyn Tanner Dr. Shahin Tavackoli Mr. Kerry Taylor Mr. & Mrs. Gary Teletzke Mr. & Mrs. David K. Terry Stephen A. Tew, M.D. Mr. & Mrs. Troy Thacker Ms. Betsy Mims & Mr. Howard D. Thames Mrs. Marjorie Therrell Nancy & Peter Thompson Ms. Susan L. Thompson Mr. Matthew Thornton Mr. & Mrs. Dale M. Tingleaf Mr. & Mrs. Roger Townsend Mr. Roger Trandell Dr. Robert Ulrich & Ms. June R. Russell

Mr. & Mrs. David Vannauker Mr. Zachary Vazquez Mr. Charles Veith Ms. Laurette Veres Ms. Elise Wagner Mr. William Walker Dr. & Mrs. Kenneth W. Warren Mr. Frank Watson Mr. & Mrs. K.C. Weiner Don & Linda Weinmann Mr. & Mrs. Eden N. Wenig Ms. Amy E. Whitaker Dr. & Mrs. Robert E. White Kay & Doug Wilson Mr. & Mrs. Thomas H. Wilson Ms. Shelley Wisner Mr. Gerhard R. Wittich Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Wootton Mr. & Mrs. Emil Wulfe Mr. Michael Wynhoff Ms. Alexandra Yates Mrs. Mary. V. Young Mr. Dave Zinni Anonymous (15) The Houston Symphony would like to thank the 4,469 individual donors who gave up to $499 over the past year. As of October 15, 2014 To note any errors or omissions, please call Darryl de Mello at (713) 337-8529.

November 2014 49


Houston Symphony POPS Donors Ima Hogg Society $150,000 or More Mr. George P. Mitchell Sybil F. Roos Centennial Society $100,000 - $149,000 Mr. & Mrs. Jim R. Smith Founder’s Society $75,000 - $99,000 Darlene & Cappy Bisso Maestro’s Society $50,000 -$74,999 Mr. & Mrs. Edward F. Blackburne Jr. Mr. Brian Teichman & Mr. Andrew Cordes Ms. Judith Vincent Concertmaster’s Society $25,000 - $49,999 Allen & Almira Gelwick Lockton Companies Susan & Dick Hansen Dr. Gary L. Hollingsworth & Dr. Ken Hyde Mr. & Mrs. U. J. LeGrange Dr. & Mrs. Michael Mann John & Bobbie Nau Mr. & Mrs. C. Clifford Wright Jr. Conductor’s Circle, Platinum $15,000 - $24,999 Graham & Janet Baker Mr. & Mrs. Fred L. Gorman Mrs. Gloria Pepper & Dr. Bernard Katz Ms. Nancey G. Lobb Ken & Carol Lee Robertson Conductor’s Circle, Gold $10,000 - $14,999 Danielle & Josh Batchelor John & Candace Caley Mr. & Mrs. Bert Cornelison David & Cindy Deere John & Minerva Esquivel Janice & Allan King Dr. & Mrs. Paul M. Mann Martha & Marvin McMurrey Mr. & Mrs. Walter Scherr David & Paula Steakley Shirley & Joel Wahlberg Mr. & Mrs. Scott Wulfe Conductor’s Circle, Silver $7,500 - $9,999 Lilia Khakimova & C. Robert Bunch Roger & Debby Cutler Mr. Scott Ensell Mr. Evan B. Glick Marianne & Robert Ivany, University of St. Thomas Mr. & Mrs. John N. Matzer III Bryan & Vickie McMicken Rita & Paul Morico Roman & Sally Reed Linda & Jerry Rubenstein Conductor’s Circle, Bronze $5,000 - $7,499 Beth & Jim Barton Mr. & Mrs. Michael E. Bowman Rhona & Bruce Caress Mr. & Mrs. Thierry Caruso Connie & Byron Dyer

50

www.houstonsymphony.org

Mr. & Mrs. Peter Fluor Mr. & Mrs. Jerry L. Hamaker Kathleen & Dick Hayes Mr. & Mrs. Edd C. Hendee Mr. & Mrs. John P. Kotts Michael & Kelley Lang Ms. Lynne Lipsitz Terry & Kandee McGill Richard & Juliet Moynihan Mr. & Mrs. Robert E. Nelson Mr. & Mrs. Charles G. Nickson Mr. Robert J. Pilegge Jean & Allan Quiat Vicky & Michael Richker Mr. & Mrs. George A. Rizzo Jr. Sally & Denney Wright Grand Patron $2,500 - $4,999 Mr. & Mrs. J. Emery Anderson Robert & Gwen Bray Ms. Jill Hutchison & Dr. Christopher Buehler Mr. & Mrs. Bruce G. Buhler Mr. & Mrs. James E. Dorsett Mr. & Mrs. Mike Ezzell Alice R. McPherson, M.D. Dr. & Mrs. Raghu Narayan Jeff & Pat Ponthier Mr. & Mrs. Ben A. Reid Shirley & Marvin Rich Richard & Anne Robbins Rosemarie & Jeff Roth Dr. & Mr. Adrian D. Shelley Mr. & Mrs. Charles Stewart Patron $1,000 - $2,499 Mr. & Mrs. Kingsley Agbor Mrs. Sally Alcorn Sue Sue & Don Aron Stanley & Martha Bair Mr. & Mrs. Stephen J. Banks Dr. & Mrs. William S. Banks III Donald & Dottie Bates Ms. Deborah S. Bautch & Ms. Mary Lavender Mr. Allen J. Becker Mr. John S. Beury Mr. & Mrs. Robert Bixler Mr. & Mrs. W. Carter Bliss Mr. & Mrs. George Boss Ellen Box Ms. Barbara A. Brooks Richard & Marcia Churns Mrs. Midge Colton Mr. & Mrs. William V. Conover II Mr. & Mrs. Michael F. Cook Marilyn & Tucker Coughlen Mr. & Mrs. Robert Creager Ms. Ann Currens Mr. & Mrs. David Dybell Jo Lynn & Gregg Falgout/ Island Operating Company, Inc. Mr. & Mrs. Richard Fanning Barbara Dokell & Larry Finger Mark Folkes & Christopher Johnston Carol & Larry Fradkin Friends of the Houston Symphony Mr. & Mrs. James K. Garner Mr. John Geigel Mr. & Mrs. Angelo Giardino Julius & Suzan Glickman Ms. Shari Glover & Mr. James King

Ms. Melissa Goodman Mr. & Ms. Charles R. Hall Mr. & Mrs. Robert L. Hansen Mr. & Mrs. Franklin J. Harberg Jr. Mr. & Mrs. George A. Helland Ms. Margy Keaton Rex & Marillyn King Michael & Darcy Krajewski Mrs. Nancy Lease Mr. & Mrs. Barry I. Levine Kathleen & Tom Mach Mr. & Mrs. Pat Mann Mr. & Mrs. Michael L. Mason Steve & Linda Massie Mr. & Mrs. Alan May Jr. Pinet & Jim McBride Mr. & Mrs. David R. McKeithan Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Gary Noble Mrs. Kay M. Onstead Mr. Kim Parker Margaret & V. Scott Pignolet Mr. & Mrs. Gary Prentice W. R. Purifoy Judy & Bill Pursell Dr. & Mrs. Albert E. Raizner Mr. & Mrs. Venu Rao Mr. & Mrs. John T. Riordan Mr. James L. Robertson Soren & Annetta Rose Brenda & Mansel Rubenstein Mr. Morris Rubin Ms. Cinda Schaffer Charlotte Stafford Mr. Nick Stratigakis Mr. & Mrs. Karl Strobl Mr. & Mrs. Jonathan Symko Mr. & Mrs. Charles Trinh Ms. Jeanine M. Van Wagenen Ms. Jody Verwers Dr. & Mrs. Bradley G. Wertman Nancy & Scott Wynant Anonymous (4) Director $500 - $999 Mr. & Mrs. William R. Allen Mr. & Mrs. T. Michael Andrews Ms. Dorothy G. Blackwell Dr. & Mrs. R. L. Brenner Mr. Jay T. Brown Ray Butler Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Cantrell Jr. Dr. Cecil Christensen Ms. Julie Conner Mr. Warren Dean Mr. & Mrs. George Dobbin John & Joyce Eagle Catolyn & Russell Egan Mildred & Richard Ellis Ms. Carolyn Faulk Sandra & Steven Finkelman Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Grafton Ms. Kay Hanson-Clerc Mr. & Mrs. Dale Hardy Ms. Hope Hernandez Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Hill Elizabeth & Bob Houston Mr. & Mrs. Wilfred M. Krenek Mr. Kent Lacy Dr. Monica Lett Mr. & Mrs. Roger Lindgren Ms. Doris M. Magee Ms. Karen E. Manyak Mr. & Mrs. Bert Neece

Mr. & Mrs. Dan Neskora Joe & Ann Palm Esther & Gary Polland Mr. O. M. Rogers Ms. Stacey Saunders & Mr. Jeff Smith Mr. & Mrs. James Schulz Mrs. Lynda G. Seaman Claudette & Tim Shaunty Mr. Michael Shawiak James C. Stanka Ms. Judith Starr & Mr. Rigo Vannucci Dr. & Mrs. Frank C. Sung Mr. & Mrs. Carl N. Tongberg Mr. & Mrs. Don Wilton Anonymous (5) The Houston Symphony would like to thank the 4,469 individual donors who gave up to $499 over the past year. As of October 15, 2014 To note any errors or omissions, please call Darryl de Mello at (713) 337-8529.


LEGACY SOCIETY The Legacy Society honors those who have included the Houston Symphony in their long-term estate plans through bequests, life-income gifts or other deferred-giving arrangements. Members of the Legacy Society enjoy a variety of benefits, including an annual musical event. The Houston Symphony would like to extend its deepest thanks to the members of the Legacy Society—and with their permission, we are pleased to acknowledge them below. If you would like to learn more about ways to provide for the Houston Symphony in your estate plans, please contact Patrick Quinn, Director, Planned Giving, at (713) 337-8532 or patrick.quinn@houstonsymphony.org. Dr. & Mrs. George J. Abdo Daniel B. Barnum Janice H. Barrow George & Betty Bashen Dr. Joan Hacken Bitar Dorothy B. Black Ermy Borlenghi Bonfield Joe Brazzatti Zu Broadwater Terry Ann Brown Dr. Joan K. Bruchas & H. Philip Cowdin Mr. Christopher & Mrs. Erin Brunner Eugene R. Bruns Drs. Susan & Dennis Carlyle Sylvia J. Carroll Janet F. Clark William J. Clayton & Margaret A. Hughes Mr. William E. Colburn Dr. Lida S. Dahm Leslie Barry Davidson Harrison R. T. Davis Judge & Mrs. Harold DeMoss Jr. Jean & sJack Ellis The Aubrey and Sylvia Farb Family Eugene Fong Ginny Garrett Michael B. George Mauro H. Giminez & Connie A. Coulomb Stephen & Mariglyn Glenn Jo A. & Billie Jo Graves Randolph Lee Groninger Mr. & Mrs. Jerry L. Haymaker Mrs. Gloria Herman Marilyn & Robert M. Hermance Dr. Gary L. Hollingsworth Dr. Edward J. & Mrs. Patti Hurwitz

Kenneth Hyde Mr. Brian James Drs. Rita & Blair Justice Dr. & Mrs. Ira Kaufman, M.D. John S. W. Kellett Ann Kennedy & Geoffrey Walker Dr. & Mrs. I. Ray Kirk Mr. & Mrs. Ulyesse LeGrange Mrs. Frances E. Leland Dr. Mary R. Lewis Ms. Nancey G. Lobb E. W. Long Jr. Sandra Magers Mr. & Mrs. Rodney H. Margolis Mr. & Mrs. Jay Marks James Matthews Dr. & Mrs. Malcolm Mazow Mr. & Mrs. Gene McDavid Charles E. McKerley Mr. & Mrs. Alexander K. McLanahan Mr. & Mrs. D. Bradley McWilliams Miss Catherine Jane Merchant Dr. & Mrs. Robert M. Mihalo Ron Mikita Katherine Taylor Mize Ione Moran Sidney Moran Mr. & Mrs. Richard P. Moynihan Gretchen Anne Myers John Neighbors, in memory of Jean Marie Neighbors Bobbie Newman John & Leslie Niemand Dave B. Nussmann Edward C. Osterberg Jr. Imogen “Immy” Papadopoulos Sara M. Peterson Geraldine S. Priest

Gloria & Joe Pryzant Mrs. Dana Puddy Walter M. Ross Charles K. Sanders Mr. & Mrs. Charles T. Seay II Mr. & Mrs. James A. Shaffer Dr. & Mrs. Kazuo Shimada Mr. & Mrs. Jerome B. Simon Jule & Albert Smith Mr. & Mrs. Louis J. Snyder Mike & sAnita Stude Emily H. & David K. Terry Stephen G. Tipps Steve Tostengard, in memory of Ardyce Tostengard Mr. & Mrs. Jesse B. Tutor Dr. Carlos Vallbona & Children Jana Vander Lee Margaret Waisman, M.D. & Steven S. Callahan, Ph.D. David M. Wax & Elaine Arden Cali Robert G. Weiner Vicki West, in honor of Hans Graf Geoffrey Westergaard Jennifer R. Wittman Daisy S. Wong / JCorp Jo Dee Wright Lorraine & Ed Wulfe Mr. & Mrs. David Wuthrich Katherine & Mark Yzaguirre, in honor of Betty & Jesse Tutor Edith & Robert Zinn Anonymous (8) As of October 1, 2014 sDeceased

IN MEMORIAM We honor the memory of those who in life included the Houston Symphony in their estate plans. Their thoughtfulness and generosity will continue to inspire and enrich lives for generations to come! Mr. Thomas D. Barrow W. P. Beard Mrs. H. Raymond Brannon Anthony Brigandi Lawrence E. Carlton, M.D. Mrs. Albert V. Caselli Lee Allen Clark Jack Ellis Mrs. Robin A. Elverson Frank R. Eyler Dr. & Mrs. Larry L. Fedder Helen Bess Fariss Foster Christine E. George Mr. & Mrs. Keith E. Gott John Wesley Graham

Mrs. Marcella Levine Harris General & Mrs. Maurice Hirsch Miss Ima Hogg Burke & Octavia Holman Mrs. L. F. McCollum Joan B. McKerley Doretha Melvin Monroe L. Mendelsohn Jr. Mrs. Janet Moynihan Arthur Newman Constantine S. Nicandros Hanni Orton Stewart Orton, Legacy Society co-founder Dr. Michael Papadopoulos

Miss Louise Pearl Perkins Mr. Howard Pieper Walter W. Sapp, Legacy Society co-founder J. Fred & Alma Laws Lunsford Schultz Ms. Jean R. Sides John K. & Fanny W. Stone Dorothy Barton Thomas Mrs. Harry C. Wiess Mrs. Edward Wilkerson

November 2014 51


CORPORATE, FOUNDATION AND GOVERNMENT PARTNERS The Houston Symphony is proud to recognize the leadership support of our corporate, foundation and government partners that allow the orchestra to reach new heights in musical performance, education and community engagement for Greater Houston and the Gulf Coast Region. For further information on becoming a corporate donor to the Houston Symphony, please contact Agnieszka Rakhmatullaev at (713) 337-8522 or agnieszka.r@houstonsymphony.org. For more information on becoming a foundation or government partner, please contact Jennifer Schoppe at (713) 337-8530 or jennifer.schoppe@houstonsymphony.org.

HOUSTON SYMPHONY BUSINESS COUNCIL Co-Chairs Ralph Burch, ConocoPhillips David Wuthrich, Cadence Bank Business Council Host Committee: Prentiss Burt, J.P. Morgan Chase Brett Busby, Texas Court of Appeals, 14th District Janet F. Clark, Marathon Oil Corporation (retired) Ryan Colburn, Regions Bank Cindy Deere, Shell Oil Company Gene Dewhurst, Falcon Seaboard Diversified Mike Doherty, Frost Bank David Frankfort, Deutsche Bank Ron Franklin, McGuireWoods, LLP Allen Gelwick, Lockton Companies, LLC Mauro Gimenez, Russell Reynolds Associates Kathleen Hayes, Merrill Lynch

Steven P. Mach, Mach Industrial Group, LP Michael Mann, Mann Eye Institute Paul Mann, Mann Eye Institute David Massin, Wells Fargo Billy McCartney, Flat Rock Development, LLC Paul Morico, Baker Botts L.L.P. Dana Ondrias, Mann Eye Institute Ed Osterberg, Mayer Brown, LLP Robert A. Peiser, Parkton Group Greg Powers, Halliburton David Pruner, Wood Mackenzie Ltd. Stephen Pryor, ExxonMobil Chemical Co. Ron Rand, Rand Group, LLC

John Rydman, Spec’s Wines, Spirits and Finer Foods Manolo Sanchez, BBVA Compass Jerome Simon, Northern Trust L. Proctor Thomas, Baker Botts L.L.P. (retired) William J. Toomey, BB&T Bobby Tudor, Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Company Jesse B. Tutor, Accenture (retired) Margaret Waisman, Affiliated Dermatologists of Houston Fredric Weber, Norton Rose Fulbright Beth Wolff, Beth Wolff Realtors Ed Wulfe, Wulfe & Co.

Corporate partners As of October 1, 2014

Grand Guarantor, $150,000 and above BBVA Compass * Houston First Corporation * KTRK ABC-13 * Spec’s Charitable Foundation/ Spec’s Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods Guarantor, $100,000 and above Chevron ConocoPhillips * Houston Methodist * Houston Public Media – Classical 91.7 FM; News 88.7 FM; Channel 8 PBS Palmetto Partners Ltd./The Robert and Janice McNair Foundation * PaperCity * Telemundo * United Airlines Underwriter, $50,000 and above * Baker Botts L.L.P. * BB&T Cameron International Corporation Cameron Management * The Events Company ExxonMobil Frost Bank GDF SUEZ Energy North America * Geo. H. Lewis & Sons Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo * Jackson and Company Kalsi Engineering Medistar Corporation * Rand Group, LLC Shell Oil Company

52

www.houstonsymphony.org

Sponsor, $25,000 and above Andrews Kurth LLP Bank of America The Boeing Company * Bright Star Chubb Group of Insurance Companies Enterprise Product Partners L.P. * Gittings Houston Baptist University * Houston Chronicle JPMorgan Chase KPMG LLP Mann Eye Institute and Laser Center Marathon Oil Corporation McGuireWoods, LLP * Neiman Marcus Northern Trust Norton Rose Fulbright Regions Bank * Silver Circle Audio Vinson & Elkins LLP Wells Fargo

Supporter, $10,000 and above * Abrahams Oriental Rugs * Agua Hispanic Marketing * Crown Castle International Corp. Emerson Enbridge Energy Company Excel Diagnostics & Nuclear Oncology Center Nordstrom Schlumberger, Ltd. Star Furniture * VRTC * Zenfilm

Partner, $15,000 and above Anadarko Petroleum Corporation Bank of Texas CenterPoint Energy * City Kitchen East West Bank Ernst & Young LLP Gorman’s Uniform Service Halliburton Independent Bank Laredo Construction, Inc. Locke Lord LLP Lockton Companies of Houston Macy’s Marine Foods Express, LTD. * Perkins+Will SPIR STAR, Ltd. USI Insurance Services LLC

Patron, Gifts below $5,000 Adolph Locklar, Intellectual Property Law Firm Beth Wolff Realtors Boulware & Valoir Intertek La Esperanza Oil & Gas, LLC / La Esperanza Christian Foundation Marsh & McLennan SEI, Global Institutional Group Smith, Graham & Company Stewart Title Company TAM International, Inc.

Benefactor, $5,000 and above Barclay’s Wealth and Investment Management Beck Redden LLP Louis Vuitton Plains All American Randalls Food Markets Russell Reynolds Associates, Inc. Spectra Energy University of St. Thomas Wortham Insurance and Risk Management

* Includes in-kind support


CORPORATE, FOUNDATION AND GOVERNMENT PARTNERS CORPORATE MATCHING GIFTS As of October 1, 2014 Aetna Aon Apache Corporation Bank of America BBVA Compass Boeing

BP Foundation Caterpillar Chevron Chubb Group Coca-Cola ConocoPhillips Eli Lilly and Company

ExxonMobil Freeport - McMoRan Oil & Gas General Electric General Mills Goldman, Sachs & Company Halliburton Hewlett-Packard

Houston Endowment IBM ING Financial Services Corporation KBR Merrill Lynch NAACO Industries, Inc.

Neiman Marcus Northern Trust Occidental Petroleum Phillips 66 Shell Oil Company Spectra Energy Williams Companies, Inc.

IN KIND DONORS As of October 1, 2014 A Fare Extraordinaire Alexander’s Fine Portrait Design Alpha-Lee Enterprises, Inc. Aspire Executive Coaching, LLC Bergner & Johnson Bering’s BKD, LLP Boat Ranch Classical 91.7 FM Cognetic Culinaire Carl R. Cunningham DLG Research & Marketing Solutions

Elaine Turner Designs Elegant Events by Michael Elsie Smith Design The Events Company Festari Foster Quan LLP Gucci Hilton Americas – Houston Hotel Granduca Hotel Icon Houston Astros Houston Grand Opera Houston Texans Intercontinental Hotel Houston JOHANNUS Organs of Texas

John L. Wortham & Son, L.P. John Wright/Textprint Kuhl-Linscomb The Lancaster Hotel Limb Design Martha Turner Properties Meera Buck & Associates Michael’s Cookie Jar Minuteman Press – Post Oak Momentum Jaguar Music & Arts New Leaf Publishing, Inc. Nos Caves Vin Pro/Sound Rice University

Richard Brown Orchestra Saint Arnold’s Brewery Saks Fifth Avenue Shecky’s Media, Inc. Singapore Airlines Staging Solutions Stewart Title The Events Company Tony’s Tootsies Valobra Jewelry & Antiques Versace Village Greenery Yahama

FOUNDATIONS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES As of October 1, 2014

Diamond Guarantor, $1,000,000 and above Houston Symphony Endowment Houston Symphony League The Wortham Foundation, Inc.

Guarantor, $100,000 and above Houston Endowment The Robert & Janice McNair Foundation/Palmetto Partners Ltd. The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

Premier Guarantor, $500,000 and above The Brown Foundation, Inc. City of Houston and Theater District Improvement, Inc. The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts

Underwriter, $50,000 and above The Elkins Foundation The Fondren Foundation The Humphreys Foundation John P. McGovern Foundation The Robbins Foundation

Principal Guarantor, $250,000 and above Albert & Margaret Alkek Foundation/ The Alkek and Williams Foundation City of Houston through the Miller Theatre Advisory Board The Cullen Foundation

Sponsor, $25,000 and above Beauchamp Foundation Ray C. Fish Foundation Ann & Gordon Getty Foundation National Endowment for the Arts Sterling-Turner Foundation

Grand Guarantor, $150,000 and above M. D. Anderson Foundation

Partner, $15,000 and above Ruth & Ted Bauer Family Foundation The Cockrell Foundation The Melbern G. & Susanne M. Glasscock Foundation Albert & Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation The Hood-Barrow Foundation Houston Symphony Chorus Endowment Houston Symphony League Bay Area Radoff Family Foundation Strake Foundation Texas Commission on the Arts

Supporter, $10,000 and above Anonymous The Carleen & Alde Fridge Foundation Petrello Family Foundation The Powell Foundation The Vaughn Foundation The Vivian L. Smith Foundation Benefactor, $5,000 and above LTR Lewis Cloverdale Foundation William E. & Natoma Pyle Harvey Charitable Foundation William S. & Lora Jean Kilroy Foundation The Schissler Foundation The Scurlock Foundation Keith & Mattie Stevenson Foundation Patron, Gifts below $5,000 Diamond Family Foundation First Junior Woman’s Club of Houston The Helmle-Shaw Foundation Huffington Foundation Leon Jaworski Foundation Kinder Morgan Foundation Robert W. & Pearl Wallis Knox Foundation The Lillian Kaiser Lewis Foundation The Lubrizol Foundation The Oshman Foundation Chester Pitts Foundation State Employee Charitable Campaign

November 2014 53


NOTES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27 | MUSICALMENTE HABLANO CON ANDRÉS | 16 DE NOVIEMBRE cultura de la música tradicional austriaca, que tiene una serie de suscripciones en el Musikverein de Viena y es orquesta en residencia en el Festival Grafenegg. Andrés concluirá su mandato con la Orquesta Tonkünstler en el verano del 2015. Entre el 2009 y 2013, Andrés fue también el director de la Orquesta Sinfónica de Euskadi en San Sebastián, España. Como director invitado, colabora habitualmente con las orquestas más destacadas del mundo, incluyendo las orquestas filarmónicas de Viena, Múnich, Londres, Rotterdam, Real de Estocolmo y La Scala; la Orquesta Gewandhaus de Leipzig, la Orquesta de Cámara Mahler; las Orquestas Sinfónicas de Londres, Birmingham y Gotemburgo; la Orquesta Santa Cecilia de Roma, la Orquesta Sinfónica de Radio de Hamburgo; la Orquesta Nacional de Francia; la Orquesta del Festival de Verbier; y las Sinfonías de St. Louis y Oregón. Después de su debut con la Orquesta Filarmónica de Viena en el año 2010, Andrés fue aclamado como “un brillante suplente” de Esa-Pekka Salonen y celebrado como un “eminente talento” por la Austria Wiener Zeitung y Die Presse. En Noviembre del 2012, Andrés intervino una vez más con un sólo aviso previo de ensayo para dirigir a la Filarmónica de Viena en el Musikverein para Riccardo Muti y fue alabado como un “suplente que vale su peso en oro” y “un inspirado maestro de comunicación” por los diarios vieneses Kurier y Der Standard. En la temporada 2015-16, hará su debut oficial con la Orquesta Filarmónica de Viena en su temporada de suscripción. Nacido en 1977 en Medellín (Colombia), Andrés inició sus estudios musicales en el violín y recibió sus primeras lecciones de dirección a la edad de 15 años. En 1997 se trasladó a Viena, donde ingresó a la clase de Uroš Despotović Lajovic, alumno del legendario Hans Swarowsky, en la conocida Academia de Música Viena y completó su grado con distinción, dirigiendo a la Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra Musikverein de Viena. El énfasis de su trabajo artístico se encuentra en el repertorio romántico y los clásicos vieneses. Al mismo tiempo, Andrés muestra un gran interés en la música contemporánea y realiza periódicamente estrenos de compositores austríacos, así como composiciones de españoles y sudamericanos. Actualmente vive en Viena.

CARLOS ANDRÉS BOTERO, co-anfitrión Nacido en Medellín, Colombia, inició sus estudios musicales en el Instituto Musical Diego Echavarría en esta ciudad. Gracias a una beca del ICFES y el Concejo de Medellín completa su pregrado en Viola en la Universidad Eafit, graduándose con la primera promoción de la Escuela de Música de esta institución. En el año 2002 desarrolló una pasantía con el Sistema de Orquestas Infantiles y Juveniles de Venezuela que le permitió visitar varios centros académicos en ese país. Realizó estudios de Diplomado en Viola y Teoría Musical en la academia Soto-Mesa y la escuela Reina Sofía en Madrid, España. Completó su Maestría en Viola en Eastern Michigan University y Doctorado en Dirección Orquestal en Michigan State University, gracias a becas de la Fundación Carolina, la Fundación Colfuturo y el programa Carolina Oramas del ICETEX y el apoyo de la beca Catherine Herrick Cobb Scholar in Music. Como instrumentista ha tocado en varias ciudades de Colombia gracias a invitaciones de la Orquesta Sinfónica Universidad Eafit, Batuta Antioquia, Filarmónica de Medellín, Sinfónica de Antioquia, Filarmónica del Valle y Sinfónica de Colombia. Miembro por concurso 54

www.houstonsymphony.org

de la Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil Iberoamericana, ha participado también de la Orquesta Juvenil Nacional de España, orquesta de la ópera de la Musik Akademie de Basilea, Suiza, y las Orquestas Sinfónicas de Detroit, Lansing, y Grand Rapids en el Estado de Michigan, Estados Unidos, actuando también como solista con la Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra en la temporada 2013. Es además miembro fundador de la Orquesta Sinfónica Universidad Eafit, el dúo de guitarra y viola a Diez Cuerdas, el cuarteto de cuerdas Siakoro, y el ensamble de cámara aContraTiempo. En el campo de la investigación, participó en la Universidad Eafit como asistente de investigación en el proyecto sobre música colombiana “Ecos, Conciertos y Des-conciertos”. Ponente del proyecto de la Escuela Soto-Mesa y el Cuarteto Latinoamericano, desarrolló el catálogo principal sobre cuartetos de cuerda en iberoamérica en el Siglo XX. En 2006 completó la transcripción y adaptación del archivo de Villancicos de la Catedral de Guatemala, dirigiendo en concierto el coro y ensamble de música antigua en Eastern Michigan University. En 2009 fundó East Lansing Camerata, proyecto de 15 recitales dedicado a establecer paralelos entre clásicos de música de cámara y sinfónica en Latinoamérica y sus pares internacionales. Desde Julio 2012 cordina el equipo de investigación en música sinfónica colombiana de la Filarmónica Joven de Colombia. Ha sido director encargado de la Orquesta de Cámara del Instituto Musical Diego Echavarría, el ensamble de música antigua en Eastern Michigan University, la Orquesta Filarmónica y el departamento de Ópera en Michigan State University. Se ha desempeñado director invitado en el Detroit Symphony Civic Orchestra, la Orquesta Juvenil del área Metropolitana de Detroit, la Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra, la Orquesta Sinfónica de Okemos, y en numerosas oportunidades en el programa orquestal de la Universidad de Indiana. Recientemente actuó como director invitado del IU Latin American Music Center en Bloomington e Indianápolis en su serie de Zarzuela latinoamericana. En Colombia se destaca su participación como director invitado y docente en los Talleres de Formación de Formadores Orquestales de Batuta y el Ministerio de Cultura de Colombia, la Sinfónica Guillermo Uribe Holguín, el Encuentro de Orquestas Juveniles en la Pontificia Universidad Javeriana en Bogotá y la RED de Orquestas en la ciudad de Medellín. En la actualidad se desempeña como Director Asistente de la Filarmónica Joven de Colombia, y las compañías de música contemporánea Reimagining Opera y New Voices Opera en la ciudad de Bloomington, Indiana. English Translation Born in Medellín, Colombia, Carlos Botero earned his high school diploma in arts at the Diego Echavarría Music Institute (IMDE), graduating with honors in 1997. He received a bachelor’s degree in viola performance, with honors, from EAFIT University in Medellín,


CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33

Chamber Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, NDR Radio Philharmonic Orchestra of Hannover, Amadeus Chamber Orchestra and the Genoa Youth Orchestra. He has performed on NPR’s Performance Today, Good Morning America and CNN’s American Morning with Paula Zahn. Frank’s first commercial recording, including Fantasies by Schubert, Ernst, Schoenberg and Waxman, was released on Naxos in 2003. Frank has had great success in competitions since he was 15, with top prize awards in the Premio Paganini International Violin Competition and the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis. He received Gold Medal Awards in the Kingsville International Competition, the Irving M. Klein International String Competition and the D’Angelo International Competition. Recent concerts include debuts in Wigmore Hall (London), Salle Cortot (Paris), Herbst Theatre (San Francisco) and the Kennedy Center (Washington, D.C.). He performed his second recital in Alice Tully Hall (New York) featuring the world premiere of Donald Martino’s Sonata for Solo Violin. In addition to his orchestra and solo career, Frank is deeply committed to chamber music. He has attended the Marlboro Music Festival, Ravinia’s Steans Music Institute, The Seattle Chamber Music Society festival and the Caramoor Festival. He frequently participates in Musicians from Marlboro tours. He was selected by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center to be a member of the prestigious Chamber Music II program. Before joining the Houston Symphony, he held the position of first violinist of the Grammy Award-winning Ying Quartet and was a faculty member at the Eastman School of Music. Frank began his tenure as concertmaster of the Houston Symphony in 2010. He is a faculty member at the University of Houston. During the summers, he teaches at the Bowdoin International Music Festival, the Texas Music Festival and the Great Mountains Music Festival in South Korea. He performs in a trio with pianist Gilles Vonsattel and cellist Nicolas Altstaedt, and also serves as concertmaster and leader of the Sejong Soloists, a conductorless chamber orchestra based in New York.

Prieto has collaborated with celebrity conductors including Daniele Gatti, Roberto Abbado, Ivor Bolton, Adam Fischer, Fabio Luisi, Ottavio Dantone, Yannick Nezet-Seguin and Daniele Callegari.

photo by kristin hoebermann

and master’s degrees from the Soto-Mesa in Madrid, Spain, and from Eastern Michigan University (EMU) in Ypsilanti, Michigan. He completed the orchestral conducting doctoral program at Michigan State University (MSU) in 2012. Botero strives to change young musicians’ lives through music making. He serves as orchestra consultant, music education lecturer, guest conductor and string clinician for the Batuta Foundation, Guillermo Uribe Holguín Symphony Orchestra, the IMDE Youth Orchestra and the Pontifical Xavierian University in Colombia. He is also assistant conductor for the national youth ensemble, the Youth Philharmonic Colombia, leading the group in its first international tour in Colombia and Brazil and sharing the podium with Andrés Orozco-Estrada. Botero has conducted the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra, Medellín’s EAFIT Symphony Orchestra, the Medellín Philharmonic Orchestra, the Meeting of Pontifical Xavierian University Youth Orchestras in Bogotá, the EMU and MSU symphonic programs and numerous new music recitals. In 2008, he conducted an allSpanish choir and orchestra program with EMU Collegium Musicum, featuring 15 villancicos from the Guatemala City Cathedral Archive. Each piece was transcribed and edited from original manuscripts during a research project he directed. As an instrumentalist, he has performed with the Batuta Antioquia Orchestra, Antioquia Youth Orchestra, IMDE Youth Orchestra, Trujillo Youth Orchestra in Venezuela, EMU Symphony Orchestra and Collegium Musicum, Medellín Philharmonic Orchestra and National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia. In 1997, he played with the Latin American Youth Symphony Orchestra in Caracas, Venezuela. An active chamber player, he enjoys music of the standard repertoire as well as works of modern and contemporary composers. He is a founding member of the EAFIT Symphony Orchestra, Diez Cuerdas Duo, Siakoro String Quartet and the ContraTiempo Chamber Ensemble. Botero has been adjunct faculty for theory, viola and orchestra in the IMDE, EAFIT University, the Foundation for Youth Orchestras in Venezuela, Soto Mesa in Madrid and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and its Civic Orchestra. He received honors scholarships at all levels of his studies.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

EVAN BOYER, bass Evan Boyer is a recent graduate of the Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago. In the 2014-15 season, he will sing the roles of Masetto in Don Giovanni with Seattle Opera and Colline in La bohème with Palm Beach Opera. He also sees performances of the Armchair/Tree in L’enfant et les Sortilèges with Seiji Ozawa’s Music Academy in Japan. Orchestral engagements include these performances of Mozart’s Requiem, as well as with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and Handel’s Messiah with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. Last season, Boyer was heard in a concert with the Lyric Opera of Chicago at Millennium Park. He also sang the role of Lodovico in Otello at the Lyric. Additionally, he performed Sarastro in The Magic Flute in a new production with the Los Angeles Opera and returned to the Canadian Opera Company, singing Samuel in Un ballo in maschera. Boyer completed his tenure at the Ryan Opera Center in 2012-13. Throughout that season he was heard in productions of Simon Boccanegra, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, La bohème and Rigoletto. Subsequently, he made his debut with the Canadian Opera Company as 1st Soldier in Salome, followed by performances as the 2nd Commisaire in Dialogues des carméites. He also sang the role of Colline in La bohème with the National Symphony Orchestra of the Dominican Republic.

November 2014 55


BACKSTAGE PASS

Brinton Averil Smith, principal cello Beginnings: I was born in Royal Oak, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. Education: My educational story is a bit complicated. I dropped out of high school to attend Arizona State University, where my father taught. I wanted to be a cellist, but the agreement was that I would get a degree in something practical first, so I received a B.A. in mathematics at age 17. Then, I went to USC to study cello. After finishing work for a masters in mathematics at 19, I “ran off to join the circus” at Juilliard and received an M.M. and D.M.A. there.

among the board, administration and musicians. Today, we have the closest and most unified group of donors, board members, management and musicians of any orchestra that I know of, and I’m proud to have had a small role in helping to build these relationships. We are not just acquaintances, we are friends, and we face our mission together. About Schumann’s Cello Concerto: Schumann’s concerto is often misunderstood. Even Schumann had his doubts after writing it. With the wrong approach it can seem a bit square and formalistic. But if you follow his tempos and allow the music to flow, it is actually the most melodic and beautiful of all the cello concerti. His melodies combine passion, longing, beauty and a hint of sadness all at the same time. It can be absolutely devastating to play and, I hope, to listen to as well!

With the Houston Symphony: I jumped at the chance to join the Symphony in 2005. Performing under Andrés’ baton: I was actually a member of the Music Director Search Committee, and I still remember my excitement the first time I saw the videos of a then relatively unknown Viennese conductor. I’ve had the good fortune to work and observe almost all of the biggest names in the conducting world, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a talent as complete, as natural or as musical as Andrés. He says the things I always wished a conductor would say, does the things I always wished a conductor would do, conducts with a passion that inspires us to give every ounce of energy, and provides a clarity that inspires dreams of just how great we can become with him. Serving as the Orchestra Representative on the Houston Symphony Society Board: I came to Houston at a difficult time for the orchestra. Having lived through a bankruptcy in San Diego [the San Diego Symphony, Brinton’s first orchestra, filed for bankruptcy in 1996], I knew there was probably no more important asset to our mission than personal relationships and mutual understanding

About Houston: When we told our friends in New York that we were moving to Houston, most of the die-hard East Coasters looked at us as if we’d said we intended to sail off the edge of the earth. But the few New Yorkers who had lived in Houston told us, “We’re jealous; we still miss it.” We live in a city that has everything one could ever want, and I still find that everyone we meet seems to know a mutual friend. It’s a city of optimism and energy that embraces anyone with ambition and dreams. To me, Houston represents the very best qualities of America, and I love it here. And of course, it doesn’t hurt that I was raised in Phoenix, so the summers here seem relatively cool! Brinton Averil Smith is sponsored by Dr. & Mrs. Meherwan P. Boyce and Cornelia & Meredith Long.

Proud sponsor of Backstage Pass and publisher of Houston Symphony Magazine www.newleafinc.com 56

www.houstonsymphony.org


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.