SYMPHONY OPERA BALLET THEATRE MUSEUMS
HOUSTON 2015
www.reuge.com
In support of
Time for life—with two limited edition timepieces in support of Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières. Each watch raises 100 US Dollars for the Nobel Peace Prize winning humanitarian organization. And still these handcrafted mechanical watches with the red 12 cost the same as the classic Tangente models from NOMOS Glashütte. Help now, wear forever. NOMOS retailers in the US include Brinker’s, Exquisite Timepieces, Fox’s, Jack Ryan, Meierotto’s, Timeless, Topper Fine Jewelers, Tourneau, Watchbuys, and Wempe. Find these and other authorized NOMOS retailers at nomos-watches.com, or order online at nomos-store.com
I N C R E D I B L E
T A X
D E D U C T I O N !
YOUR
OWN
OIL WELL You can own an oil well right here in the United States. Not only does it offer the prospect of US energy independence, it also has the potential to provide tremendous tax advantages.
TM
Typically most of the joint venture drilling costs, called Intangible Drilling Costs (IDC), are deductible in the same tax year. Simply put, for every dollar of IDC invested, the investor receives one dollar of deduction. IDCs can make up roughly 85% of the total investment. Accredited Investors Only
oil boomUSA
TM
NAKOMA EXPLORATION, LP
901 NE Loop 410 • Suite 500 • San Antonio, TX 78209
888-363-BOOM
OILBOOMUSA.COM
Rachel aRvio Sculpture Atelier
limited edition bronze rachelarvio.com 505-670-3978 commission inquiries welcome
HOUSTON 2015
Ambassador to the Arts
It is an honor for me to serve as Ambassador to the Arts for this year’s Houston Guide for the Arts, You can take the measure of a city by the quality and diversity of its arts offerings, and today Houston stands proudly next to any great cultural center in both the breadth and depth of its arts activity. It is no surprise that we are attracting creative talent in so many other fields, along with international audiences. Houston Grand Opera recently reported visitors from twenty-eight countries and all fifty states, as well as Puerto Rico and Washington D.C. In my work with the Opera, Houston Ballet, the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, the Alley Theater, the Rothko Chapel, and other great institutions here, I have been thrilled by renowned stars and by innovative new presentations. I have also seen how generous Houston is in supporting its arts organizations. We Houstonians are not afraid to show our passion with our pocketbooks! I invite you to join us. Enjoy the rich range of cultural events in this Guide, from your neighborhood gallery to the theatrical blockbusters. And if you discover a new passion, show your appreciation with your support. You and your city will be the better for it.
Sincerely, Lynn Wyatt
Contents
Ambassador’s Note
6
Sponsors
8
Publisher’s Note
10
Alley Theatre
16
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston
20
Da Camera
26
Houston Ballet
32
Houston Grand Opera
38
Houston Museum of Natural Science
44
Houston Symphony
52
Museum of Fine Arts Houston
66
The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts
70
Theatre Under the Stars
74
Contact Information
10
guide for the arts 2015
HOUSTON
guide for the arts
An Instep Communications, LLC Publication Founder & Group Publisher KEVIN T. WOOD Art Director ROBERT ARNDT Proofreading/Copy Editor FIONA STEWART Advertising INSTEP COMMUNICATIONS, LLC LIN CARLSON - NATIONAL ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
guide for the arts features cultural event schedules for the
Opera, Symphony, Ballet, Museums, and Performing Arts groups in Houston. The guide for the arts is produced to service the fine arts & musical communities in the Houston area and includes event schedules and important phone numbers. We wish to thank all of our advertising sponsors and patrons, a select group that values the arts in their communities. Their support contributes greatly to the success of this 2015 edition of the guide for the arts. We appreciate the cooperation of the participating art groups for their invaluable assistance with event schedules and information that helps us share the guide for the arts. with their major donors, corporate sponsors, and valued members. To showcase your company, advertise in the next edition of the guide for the arts.
guide for the arts
(617) 275.4768 ktw@GuidefortheArts.com GuidefortheArts.com All Rights reserved Š2015 guide for the arts Printed in U.S.A.
12
guide for the arts 2015
HOUSTON
Bart Walter | sculptor
|
Onl i ne p o r t f ol i o w w w.ba r t w alt er. co m | 4 1 0 -8 4 0 - 0 9 7 2
vixen | Bronze
25 1/2 x 15 1/2 x 12 3/4
Sponsors NOMOS Glash端tte...internal cover 1 Vi-Spring...internal cover 2 Frey Wille, Inc....3 Studio of Bart Walter...5 InVillas Veritas, LLC...7 Steinway & Sons...9 William Henry...11 Christine McKenny of Dave Perry-Miller Associates...17 Katarina Victor-Thomas...21 The Gallery...27 Victor Issa Studios...33 American Morgan Horse Assoc....39 Blue Gallery...43 The Antiquarium Antique Print and Map Gallery...45 Panoz, LLC...53 Rampant Lion...61 Diecasm / Automodello...71 Rachel Arvio...internal back cover Reuge SA...back cover Premier Cru Collection...cover wrap Nakoma Petroleum, LP...inside cover wrap
14
guide for the arts 2015
HOUSTON
Stay… Love… Laugh… Indulge…
Rare and Exclusive Private Luxury Vacation Rentals
IN VILLAS VERITAS, LLC www.InVillas.com
A Thank You to Our Patrons Welcome to the Houston edition of the Guide for the Arts.
The arts in Houston continue to flourish, thanks to your patronage. Without your help, the Houston area arts landscape would not be the vibrant and inspiring community that you have come to know and expect. Because of people like you, Houstonians and visitors alike are able to enjoy a great variety of performing and visual arts. It is your generosity that has helped to build a metropolitan arts scene that is a source of civic pride envied throughout America. Guide for the Arts has put together a unique and
informative guide to the Houston arts community, and we encourage you to patronize the advertisers who have helped to make this year’s guide possible. Be sure to visit www.GuidefortheArts.com to find in-depth coverage and behind-the-scenes arts information, and to utilize our digital guides. We hope that you enjoy this year’s Guide for the Arts Thank you again, and we look forward to seeing you in the coming season. Enjoy the show!
Kevin T. Wood Group Publisher
16
guide for the arts 2015
HOUSTON
MAKE AN INVESTMENT IN YOUR MUSICAL AND FINANCIAL FUTURE
TIMES CHANGE. MARKETS RISE AND FALL. BUT FOR MORE THAN 160 YEARS, EVERY HANDMADE STEINWAY PIANO HAS INCREASED IN VALUE. To obtain a copy of Your Steinway Investment, a beautiful brochure that outlines how a Steinway & Sons piano is actually the least expensive piano to own over time, please contact your authorized Steinway dealer today at 1-800-STEINWAY (1-800-783-4692) or www.steinway.com/dealer.
Alley Theatre
THE ALLEY WAS founded over Exterior of the Alley Theatre. Photo courtesy of Houston 60 years ago as Houston’s theatre Culture Map company. It exists to provide audiences with the highest quality theatre, offering a wide variety of work including new plays, classics, the re-discovered and the rarely-performed, and new musical theatre, with an emphasis on new American works – to provide the inspirational and the provocative – to make our audiences think, feel, dream, and be entertained. The Alley Theatre is one of the few American Theatre companies that supports a company of actors, designers, artisans, and craftspeople throughout the year. Its productions are built and rehearsed in the Alley Theatre Center for Theatre Production – a 75,000-square-foot facility adjacent to the theatres themselves – that is state-of-the-art and one of the most complete and largest facilities of its kind anywhere. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Gregory Boyd and Managing Director Dean Gladden, the Alley is committed to moving forward to increase its reach into the community, to further its collaboration with the best theatre artists working today, and to encourage and cultivate the new voices, new work, and new artists of the American theatre.
18
guide for the arts 2015
HOUSTON
STERLING SILVER SKULL PENDANT on bulletproof kevlar cord, with accents in sterling silver and Mokume Gane. STERLING SILVER BRACELET inlaid with 10,000 year-old fossil Woolly Mammoth tooth, and clasp set with diamond. BEADED BRACELET with sterling silver skulls, black onyx and centerpiece in fossil walrus tusk.
Alley Theatre
FEBRUARY 4 – 22, 2015 AS YOU LIKE IT By WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE Directed by GREGORY BOYD “ ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE” in this masterpiece about romance and mistaken identity. Elizabeth Bunch, Chris Hutchinson, and Todd Waite lead the company in one of Shakespeare’s greatest comedies. As You Like It traces the separate and intertwining journeys of Rosalind and Orlando, who have each been banished from their home and family. Independently, they each set out with a faithful friend and loyal servant and make their way through the Forest of Arden. Lovers discover lovers, fathers find daughters, brothers reclaim brothers, people are transformed, and evil is converted in this delightful story of love. APRIL 1 – 19, 2015 ALL MY SONS By ARTHUR MILLER Directed by THERESA REBECK ALL MY SONS, Arthur Miller’s first commercial success, was inspired by the story of a successful businessman who sold the government defective airplane parts during World War II. The play takes place following the war, as the Keller family desperately hopes that their son Larry, who was missing in action three years earlier will return home. As their other son prepares to propose to the woman he loves, who was Larry’s girlfriend when he went missing, the Kellers confront realities, and family secrets are revealed.
20
guide for the arts 2015
HOUSTON
Alley Theatre
APRIL 29 – MAY 24, 2015 KNEEHIGH’S TRISTAN & YSEULT Adapted and Directed by EMMA RICE Written by CARL GROSE AND ANNA MARIA MURPHY BRITAIN’S INNOVATIVE AND exciting theatre company Kneehigh makes their Texas debut with a wonderfully inventive, utterly timeless, delightful tale of love. Cornish King Mark rules with his head, until he falls head over heels for his enemy’s sister. Based on the ancient tale, Tristan & Yseult revels in forbidden desires, broken hearts and grand passions. Seen through the eyes of the ‘Unloved,’ Tristan & Yseult blends comedy, live music, and tender truths in an irresistible night of love!
Kneehigh’s production of Tristan & Yseult comes to the Alley Theatre. Photo: Steve Tanner
JUNE 3 – 21, 2015 GEORGE GERSHWIN ALONE Music by GEORGE GERSHWIN AND IRA GERSHWIN Book by HERSHEY FELDER Featuring HERSHEY FELDER AS GEORGE GERSHWIN Directed by JOEL ZWICK GEORGE GERSHWIN’S GENIUS and his fascinating, too-short life are celebrated in this remarkable performance by Hershey Felder. George Gershwin Alone is a delightful, touching, and comic evening of sheer joy. Brimming with irresistible music, the show includes songs by the creator of An American in Paris such as, “Someone to Watch Over Me,” “Summertime,” and “I Got Rhythm” – it’s a tribute to the American song book and to
www.GuidefortheArts.com
21
Alley Theatre
an extraordinary American character. Rave reviews include: “Furiously dramatic” (The New York Times), “dazzling…sheer genius” (NY Daily News), and “glorious and fascinating” (USA Today).
. Hershey Felder as George Gershwin Alone. Photo: Mark Garvin.
JULY 8 – AUGUST 9, 2015 THE FOREIGNER By LARRY SHUE Directed by JAMES BLACK THE FOREIGNER IS one of the most popular comedies in the Alley’s history. In the marvelously funny comedy, Alley Resident Company member Jeffrey Bean leads the cast of this comic gem, set in a remote fishing lodge, where socially awkward Charlie discovers intriguing and dangerous secrets under the guise of a foreigner who speaks no English.
22
guide for the arts 2015
HOUSTON
Alley Theatre
TICKETS & CONTACT Alley Theatre 615 Texas Avenue Houston, TX 77002 (713) 228-9341 (General) (713) 220-5700 (Tickets) www.alleytheatre.org
www.GuidefortheArts.com
23
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston
THE CONTEMPORARY ARTS Contemporary Arts Museum Houston exterior. MUSEUM Houston was founded Photo: Rick Gardner in 1948 by a group of seven Houston citizens to present new art and to document its role in modern life through exhibitions, lectures, and other activities. The Contemporary Arts Museum Houston is a noncollecting institution dedicated to presenting the best and most exciting international, national, and regional art. Through dynamic exhibitions accompanied by scholarly publications and accessible educational programs, the Museum reaches out to local, regional, national, and international audiences of various ages. CAMH is a nonprofit organization that relies on a variety of funding sources, including individual, government, and corporate, for its activities.
24
guide for the arts 2015
HOUSTON
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston
ART ON THE LAWN: JOSEPH HAVEL JULY 19, 2013 – APRIL 30, 2015 THE CONTEMPORARY ARTS MUSEUM Houston is pleased to present a new site-specific work by Houston-based sculptor Joseph Havel. For the third installation in CAMH’s Art on the Lawn series, Havel has created an “endless column” of books. Endless (2013), made from books cast in bronze and resin, emerges from the centerpiece of the Museum’s lawn, the Ballard Fountain. The column of books, cast from a stack of Sotheby’s auction catalogues among others, stands almost 20 feet high and gradually transitions from bronze to translucent resin.
Joseph Havel, Endless (detail), 2013. Photo: Max Fields
DOUBLE LIFE DECEMBER 13, 2014 – MARCH 13, 2015 THE CONTEMPORARY ARTS MUSEUM Houston is pleased to present the exhibition Double Life, which features works by the internationally celebrated artists Jérôme Bel, Wu Tsang, and Haegue Yang. Double Life includes an immersive
26
guide for the arts 2015
HOUSTON
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston
light and sculpture installation, a 16mm film loop, live dance presentations, and a newly commissioned video work. TICKETS & CONTACT Contemporary Arts Museum Houston 5216 Montrose Boulevard Houston, TX 77006 (713) 284-8250 www.camh.org
www.GuidefortheArts.com
27
Da Camera Houston
The Menil Collection exterior. DA CAMERA OF HOUSTON, Photo: D. Jules Gianakos founded in 1987, was created with the intention to produce a series of thematically programmed concerts designed to attract new listeners to the concert hall. By bringing together leading American and international musicians, specifically selected for each program, Da Camera concerts offer a broad range of repertoire and musical styles while ensuring a product of outstanding musical excellence. Members of the Houston Symphony and faculty of Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, University of Houston’s Moores School, and others are often included in Da Camera programs, expanding the opportunities for locally based musicians of national acclaim and enriching our community by enhancing the musical life of artists who choose to live here. Under the artistic leadership of Sarah Rothenberg since 1994, Da Camera maintains its commitment to this high caliber of musicianship brought together to perform in its Houston-based subscription series at the Wortham Theater Center and The Menil Collection; its extensive education and outreach activities; and its regional, national and international touring initiatives.
28
guide for the arts 2015
HOUSTON
Da Camera Houston
JANUARY 24, 2015, 8:00 P.M. Cullen Theater, Wortham Theater Center THE ROMEROS GUITAR QUARTET Works by Vivaldi, Boccherini, de Falla, Villa Lobos, Albeniz, and Celedonio Romero JANUARY 27, 2015, 7:30 P.M. The Menil Collection FROM DOWLAND TO BRITTEN: NICHOLAS PHAN, TENOR & ELIOT FISK, GUITAR WILLIAM WALTON, Anon in Love JOHN DOWLAND, Selected Songs SEIBER, Four French Folk Songs BENJAMIN BRITTEN, Songs from the Chinese, Nocturnal after John Dowland, Op. 70 FEBRUARY 7, 2015, 8:00 P.M. Cullen Theater, Wortham Theater Center JASON MORAN: THE RAUSCHENBERG PROJECT (WORLD PREMIERE)
Jason Moran. Photo: Clay Patrick McBride
30
guide for the arts 2015
HOUSTON
Da Camera Houston
FEBRUARY 10, 2015, 7:30 P.M. The Menil Collection THE DANISH STRING QUARTET HAYDN, String Quartet No. 66 in G major, Op. 77, No. 1 NIELSEN, String Quartet No. 4 in F major, Op. 44 BEETHOVEN, String Quartet No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 131 FEBRUARY 20, 2015, 8:00 P.M. Stude Concert Hall, Shepherd School of Music, Rice University JONATHAN BISS, PIANO: BEETHOVEN AND BEYOND BERG, Sonata, Op. 1 SCHOENBERG, Sechs Kleine Klavierstucke, Op. 19 SCHUMANN, Waldszenen, Op. 82 BEETHOVEN, Piano Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 2, No. 1 BEETHOVEN, Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101 MARCH 7, 2015, 8:00 P.M. Cullen Theater, Wortham Theater Center KENDRICK SCOTT ORACLE MARCH 20, 2015, 7:30 P.M. Zilkha Hall, Hobby Center for the Performing Arts MISSY MAZZOLI’S SONG FROM THE UPROAR: THE LIVES AND DEATHS OF ISABELLE EBERHARDT ABIGAIL FISCHER, Mezzo-soprano NOW ENSEMBLE STEVEN OSGOOD, Conductor
Kendrick Scott. Photo: Jimmy Katz
www.GuidefortheArts.com
31
Da Camera Houston
MARCH 31, 2015, 7:30 P.M. The Menil Collection BECOMING MODERN: MUSIC AND ART IN PARIS SARAH ROTHENBERG, Piano Works of Chopin, Debussy, Ravel, Satie APRIL 18, 2015, 8:00 P.M. Cullen Theater, Wortham Theater Center AN EVENING WITH BRANFORD MARSALIS APRIL 21, 2015, 7:30 P.M. Asia Society Texas Center SHANGHAI QUARTET WITH WU MAN, PIPA BRIGHT SHENG, String Quartet No. 4, “Silent Temple” LEI LIANG, Five Seasons YI-WEN JIANG, Yao Dance BARTÓK, String Quartet No. 5, Sz. 102
Wu Man. Photo: Stephen Kahn
32
guide for the arts 2015
HOUSTON
Da Camera Houston
MAY 2, 2015, 8:00 P.M. Cullen Center, Wortham Theater Center SEASON FINALE – SACRED VISIONS: STRAVINSKY AND MESSIAEN MARILYN NONKEN, Piano SARAH ROTHENBERG, Piano HOUSTON CHAMBER CHOIR ROBERT SIMPSON, Conductor GESUALDO, Tristis ist anima mea from Responsoria STRAVINSKY (ARR. KEATING), Symphony of Psalms MESSIAEN, Visions de l’Amen TICKETS & CONTACT Da Camera of Houston 1427 Branard Street Houston, TX 77006 (713) 524-7601 (General) (713) 524-5050 (Tickets) www.dacamera.com
www.GuidefortheArts.com
33
Houston Ballet
Members of the Houston Ballet IN 1955, THE FOUNDING perform The Merry Widow. members of Houston Ballet Photo: Amitava Sarkar Foundation had a vision for dance in Houston: to create a resident ballet company and to start a school that would train its dancers. In 1969, the professional company was founded, under the direction of Nina Popova, a former dancer with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and American Ballet Theatre. Houston Ballet Foundation has seen the fulfillment of its goals: an internationally acclaimed ballet company that is now America’s fourth largest and an academy that supplies over 40 percent of the company’s dancers. The New York Times has hailed Houston Ballet as “one of the nation’s best ballet companies.” The company is comprised of 52 dancers, including artists who have won medals at major international ballet competitions. The mission of the Houston Ballet is to inspire a lasting love and appreciation for dance through artistic excellence, exhilarating performances, innovative choreography, and superb educational programs.
34
guide for the arts 2015
HOUSTON
Houston Ballet
JANUARY 30 & 31, 2015 Brown Theater, Wortham Theater Center LOVE LIES BLEEDING THE UNDENIABLE JOY of pop rock meets the breathtaking athleticism of ballet in Love Lies Bleeding, a celebration of the music of rock legend Sir Elton John and his writing partner Bernie Taupin. Performed by Alberta Ballet and created by the company’s artistic director Jean Grand-Maître, this wild and spectacular work features 14 classic songs. It explores the trials, victories, and sacrifices of achieving superstardom with an unforgettable story of rock and roll, drama, passion, and, above all, love FEBRUARY 26 – MARCH 8, 2015 Brown Theater, Wortham Theater Center ROMEO AND JULIET IT’S BEEN 28 years since Houston Ballet staged a new production of Romeo and Juliet, but Stanton Welch’s interpretation of this most famed love story is worth the wait. Set to Prokofiev’s breathtaking score, Welch’s classic production weaves the poignant tale of the star-crossed pair exquisitely. With lavish sets and costumes by acclaimed Italian designer Roberta Guidi di Bagno, the production pays tribute to Renaissance Italy. The theme is classic and the choreography fresh. The Bard himself would surely approve. Stanton Welch’s Romeo and Juliet. Sketch by Roberta Guidi di Bagno
36
guide for the arts 2015
HOUSTON
Houston Ballet
MARCH 12 – 22, 2015 Brown Theater, Wortham Theater Center MODERN MASTERS Ballo Della Regina Jardi Tancat Etudes FROM THE RAPID precision of George Balanchine’s Ballo Della Regina to the poignant story telling of Spanish choreographer Nacho Duato’s Jardi Tancat to the pure bravado and demanding technicality of Harald Lander’s Etudes, this is dance at its best. Houston Ballet’s Spring Repertory program serves up three of the world’s most respected choreographers and three distinct flavors of dance. There’s something for every palate – sweet, savory, and spicy – and a production for every taste. It all adds up to one very satisfying menu by three masters of modern ballet. APRIL 24 & 25, 2015 Brown Theater, Wortham Theater Center SPRING SHOWCASE THE ANNUAL SPRING SHOWCASE features the gifted young artists of the Houston Ballet Ben Stevenson Academy, at every level of training. Whether they’re performing scenes from wellknown ballets or new works created especially for them, the dancers display a multitude of talents. These are the stars of tomorrow, and if their performances are any indication, the future of ballet looks very bright indeed.
www.GuidefortheArts.com
37
Houston Ballet
MAY 28 – JUNE 7, 2015 Brown Theater, Wortham Theater Center MORRIS, WELCH & KYLIÁN Zodiac World Premiere Svadebka HOUSTON BALLET’S SUMMER Repertory program features three of the most dynamic and musical choreographers working today: world premieres by Stanton Welch and Mark Morris and an iconic ballet by Jirí Kylián. Welch explores the twelve signs of the zodiac in a new piece set to a commissioned score by Members of the Houston Ballet performing Jirí Kylián’s Svadebka. distinguished Australian Photo: Amitava Sarkar composer Ross Edwards. Building on his popularity with local audiences, pre-eminent American choreographer Mark Morris returns to create his first commissioned work for Houston Ballet. Jirí Kylián’s Svadebka is his interpretation of an important composition in ballet history, Stravinsky’s Les Noces.
38
guide for the arts 2015
HOUSTON
Houston Ballet
JUNE 11 – 21, 2015 Brown Theater, Wortham Theater Center THE TAMING OF THE SHREW WITH HER INDEPENDENT spirit and tempestuous nature, Katherina is anything but the obedient bride of Petruchio’s dreams. Their marriage is a battle of the sexes, a lively clash of wills and personalities. In his Taming of the Shrew, John Cranko has created a fun and dazzling display of moods, virtuoso dancing, and vivid characterization. More than any other ballet, The Taming of the Shrew pays tribute to the brilliance and wit for which Shakespeare is known. TICKETS & CONTACT Houston Ballet Wortham Theater Center 501 Texas Avenue Houston, TX 77002 (713) 227-2787 www.houstonballet.org
www.GuidefortheArts.com
39
Houston Grand Opera
Houston Grand Opera’s Carmen. SINCE ITS INCEPTION in Photo: Lynn Lane 1955, Houston Grand Opera has grown from a small regional organization into an internationally renowned opera company. HGO enjoys a reputation for commissioning and producing new works, including forty-seven world premieres and six American premieres since 1973. In addition to producing and performing world-class opera, HGO contributes to the cultural enrichment of Houston and the nation through a diverse and innovative program of performances, community events, and education projects that reaches the widest possible public. HGO has toured extensively, including trips to Europe and Asia, and it is the only opera company to have won a Tony, two Grammy awards, and two Emmy awards.
40
guide for the arts 2015
HOUSTON
AD Here
Houston Grand Opera
JANUARY 23 – FEBRUARY 8, 2015 MADAME BUTTERFLY By GIACOMO PUCCINI Conducted by GIANCARLO GUERRERO Directed by LOUISA MULLER Featuring ANA MARÍA MARTINEZ, ALEXEY DOLGOV, SCOTT HENDRICKS, AND JOHN EASTERLIN WHEN PUCCINI HEARD the story of a young Japanese girl who sacrifices everything for a faithless U.S. Navy lieutenant, he knew he had found a winning idea for a new opera and immediately began work on Madame Butterfly. It would become one of the most beloved operas of all time. Puccini’s score, infused with atmospheric Eastern motifs, is mesmerizing. From the passionate Act I love duet, to Butterfly’s steadfast declaration of her love, “Un bel di,” to the tender, anticipatory beauty of the “Humming Chorus,” this is opera for the ages. JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 14, 2015 THE MAGIC FLUTE By WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART Conducted by ROBERT SPANO Directed by IAN RUTHERFORD Featuring DAVID PORTILLO, LISETTE OROPESA, KATHRYN LEWEK, AND MORRIS ROBINSON MOZART’S GENIUS IS supremely evident in his last opera, The Magic Flute. The fairytale is matched with some of the most stunningly beautiful music ever written. From the coloratura
42
guide for the arts 2015
Sir Nicholas Hytner’s production of The Magic Flute comes to the HGO. Photo: Alastair Muir
HOUSTON
Houston Grand Opera
pyrotechnics of the Queen of the Night to Pamina’s anguished lament, to the comic love duet of Papageno and Papagena, the music illustrates what set Mozart apart from his many rivals: a unique and profound understanding of humanity. Visually, this Flute finds a perfect balance between grandeur and comedy. Replete with elaborately detailed period costumes, Egyptian influences, and dancing bears, it is a feast for the eyes and the ear. APRIL 18 – MAY 3, 2015 DIE WALKÜRE By RICHARD WAGNER Conducted by PATRICK SUMMERS Directed by CARLUS PADRISSA/LA FURA DELS BAUS Featuring CHRISTINE GOERKE, IAIN PATERSON, KARITA MATTILA, AND SIMON O’NEILL IN DIE WALKÜRE, the story of the Ring moves from the gods’ home, Valhalla, to earth: Having brought Freia’s freedom with the ring in Das Rheingold, Wotan sets about regaining the golden band and its unique power. Wotan must sacrifice his son Siegmund, renounce a daughter, Sieglinde, and abandon his favorite child, Brünnhilde, the leader of the Valkyries. Like all the Ring operas, Die Walküre stands on its own as great spectacle, masterful storytelling, and electrifying music. APRIL 24 – MAY 9, 2015 SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET By STEPHEN SONDHEIM Conducted by JAMES LOWE Directed by LEE BLAKELY Featuring NATHAN GUNN, SUSAN BULLOCK, NICHOLAS PHAN, AND JAKE GARDNER COUNTLESS SERIAL NOVELS gripped Londoners during the Victorian era – the more gruesome, the better. One of them, The String of Pearls, spawned the character of Sweeney Todd. His happiness destroyed by a corrupt judge, Sweeney Todd
www.GuidefortheArts.com
43
Houston Grand Opera
– the Demon Barber of Fleet Street – is obsessed with revenge. With his partner in crime, amoral pie shop owner Mrs. Lovett, he quenches his thirst for justice with a murderous rampage that leaves few of the characters breathing. Stephen Nathan Gunn stars in Sweeney Todd. Sondheim’s dark, magnificent Photo: M Sharkey Photography score turns this sordid and bloody tale into riveting entertainment. Sweeney Todd is a masterpiece of the American musical theater; it will keep you on the edge of your seat.
MAY 13 – 17, 2015 EL PASADO NUNCA SE TERMINA (THE PAST IS NEVER FINISHED) By JOSÉ “PEPE” MARTINEZ AND LEONARD FOGLIA SET ON A MEXICAN hacienda in 1910, just prior to the Mexican Revolution, the story traces how the country’s cultural conflicts and nationalistic struggles shape one family across generations. HGO’s 2010 mounting of the world’s first mariachi opera, Cruzar la Cara de la Luna/To Cross the Face of the Moon, with Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán, not only captivated audiences in Houston, but went on to hit runs in San Diego, Chicago, Paris, Tucson, and Phoenix. HGO brought Cruzar back to Houston in 2013 for three sold-out performances. Now the company will present a second mariachi opera from the same creative team of José “Pepe” Martinez and Leonard Foglia, fresh from its March 2015 world premiere at Lyric Opera of Chicago.
44
guide for the arts 2015
HOUSTON
Houston Grand Opera
TICKETS & CONTACT Houston Grand Opera 510 Preston Street Houston, TX 77002 (713) 546-0200 (General) Wortham Theater Center 500 Texas Avenue Houston, TX 77002 (713) 228-6737 (Tickets) www.houstongrandopera.org
www.GuidefortheArts.com
45
Houston Museum of Natural Science
Houston Museum of Natural FOUNDED IN 1909, the Science interior. purpose of the Houston Museum Photo courtesy of PGAL of Natural Science has always been to enhance in individuals the knowledge and delight in natural science and related subjects. To this very day, this purpose is carried out in every project, program, and exhibition associated with the museum. As one of the most heavily attended museums in the United States, and one of the most attended venues in Houston, the Museum houses the Burke Baker Planetarium, Wortham GIANT Screen Theatre, Cockrell Butterfly Center, and a fascinating variety of permanent exhibit areas that examine astronomy, space science, Native American culture, paleontology, energy, chemistry, gems and minerals, seashells, Texas wildlife, and much more. In addition, the museum frequently presents traveling exhibitions on a variety of topics.
46
guide for the arts 2015
HOUSTON
Houston Museum of Natural Science
SHARK! AUGUST 29, 2014 – MARCH 22, 2015 GET TO KNOW sharks in a new interactive, informative live touch tank experience. See what it’s like to get up close and personal with sharks at the live shark touch tank, track great white sharks swimming in the Gulf of Mexico in real time, and see what’s happening with sharks all over the world through amazing conservation efforts led by top marine biologists. Sharks are not always given the credit they deserve, but that will all change when you experience Shark!. SAMURAI: THE WAY OF THE WARRIOR NOVEMBER 21, 2014 – SEPTEMBER 7, 2015 THE TERM “SAMURAI” is one we readily associate with Japan. Roughly translated as “those who serve,” the term refers to armed supporters of wealthy landowners going back to the late 8th century AD. Over time, the samurai gained Samurai helmet on display as part of Samurai: The Way of the Warrior. power and became warriorPhoto courtesy of the Houston administrators during a period Museum of Natural Science known as the Age of the Samurai. The Houston Museum of Natural Science is proud to host Samurai: The Way of the Warrior, an exhibit of exquisite objects related to these legendary warriors. Among these are full suits of armor, helmets, swords, sword-hilts, and saddles, as well as exquisite objects intended for more personal use such as lacquered writing boxes, incense trays and foldable chairs.
48
guide for the arts 2015
HOUSTON
Houston Museum of Natural Science
CHINA’S LOST CIVILIZATION: THE MYSTERY OF SANXINGDUI APRIL 11, 2015 – TBA DURING THE SUMMER of 1986, construction workers accidentally uncovered an astounding cache of ancient jades, bone, pottery, elephant tusks, and monumental bronzes at Sanxingdui, about 40 kilometers outside of the Sichuan Province capitol of Chengdu. This chance discovery of two “sacrificial pits” would be one of the most important archaeological finds of the 20th century and force scholars to rewrite early Chinese history. The objects were dated to about 1800 BC, a time when it was thought that the cradle of Chinese civilization was 1200 kilometers to the northeast on the Yellow River in China’s central plain region. However, the cast bronzes of Sanxingdui were far larger and much stranger in appearance than anything seen before. The Sanxingdui culture left no written record or human remains and appears to have existed for only about 500 years before it vanished. In 2001, another archaeological discovery, this time in the city of Chengdu at Jinsha, revealed possible clues to the mystery of where they might have gone. This exhibition will present many of the most important discoveries from both Sanxingdui and Jinsha, and examine the great mystery of where this 3500-year-old culture could have come from and where and why they abruptly vanished. FABERGÉ: FROM A SNOWFLAKE TO AN ICEBERG ONGOING WITH THE ADDITION of over 150 new pieces, this new exhibition showcases 500 jeweled treasures from the worldrenowned McFerrin Collection. The exhibition presents a historical overview of the works of the House of Fabergé, as well as the remarkable Russian history relating to the objects on display. Dozens of personal treasures of the Romanov Family, including Imperial pieces owned by Nicholas II, Alexander III, and their family, are featured.
www.GuidefortheArts.com
49
Houston Museum of Natural Science
GEMSTONE CARVINGS: THE MASTERWORKS OF HAROLD VAN PELT ONGOING MARVEL AT THE extraordinary artworks of Harold Van Pelt in the exhibition Gemstone Carvings: The Masterworks of Harold Van Pelt. For more than 35 years, Harold Van Pelt has quietly been perfecting the art of carving quartz, rock crystal, and agate gemstones. Hundreds of hours go into each multi-faceted, fluted, and textured vase, hollow container, sculpture, and vessel, many of which are accented with gold and semi-precious stones. Working the stone down to paperthin walls brings out the gorgeous Harold Van Pelt, carved agate drinking vessel with gold capped natural quality and nose with a hole to restrict the flow of liquid. colors of the agate Photo courtesy Bowers Museum and gives quartz the transparency of glass. Transformed by one man’s vision and skill from a solid stone to an incredibly delicate work of art, the gemstone carvings of Harold Van Pelt have to be seen to be believed.
TICKETS & CONTACT Houston Museum of Natural Science 5555 Hermann Park Drive Houston, TX 77030 (713) 639-4629 www.hmns.org 50
guide for the arts 2015
HOUSTON
Houston Symphony
Music Director Andrés THE HOUSTON SYMPHONY Orozco-Estrada conducts the has played a central role in Houston Symphony. Photo: Werner Kmetitsch Houston’s cultural and civic life for more than 100 years. Founded in 1913 by the guiding hand of Miss Ima Hogg, the Houston Symphony is one of America’s oldest performing arts organizations with a distinguished musical history. Over the years, the orchestra has grown and matured under the direction of distinguished leaders such as Ernst Hoffmann (1936–47), Efrem Kurtz (1948–54), Ferenc Fricsay (1954), Leopold Stokowski (1955–61), Sir John Barbirolli (1961–67), André Previn (1967–69), Lawrence Foster (1971–78), Sergiu Comissiona (1979–88), Christoph Eschenbach (1988–99), Hans Graf (2001–13), currently serving as conductor laureate, and Andrés Orozco-Estrada who will take the podium as the fifteenth music director of the Houston Symphony in September 2014. Principal POPS Conductor Michael Krajewski is beginning his 15th season in Houston, and Associate Conductor Robert Franz is starting his 7th season.
52
guide for the arts 2015
HOUSTON
Houston Symphony
Houston Symphony
Christina and Michelle Naughton. Photo courtesy of the artists
JANUARY 15, 2015, 7:30 P.M., Stude Concert Hall JANUARY 17 & 18, 2015, Jones Hall SHOSTAKOVICH’S SYMPHONY NO. 12 ANDRÉS OROZCOESTRADA, Conductor CHRISTINA AND MICHELLE NAUGHTON, Piano MENDELSSOHN, The Fair Melusina
MOZART, Concerto for Two Pianos SHOSTAKOVICH, Symphony No. 12, “The Year 1917”
JANUARY 23 & 25, 2015 Jones Hall MOZART’S ABDUCTION ANDRÉS OROZCO-ESTRADA, Conductor MOZART, Die Entführung aus dem Serail (The Abduction from the Seraglio) JANUARY 24, 2015, 7:30 P.M. Jones Hall BILL COSBY: FAR FROM FINISHED JANUARY 29 – FEBRUARY 4, 2015 Jones Hall DETECTIVE CONCERTS ROBERT FRANZ, Conductor TCHAIKOVSKY, Symphony No. 4, III. Scherzo IPPOLITOV-IVANOV, Procession of the Sardar HONEGGER, Pacific 231 TCHAIKOVSKY, Symphony No. 4, IV. Finale
54
guide for the arts 2015
HOUSTON
Houston Symphony
JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 1, 2015 Jones Hall SUTTON FOSTER STEVEN REINEKE, Conductor FEBRUARY 12 – 15, 2015 Jones Hall PERLMAN PLAYS & CONDUCTS ITZHAK PERLMAN, Conductor and Violin BACH, Violin Concerto No. 2 WEBER, Overture to Oberon SCHUBERT, Symphony No. 9, “The Great”
Hans Graf. Photo: Bruce Bennett
SCHUMANN, Symphony No. 3, “Rhenish”
FEBRUARY 20 – 22, 2015 Jones Hall GRAF CONDUCTS SCHUMANN HANS GRAF, Conductor LISE DE LA SALLE, Piano HINDEMITH, Konzertmusik for Strings and Brass SAINT-SAËNS, Piano Concerto No. 2
FEBRUARY 25 & MARCH 3, 2015 Jones Hall EXPLORER CONCERTS ROBERT FRANZ, Conductor
www.GuidefortheArts.com
55
Houston Symphony
FEBRUARY 26, 2015, 7:30 P.M. Jones Hall SALUTE TO EDUCATORS CONCERT MARCH 1, 2015, 4:00 P.M. E. R. Jewish Community Center KEYBOARD CONVERSATIONS WITH JEFFREY SIEGEL
Michael Krajewski. Photo: Michael Tammaro
MARCH 5, 2015, 8:00 P.M., Sugar Land Baptist Church MARCH 6 – 8, 2015, Jones Hall BLOCKBUSTER FILM SCORES MICHAEL KRAJEWSKI, Conductor
MARCH 7, 2015, 10:00 & 11:30 A.M. Jones Hall STAR WARS AND MORE ROBERT FRANZ, Conductor MARCH 12, 2015, 7:30 P.M., Stude Concert Hall DVORÁK’S SYMPHONY NO. 7 ANDRÉS OROZCO-ESTRADA, Conductor CARLOS ANDRÉS BOTERO, Co-host DVORÁK, Symphony No. 7 MARCH 14 & 15, 2015 Jones Hall COPLAND & DVORÁK ANDRÉS OROZCO-ESTRADA, Conductor MARTIN FRÖST, Clarinet IVES, Symphony No. 1
56
guide for the arts 2015
HOUSTON
Lincoln Center
Houston Symphony
COPLAND, Clarinet Concerto GÖRAN FRÖST, Klezmer Dances for Clarinet and Strings DVORÁK, Symphony No. 7 MARCH 20 – 22, 2015 Jones Hall VERDI’S REQUIEM ANDRÉS OROZCO-ESTRADA, Conductor HOUSTON SYMPHONY CHORUS VERDI, Requiem MARCH 26 – 29, 2015 Jones Hall MOZART’S SYMPHONY NO. 39 GILBERT VARGA, Conductor AUGUSTIN HADELICH, Violin MENDELSSOHN, Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream BARTÓK, Violin Concerto No. 2 MOZART, Symphony No. 39 APRIL 2 – 4, 2015 Jones Hall U.K. ROCKS MICHAEL KRAJEWSKI, Conductor STORM LARGE, Vocalist J. ROBERT SPENCER, Vocalist APRIL 17 – 19, 2015 Jones Hall OHLSSON PLAYS CHOPIN ROBERT SPANO, Conductor GARRICK OHLSSON, Piano JENNIFER HIGDON, Blue Cathedral CHOPIN, Piano Concerto No. 1 JENNIFER HIGDON, Concerto for Orchestra
www.GuidefortheArts.com
57
Houston Symphony
APRIL 24 – 26, 2015 Jones Hall A TRIBUTE TO MARVIN HAMLISCH JACK EVERLY, Conductor APRIL 25, 2015, 10:00 & 11:30 A.M. Jones Hall SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK! ROBERT FRANZ, Conductor THEATRE UNDER THE STARS HUMPHREYS SCHOOL OF MUSICAL THEATRE APRIL 30 – MAY 3, 2015 Jones Hall BEETHOVEN PIANO CONCERTO NO. 1 JUN MÄRKI, Conductor BENJAMIN GROSVENOR, Piano Benjamin Grosvenor. BERLIOZ, Le Corsaire Photo: Patrick Allen BEETHOVEN, Piano Concerto No. 1 SAINT-SAËNS, Symphony No. 3, “Organ Symphony” MARCH 7, 2015, 7:30 P.M. Stude Concert Hall BARTÓK’S CONCERTO ANDRÉS OROZCO-ESTRADA, Conductor BARTÓK, Concerto for Orchestra MARCH 9 & 10, 2015 Jones Hall BEETHOVEN & BARTÓK ANDRÉS OROZCO-ESTRADA, Conductor JAMES EHNES, Violin 58
guide for the arts 2015
HOUSTON
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Houston Symphony BEETHOVEN, Violin Concerto BARTÓK, Concerto for Orchestra MAY 12, 2015, 7:30 P.M. Jones Hall LANG LANG JOINS ANDRÉS ANDRÉS OROZCO-ESTRADA, Conductor LANG LANG, Piano TCHAIKOVSKY, Symphony No. 5 TCHAIKOVSKY, Piano Concerto No. 1 MAY 15 – 17, 2015 Jones Hall ANDRÉS CONDUCTS MAHLER 3 ANDRÉS OROZCO-ESTRADA, Conductor WOMEN OF THE HOUSTON SYMPHONY CHORUS MAHLER, Symphony No. 3 MAY 22 – 24, 2015 Jones Hall PAINTJAM CONCERT EXPERIENCE MICHAEL KRAJEWSKI, Conductor DAN DUNN, Artist TICKETS & CONTACT Houston Symphony 615 Louisiana Street, Suite 102 Houston, TX 77002 (713) 224-4240 (General) Jones Hall 615 Louisiana Street Houston, TX 77002 (713) 224-7575 (Tickets) www.houstonsymphony.org
www.GuidefortheArts.com
59
Museum of Fine Arts Houston
Museum of Fine Arts Houston exterior. LOCATED IN THE heart of Photo courtesy of the Greater Houston Houston’s Museum District, Convention and Visitors Center the MFAH is a dynamic cultural complex comprising two gallery buildings, a sculpture garden, visitors center, library, movie theater, gift shop, café, two art schools, and two house museums.
60
guide for the arts 2015
HOUSTON
1089 Highway 124 • Hoschton, GA 30548 • (678) 425-1539 panoz.com
25 YEARS OF BUILDING EXCLUSIVE AUTOMOBILES
Museum of Fine Arts Houston
FANGS, FEATHERS, AND FINS: SACRED CREATURES IN ANCIENT AMERICAN ART OCTOBER 16, 2014 – JANUARY 25, 2015 PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS been fascinated by animals. In the ancient Americas, wildlife such as jaguars and killer whales became symbols of divinity and rulership. Artworks made in the images of these creatures played significant roles in religion and society. The inventive ways in which animals were depicted in art provide a window into the beliefs and practices of longgone cultures that never developed written language and left few traces other than their art. The Museum’s significant Pre-Columbian collection comprises remarkable examples, which come together thematically for the first time in the exhibition Fangs, Feathers, and Fins: Sacred Creatures in Ancient American Art. More than 200 objects, spanning nearly 5,000 years, explore the significance that different animals held, demonstrating how the peoples of the ancient Americas viewed themselves and the world around them. MONET AND THE SEINE: IMPRESSIONS OF A RIVER OCTOBER 26, 2014 – FEBRUARY 1, 2015 MONET AND THE SEINE: IMPRESSIONS OF A RIVER examines Claude Monet’s abiding fascination with the Seine by tracing his life along the iconic French waterway, both chronologically and geographically. Monet (1840–1926) used the river from an early point in his career to explore many of the artistic concerns that define his oeuvre, such as the transformative effects of light and atmosphere. This beautiful exhibition brings together more than 50 paintings on loan from locations around the world. Beginning with scenes of leisure activities, modern life, and cityscapes along the Seine, the presentation culminates in the ethereal works from the Impressionist painter’s famous Mornings on the Seine series. The canvases provide an intimate look at the Seine, a subject essential to Monet’s
62
guide for the arts 2015
HOUSTON
Museum of Fine Arts Houston
identity as an artist. The celebrated river captivated Monet more than any other theme, inspiring a vast number of paintings and surpassing even his defining series of water lilies by more than 100 works.
Claude Monet, The Seine at Lavacourt, 1880, Oil on canvas, Dallas Museum of Art, Munger Fund. Image courtesy of Museum of Fine Arts Houston
SILVER: AN AMERICAN ART – SELECTIONS FROM THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, HOUSTON AUGUST 30, 2014 – APRIL 5, 2015 OVER THE PAST DECADE, the Museum’s holdings of American silver have grown significantly. Through purchases and gifts, the story of the silversmithing tradition in this country can now be more fully told. Private collections, including those of Milo M. Naeve and Mary Beth Baird, also have brought to the Museum the works of unsung female silversmiths, unusual flatware made for the Victorian dining table, unique wares made for the 1900 World’s Fair in Paris, and many other treasures. Silver: An American Art – Selections from the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston showcases these important new additions to the collection, all created in America between 1870 and 1960. Highlights of the exhibition include pieces made by Arts and Crafts silversmith Mary Peyton Winlock and Danish-trained smith Peer Smed, as well the great American silver companies Gorham and Tiffany.
www.GuidefortheArts.com
63
Museum of Fine Arts Houston
SELECTIONS FROM THE MUSEUM’S COLLECTION: MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART MARCH 4, 2014 – MAY 3, 2015 SELECTIONS FROM THE MUSEUM’S COLLECTION: MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART is part of a series highlighting the Museum’s exceptional holdings and showcasing works new to Houston audiences. This installation comprises major paintings and sculptures that span the early 20th century to the present. The first gallery opens with the art of Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso, then moves to the Cubist avant-garde that flowered in France, Germany, and the Czech Republic. Also Anthony Caro, Orangerie, 1969, Painted steel, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, featured are works by artists Museum purchase funded by the Caroline Wiess Law Accessions Endowment Fund. who pushed the limits © Barford Sculptures Ltd. Image courtesy of Museum of Fine Arts of Abstraction, including Houston Constantin Brancusi, Piet Mondrian, and Gerrit Rietveld. The second gallery is devoted to Surrealist masters working between the World Wars, such as Max Ernst, Joan Miró, and Yves Tanguy. Postwar Abstraction is introduced with works by Anthony Caro, Lucio Fontana, Ellsworth Kelly, and others. New directions in Contemporary art are represented by Jasper Johns, Brice Marden, and Robert Rauschenberg. Among the recent acquisitions on view are Julie Mehretu’s Mogamma, A Painting in Four Parts: Part 4, a monumental canvas that addresses the aspirations and chaos of the Arab Spring; Ed Ruscha’s Mysteries, a text-based painting that captures the melancholy spirit of film noir and the California landscape
64
guide for the arts 2015
HOUSTON
Museum of Fine Arts Houston
at twilight; and Simon Starling’s Transit Stones, which were inspired by the 2004 and 2012 transits of Venus across the Sun. Complementing the works from the Museum’s collection are important loans, which include Matisse’s mural-scaled Le chant (The Song), commissioned by oil heir Nelson A. Rockefeller in 1938; and major paintings by Salvador Dalí, Kees van Dongen, and Picasso. SPECTACULAR RUBENS FEBRUARY 15 – MAY 10, 2015 IN THE EARLY 1620S, Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens completed one of his greatest achievements: designing the Triumph of the Eucharist tapestries. The most elaborate and expensive tapestries made in Europe in the 17th century, the 20 monumental works in this series celebrate the glory of the Roman Catholic Church. Rubens (1577–1640) was commissioned to create the tapestries by the Infanta Isabel Clara Eugenia, governor-general of the Netherlands, as a gift to her favorite convent, the Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales (Convent of the Barefoot Royals) in Madrid. Raised at the Spanish court, the infanta was the daughter of Habsburg monarchs Philip II and Isabel of Valois. Spectacular Rubens reunites Rubens’s exuberant oil sketches painted for this commission with the original tapestries, the largest number of works for the Eucharist series assembled in more than half a century. The exhibition offers an unrivaled opportunity for visitors to experience the Baroque master’s extraordinary impact, on both an intimate and a broad scale. FOR A NEW WORLD TO COME: EXPERIMENTS IN JAPANESE ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY, 1968–1979 MARCH 8 – JULY 12, 2015 THE LATE 1960S and early 1970s marked a period of political and social turmoil in Japan. The country was struggling to forge a new identity on the world stage, and Japanese artists were seeking a medium that could adequately respond to these
www.GuidefortheArts.com
65
Museum of Fine Arts Houston
uncertain times. For a New World to Come: Experiments in Japanese Art and Photography, 1968–1979 explores in depth, for the first time, the role of photography in the formation of contemporary art in Japan. This groundbreaking exhibition presents some 250 Nobuo Yamanaka, Pinhole works: photographs, photo books, Room Revolution 1, 1973, paintings, sculpture, and film-based Gelatin silver print, the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo. installations. The unprecedented Image courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts Houston survey demonstrates how 29 Japanese artists and photographers enlisted the camera to make experimental and conceptual shifts in their artistic practices during a time of radical societal change. For a New World to Come draws from the MFAH collections and features loans from partner institutions in Japan, including the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography. The exhibition sheds light on the intense search for new directions in Japanese art and photography in the 1970s. Many of the important experimental works on view are little known outside of Japan and have never been seen by U.S. audiences. HABSBURG SPLENDOR: MASTERPIECES FROM VIENNA’S IMPERIAL COLLECTIONS JUNE 14 – SEPTEMBER 13, 2015 SEE THE SPECTACULAR treasures amassed by one of Europe’s longest-reigning dynasties. The major exhibition Habsburg Splendor: Masterpieces from Vienna’s Imperial Collections showcases masterworks and rare objects from the collection of the Habsburg Dynasty – the emperors
66
guide for the arts 2015
HOUSTON
Museum of Fine Arts Houston
of the Holy Roman Empire and other powerful rulers who commissioned extraordinary artworks now in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. Largely composed of works that have never traveled outside of Austria, Habsburg Splendor explores the dramatic rise and fall of the Habsburgs and their global empire, from their political ascendance in the late Middle Ages, to the height of their power in the 16th and 17th centuries, to the expansion of the dynasty in the 18th and 19th centuries, and ultimately its end in the early 20th century at the conclusion of World War I. The story unfolds through more than 90 works of art, including arms and armor, sculpture, Greek and Roman antiquities, court costumes, carriages, decorative-art objects, and paintings by masters such as Caravaggio, Correggio, Giorgione, Rubens, Tintoretto, Titian, and Velázquez. TICKETS & CONTACT The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston 1001 Bissonnet Houston, TX 77005 (713) 639-7300 www.mfah.org
www.GuidefortheArts.com
67
The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts
The Hobby Center for the Performing THE HOBBY CENTER Arts exterior. FOUNDATION is a Photo courtesy of TUTS Underground nonprofit organization whose mission is to expand Houston’s reputation as a world-class cultural center by providing a premier performing arts facility, fostering accessibility to the performing arts, and promoting arts education, with an emphasis on musical theater.
JANUARY 10, 2015 Zilkha Hall MYTHS & LEGENDS JOIN US FOR our first performance of 2015, which features two world premieres: the 1922 silent classic “Cinderella,” with a new score by Musiqa’s Karim Al-Zand; and Musiqa Artistic Director Anthony Brandt’s chamberopera Ulysses, Home, with a libretto written by Neena Beber. The program also features String Quartet No. 4, a major work by Musiqa’s Pierre Jalbert. Presented in partnership with Houston Cinema Arts Society.
68
guide for the arts 2015
HOUSTON
The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts
JANUARY 20 – FEBRUARY 8, 2015 Sarofim Hall THE BOOK OF MORMON THE NEW YORK TIMES calls it “the best musical of this century.” The Washington Post says, “It is the kind of evening that restores your faith in musicals.” And Entertainment Weekly says, “Grade The Book of Mormon comes to the A: the funniest musical Hobby Center. Photo: Joan Marcus of all time.” Jon Stewart of The Daily Show calls it “a crowning achievement. So good it makes me angry.” It’s The Book of Mormon, the nine-time Tony Award-winning Best Musical from the creators of South Park. JANUARY 22 – 31, 2015 Zilkha Hall WAITING FOR JOHNNY DEPP THIS ONE-WOMAN MUSICAL follows the zany adventures of struggling New York actress Rita Donatella in her desperate attempts to land the role of a lifetime – to star in a film with Johnny Depp! Join Rita on her heartfelt and spirited journey through the highs and lows of wishing to be famous, and realizing that sometimes we let our goals get in the way of the important things in life.
70
guide for the arts 2015
HOUSTON
The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts
FEBRUARY 10 – 22, 2015 Sarofim Hall KINKY BOOTS KINKY BOOTS TELLS the story of Charlie Price, a man who has reluctantly inherited his father’s nearly bankrupt shoe factory. Trying to live up to his father’s legacy and save his family business, Charlie finds inspiration in the form of Lola, a fabulous entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos. As they work to turn the factory around, this unlikely pair finds that they have more in common than they ever dreamed possible… and together they discover that when you change your mind about someone, you can change your whole world. Featuring direction and Tony-winning choreography by Jerry Mitchell and a spectacularly uplifting book by four-time Tony winner Harvey Fierstein, this red-hot musical smash has audiences dancing in the aisles every night, and now it’s your turn to join the celebration! FEBRUARY 12, 2015 Zilkha Hall JUMPING THE GROOVE APERIO, MUSIC OF THE AMERICAS returns to The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts’ Zilkha Hall with Jumping the Groove, a program exploring the impact of Jazz, Blues, and Funk on contemporary chamber and solo music. The great traditions of cabaret and cocktail music combine to thrill and Composer Derek Bermel’s Funk Studies charm in Paul Schoenfield’s will be performed exuberant Cafe; Music. by Aperio. Photo: Kevin Jerome Everson Aaron Copland’s Four Piano Blues hearken back to the age of early jazz, contrasting with www.GuidefortheArts.com
71
The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts
the post-modern mix of minimalism, blues, and bebop heard in John Adams’ Road Movies. Funk Studies by Derek Bermel pays homage to the brilliance of Thelonious Monk, while Hannibal Lokumbe’s John Brown and Blue offers a defiant social statement invoking the primal spirit of the blues. FEBRUARY 14, 2015 Zilkha Hall LOVE LETTERS ITALIANS MAKE EVERYTHING sound romantic, especially in music! A swoon advisory is thus in effect for this performance featuring duets from Claudio Monteverdi and cantatas by Vivaldi and Scarlatti. Two rising stars of the opera world return to the Zilkha Hall stage for this special Valentine’s Day treat: countertenor John Holiday and mezzo-soprano Ellie Jarrett Shattles. MARCH 10 – 15, 2015 Sarofim Hall ONCE WINNER OF EIGHT 2012 Tony Awards including best musical, Once is a truly original Broadway experience. Featuring an impressive ensemble of actor/musicians who play their own instruments onstage, Once tells the enchanting tale of a Dublin street musician who’s about to give up on his dream when a beautiful young woman takes a sudden interest in his haunting love songs. As the chemistry between them grows, his music soars to powerful new heights... but their unlikely connection turns out to be deeper and more complex than your everyday romance. Emotionally captivating and theatrically breathtaking, Once draws you in from the very first note and never lets go. It’s an unforgettable story about going for your dreams... not living in fear... and the power of music to connect all of us.
72
guide for the arts 2015
HOUSTON
The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts
MARCH 17 – 29, 2015 Sarofim Hall JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT ONE OF THE MOST enduring shows of all time, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is the irresistible family musical about the trials and triumphs of Joseph, Israel’s favorite son. The new production will feature Broadway/ television star Diana DeGarmo (Hairspray, Hair) as The Narrator and Broadway star Ace Young (Grease, Hair) as Joseph. Retelling the Biblical story of Joseph, his eleven brothers and the coat of many colors, this magical Ace Young and Diana DeGarmo in musical is full of unforgettable Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. songs, including “Those Photo: Daniel A. Swalec Canaan Days,” “Any Dream Will Do,” and “Close Every Door.” Book your tickets and be part of the magic! MARCH 20, 2015 Zilkha Hall SONG FROM THE UPROAR: THE LIVES AND DEATHS OF ISABELLE EBERHARDT SONG FROM THE UPROAR: THE LIVES AND DEATHS OF ISABELLE EBERHARDT is an acclaimed multi-media chamber opera by composer Missy Mazzoli, who has been called “Brooklyn’s post-millennial Mozart.” This new opera was inspired by the journals of Isabelle Eberhardt, the explorer, nomad, journalist, novelist, passionate romantic, Sufi, and one of the most unique and unusual women of her era. Da Camera is proud to present the Houston premiere of this groundbreaking work in a semi-staged concert version with original video.
www.GuidefortheArts.com
73
The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts
MARCH 28, 2015 Zilkha Hall BACH & SONS: AT COURT ARS LYRICA’S SEASON-LONG tribute to the Bach family continues with an evening of concertos by Johann Sebastian, Carl Philipp Emanuel, and Johann Christian Bach. Baroque violinist extraordinaire Ingrid Matthews returns for this allinstrumental evening featuring Ars Lyrica’s core string players and harpsichordist/artistic director Matthew Dirst. APRIL 7 – 19, 2015 Zilkha Hall LMNOP CHAOS ARISES WHEN letters begin to fall from a town monument and government officials ban them one by one. The community depends on the strength of a determined teenage girl to fight for their freedom of speech. This unique musical is part romance, part clever word game and part adult fable that reminds us of how precious our liberties and are how important it is to have the courage to stand up for what we believe. APRIL 14 – 19, 2015 Sarofim Hall MAMMA MIA! MAMMA MIA! IS the ultimate feelgood show that has audiences coming back again and again to relive the thrill. Now it’s your turn to have the time of your life at this smash-hit musical that Mamma Mia! comes to the Hobby Center. Photo: Brinkhoff and Mögenburg combines ABBA’s greatest hits, including “Dancing Queen,” “S.O.S.,” “Super Trouper,” “Take A Chance on Me,” and “The Winner Takes It All,” with an enchanting tale of love, laughter, and friendship. Whether it’s your first visit or your
74
guide for the arts 2015
HOUSTON
The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts
fourteenth, see the show that has the whole world coming back for more, because every time feels like the first time at Mamma Mia!. MAY 5 – 17, 2015 Sarofim Hall THE MUSIC MAN ONE OF THE most cherished musicals in American theatre, The Music Man, marches onto the TUTS’ stage this summer. Described “as American as apple pie” by the New York Times, this great American classic tells the story of fast-talking, musical instruments salesman, Harold Hill, who cons the good folks of River City, Iowa, into believing that he can teach their children to play in a marching band despite the fact he doesn’t know a trombone from a treble clef. Before the fraudulent teacher can skip town with the loot, Harold’s got trouble when he falls for the quick-witted, not to mention beautiful, small town librarian, Marian. Meredith Wilson’s six-time, Tony Award winning musical comedy has been entertaining audiences since 1957 and is a family-friendly story to be shared with every generation. Come one, come all to reminisce or to discover the “Seventy-Six Trombones” and many other timeless songs from this piece of musical Americana. MAY 17, 2015 Zilkha Hall ALEXANDER’S FEAST – OR, THE POWER OF MUSIC ARS LYRICA’S 2014/2015 season finale provides abundant vocal and instrumental fireworks, with Alexander’s Feast – Or, The Power of Music by G.F. Handel, produced in collaboration with the Bach Society Houston. This remarkable musical tale relates how the rapturous song of a musician named Timotheus aroused and moved Alexander the Great. Ars Lyrica is proud to present this rarely heard oratorio, which makes for a formidable evening of music and story – an event you won’t want to miss!
www.GuidefortheArts.com
75
The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts
MAY 19 – 24, 2015 Sarofim Hall NEWSIES THEY DELIVERED THE papers, until they made the headlines... Direct from Broadway comes Newsies, the smash-hit, crowdpleasing new musical from Disney. Winner of the 2012 Tony Awards for Best Score and Best Choreography, Newsies has audiences and critics alike calling it “a musical worth singing about!” (The New York Times). Filled with one heart-pounding number after another, it’s a high-energy explosion of song and dance you just don’t want to miss. MAY 26 – JUNE 7, 2015 Sarofim Hall RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA is the Tony Awardwinning Broadway musical from the creators of Oklahoma! and The King and I that’s delighting audiences with its contemporary take on the classic tale. This lush production features an incredible orchestra, jaw-dropping transformations and all the moments you love – the pumpkin, the glass slipper, the masked ball, and more – plus some surprising new twists! Be transported back to your childhood as you rediscover some of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s most beloved songs, including “In My Own Little Corner,” “Impossible/It’s Possible,” and “Ten Minutes Ago,” in this hilarious and romantic Broadway experience for anyone who’s ever had a wish, a dream... or a really great pair of shoes. JUNE 11 – 21, 2015 Zilkha Hall FIRST DATE FRESH OFF BROADWAY, this hilarious and hopeful musical is about the chances we all take to find love. When blind date newbie Aaron is set up with serial-dater Casey, a casual
76
guide for the arts 2015
HOUSTON
The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts
drink at a busy New York restaurant turns into a uproarious high-stakes dinner when other restaurant patrons transform into supportive best friends, manipulative exes and protective parents, who sing and dance them through ice-breakers, appetizers, and potential conversational land mines. As the date unfolds, the couple quickly finds that they are not alone on this unpredictable evening. JULY 21 – 26, 2015 Sarofim Hall MOTOWN THE MUSICAL IT BEGAN AS one man’s story...became everyone’s music... and is now Broadway’s musical. Motown the Musical is the true American dream story of Motown founder Berry Gordy’s journey from featherweight boxer to Motown the Musical comes to The Hobby Center. Photo: Joan Marcus the heavyweight music mogul who launched the careers of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson, and many more. Motown shattered barriers, shaped our lives, and made us all move to the same beat. Now, experience it live on stage in the record-breaking smash hit Motown The Musical! TICKETS & CONTACT The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts 800 Bagby Street, Suite 300 Houston, TX 77002 (713) 315-2400 (General) (713) 315-2525 (Tickets) www.thehobbycenter.org
www.GuidefortheArts.com
77
Theatre Under the Stars
Hobby Center for the THEATRE UNDER THE STARS’S Performing Arts primary commitment remains the production of musical theatre of the highest excellence for audiences in south Texas and elsewhere. It is equally committed to education in theatre arts, and to providing opportunities for participation by all constituents of the community through its outreach programs. Today, TUTS continues to thrive in Houston and make its artistic impact felt across the country.
FEBRUARY 10 – 22, 2015 KINKY BOOTS KINKY BOOTS IS the exhilarating Broadway musical that will lift your spirits to new high-heeled heights! Winner of six Tony Awards including best musical, this inspirational story follows a struggling shoe factory owner who works to turn his business around with help from Lola, a fabulous entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos. Together, this unlikely pair finds that they have more in common than they ever dreamed possible… proving that when you change your mind about someone, you can change your whole world.
78
guide for the arts 2015
HOUSTON
Theatre Under the Stars
MARCH 17 – 29, 2015 JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT THE BLOCKBUSTER MUSICAL returns starring Diana DeGarmo and Ace Young. One of the most enduring shows of all time, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is the irresistible family musical about the trials and triumphs of Joseph, Israel’s favorite son. Retelling the Biblical story of Joseph, his eleven brothers, and the coat of many colors, this magical musical is full of unforgettable songs. MAY 5 – 17, 2015 THE MUSIC MAN ONE OF THE MOST cherished musicals in American theatre, The Music Man, marches onto the TUTS’ stage this summer. Described “as American as apple pie” by The New York The Music Man. Photo: Alan Pearlman Times, this great American classic tells the story of fast-talking, musical instruments salesman, Harold Hill, who cons the good folks of River City, Iowa, into believing that he can teach their children to play in a marching band despite the fact he doesn’t know a trombone from a treble clef. MAY 26 – JUNE 7, 2015 RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA is delighting audiences with its contemporary take on the classic tale.
80
guide for the arts 2015
HOUSTON
Theatre Under the Stars
This lush production features an incredible orchestra and all the moments you love – the pumpkin, the glass slipper, the masked ball, and more – plus some surprising new twists! Be transported back to your childhood as you rediscover some of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s most beloved songs, including “In My Own Little Corner” and “Ten Minutes Ago.” TICKETS & CONTACT Theatre Under the Stars Administrative Offices 800 Bagby Street, Suite 200 Houston, TX 77002 (713) 558-2600 (General) Hobby Center for the Performing Arts 800 Bagby Street Houston, TX 77002 (713) 558-8887 (Tickets) www.tuts.com
www.GuidefortheArts.com
81
Contact Information ALLEY THEATRE: (713) 228-9341 CONTEMPORARY ARTS MUSEUM HOUSTON: (713) 284-8250 DA CAMERA HOUSTON: (713) 227-2787 HOUSTON BALLET: (713) 227-2787 HOUSTON GRAND OPERA: (713) 228-6737 HOUSTON MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE: (713) 639-4629 HOUSTON SYMPHONY: (713) 224-4240 MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS HOUSTON: (713) 639-7300 THE HOBBY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS: (713) 315-2400 THEATRE UNDER THE STARS: (713) 558-2600
82
guide for the arts 2015
HOUSTON