Houston Symphony Releases Schedule of Events for Summer Concert Series

HOUSTON (April 14, 2014) -The Houston Symphony just announced the full lineup for its Summer Concert Series at Jones Hall. Tickets for the Symphony's June and July concerts are now on sale to the general public at houstonsymphony.org.

For the first time ever, the Houston Symphony will host a Broadway Sing-Along featuring music from some of the Great White Way's most popular shows. On June 13, Associate Conductor Robert Franz will take the stage, along with Tony-Award winning actress and singer Debbie Gravitte (LES MISERABLES, Chicago) and Broadway star Doug LaBrecque (Showboat), to lead fans in an audience-wide sing-along. Attendees will be invited to intone classic Broadway tunes from shows such as Cabaret, Oklahoma!, Chicago, The Sound of Music, Mama Mia!, Disney's Frozen and more.

The epic Summer Concert Series at Jones Hall continues on July 17-18 with a massive side-by-side performance of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana featuring nearly 400 musicians from the Houston Symphony, the Filarmónica Joven de Colombia (Colombian Youth Philharmonic), the Houston Symphony Chorus and the Children's Chorus. Music Director Andrés Orozco-Estrada, who is also the Colombian Youth Philharmonic's artistic advisor, will lead this majestic performance on an extended Jones Hall stage.

For those wishing to travel back in time and reminisce on the King of Pop's biggest hits from the nineties, the Houston Symphony will be joined by singer-dancer James Delisco, an entertainer and true showman known for his undeniable stage presence, charisma and electrifying performances. Delisco will join the Symphony on July 24 for a one-night only Music of Michael Jackson performance, a high-energy spectacle featuring everything from blockbuster hits like "Thriller," "Black or White" and "Rock With You," along with a nod to his Jackson 5 days, including "A-B-C" and "I'll Be There."

Pokémon: Symphonic Evolutions - the must-see video game concert of the year - gives fans and newcomers of all ages the chance to experience the evolution of the Pokémon franchise like never before. The all-new orchestral arrangements and carefully timed visuals draw from recent and classic Pokémon video games will come to Jones Hall on July 25-26.

The Summer Concert Series at Jones Hall concludes on August 1 with a lively celebration of the 30th anniversary of the first Back to the Future film. Back to the Future, which was released on July 3, 1985, became the most successful film of the year and led to two wildly successful sequels, stamping an enduring imprint on pop culture. Fans can enjoy the wildly successful, Academy Award-winning film on a giant screen with the Houston Symphony performing Alan Silverstri's dazzling score live and in-sync with the film.

All concerts take place at Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, 615 Louisiana Street, in Houston's Theater District. For tickets and information, please call (713) 224-7575, Monday-Saturday, 10am-6pm or visit www.houstonsymphony.org. Tickets may also be purchased at the Houston Symphony Patron Services Center in Jones Hall (Monday - Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.). All programs and artists are subject to change.

BROADWAY SING-ALONG

June 13, 2015

Robert Franz, conductor

Debbie Gravitte, vocalist

Doug LaBrecque, vocalist

Tickets from $25

We're belting hits from some of the Great White Way's most popular shows in an audience participation Broadway Sing-Along featuring Broadway performers Debbie Gravitte (LES MISERABLES, Chicago) and Doug LaBrecque (Showboat). Follow the bouncing ball and warm up your vocal chords as Associate Conductor Robert Franz, leads us in a night filled with some of musical theatre's most memorable tunes from Cabaret, Oklahoma!, Chicago, The Sound of Music, Mama Mia!,, Disney's Frozen and many more.

CARMINA BURANA

July 17, 18, 2015

Andrés Orozco-Estrada, conductor

Houston Symphony

Filarmónica Joven de Colombia

Houston Symphony Chorus

Betsy Cook Weber, director

Houston Children's Chorus

Stephen Roddy, director

Prokofiev: Scythian Suite

Orff: Carmina Burana

Tickets from $25

Houston welcomes the Filarmónica Joven de Colombia (Colombian Youth Philharmonic) as they join their Artistic Advisor Andrés Orozco-Estrada, the Houston Symphony Chorus and the Houston Children's Chorus for a spectacular side-by-side performance of Carl Orff's epic Carmina Burana featuring nearly 400 musicians on an extended Jones Hall stage. The festive songs of Carmina Burana celebrate love, feasting and merriment with wild abandon, all the while acknowledging the ever-turning wheel of fortune.

MUSIC OF MICHAEL JACKSON

July 24, 2015

Brent Havens, conductor

James Delisco, vocalist/dancer

Tickets from $29

From Motown to his mega success as a global figure in pop culture, Michael Jackson made HIStory (1995 Platinum album) for his iconic dance moves, over-the-top performances, and of course, his music. The Houston Symphony brings you the Music of Michael Jackson, a high-energy spectacle with the orchestra and amplified with a full band and vocals. This one-night only performance features blockbuster hits like "Thriller," "Black or White" and "Rock With You," along with a nod to his Jackson 5 days, including "A-B-C" and "I'll Be There." Capturing M.J.'s utter brilliance is singer-dancer James Delisco. Rolling Stone declared M.J. "the world's greatest entertainer." Come hear why as we celebrate his phenomenal legacy this summer at Jones Hall.

POKÉMON: SYMPHONIC EVOLUTIONS

July 25, 26, 2015

Susie Benchasil Seiter, conductor

Tickets from $25

Brought to life by the Houston Symphony accompanied by exciting visuals on a giant screen, Pokémon: Symphonic Evolutions will take audiences of all ages on a powerful musical retrospective through the popular video game franchise's most memorable melodies. The premiere of Pokémon: Symphonic Evolutions in Washington D.C. sold out with a second performance added by popular demand. Pokémon: Symphonic Evolutions is produced by Princeton Entertainment.

BACK TO THE FUTURE-FILM WITH LIVE ORCHESTRA

August 1, 2015

Constantine Kitsopoulos, conductor

Tickets from $38

Power up your DeLorean, recharge your flux capacitor and prepare to celebrate the 30th anniversary of an unforgettable movie classic. Back to the Future led to two wildly successful sequels and stamped an enduring imprint on pop culture. Now, fans old and new will experience the thrill of Back to the Future like never before-on a big screen with the Houston Symphony performing Alan Silverstri's dazzling score live and in-sync with the film. You will also be in for an exclusive treat: Approximately fifteen minutes of brand new music has been added by the composer to the film's score.

About the Houston Symphony

During the 2014-15 season, the Houston Symphony enters its second century as one of America's leading orchestras with a full complement of concert, community, education, touring and recording activities. This season also marks the inaugural year for new Music Director Andrés Orozco- Estrada. The Houston Symphony is one of the oldest performing arts organizations in Texas whose inaugural performance was held at The Majestic Theater in downtown Houston on June 21, 1913. Today, with an annual operating budget of $29 million, the full-time ensemble of 87 professional musicians is the largest performing arts organization in Houston, presenting more than 286 performances for 300,000 people, including 82,000 children, annually. For tickets and more information, please visit www.houstonsymphony.org or call 713-224-7575.

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