March at the Houston Symphony Features BLOCKBUSTER FILM SCORES, VERDI'S REQUIEM and More

The Houston Symphony will treat audiences to a month of iconic movie scores, acclaimed guest artists, riveting performances by the Houston Symphony Chorus and Musically Speaking concerts. On March 5-8, audiences can travel back in time with some of Hollywood's most iconic motion picture scores of the past 30 years. From the uplifting Forrest Gump and epic Titanic, to the fantastical Pirates of the Caribbean and The Lord of the Rings,Blockbuster Film Scores - under the baton of Michael Krajewski - will take audiences on an epic cinematic ride. Then on March 7, families and people of all ages can enjoy an intergalactic Saturday morning as the music of Star Wars invades Jones Hall in Star Wars and More! The triumphant sound of the brass instruments will heighten the thrill of this epic adventure will feature onstage commentary and theatrics from associate conductor Robert Franz. Andrés Orozco-Estrada returns to Rice University's Stude Concert Hall on March 12 for an intimate evening of live orchestral performance and commentary on Dvo?ák's Symphony No. 7 in Musically Speaking with Andrés. The program continues March 14-15 in Copland and Dvo?ák as Orozco-Estrada and the Symphony welcome Martin Fröst, whose performances are described by The New York Times as "a virtuosity and a musicianship unsurpassed by any clarinetist - perhaps any instrumentalist." Orozco-Estrada and the orchestra join with the Chorus in a powerful performance of Verdi's Requiem on March 20-22 followed by the return of Augustin Hadelich in Mozart's Symphony No. 39 (March 26-29). Unless otherwise noted, 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 or visit www.houstonsymphony.org unless otherwise noted. 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. Education and Community Programs The Houston Symphony continues to expand its education and community offerings to further its reach and cultural relevance in Houston. Associate Conductor Robert Franz, who firmly believes that music makes a unique and vital contribution to children's cognitive development, will share the world of music with Houston-area elementary and middle school students at the Explorer Concert March 3. Explorer Concerts Tuesday, March 3, 2015, 9:30am and 11:15am This season's Cameron Symphony Explorer Concert, "Tour Across America," will reinforce the TEKS curriculum and the STAAR testing for social studies. This program will examine the various types of landscapes throughout our vast and sprawling country. Blockbuster Film Scores Thursday, March 5, 2015, 8:00pm (at Sugar Land Baptist Church) Friday, March 6, 2015, 8:00pm Saturday, March 7, 2015, 8:00pm Sunday, March 8, 2015, 7:30pm Michael Krajewski, conductor Travel with Mike and the orchestra to Hollywood to experience the sounds of the past 30 years of great motion picture scores. From the uplifting Forrest Gump and epic Titanic, to the fantastical Pirates of the Caribbean and The Lord of the Rings, as well as the colorful Avatar, re-live music of the big screen from composers James Horner, Hans Zimmer, Danny Elfman and, of course, John Williams. Star Wars and More Friday, March 7, 2015, 10:00 am and 11:30am Robert Franz, conductor Join us for an intergalactic Saturday morning as the music of Star Wars invades Jones Hall. Hear triumphant brass instruments heighten the thrill of this sci-fi journey. The epic adventure also includes Tchaikovsky's beloved 1812 Overture and "Appian Way" from Respighi's Pines of Rome. Musically Speaking with Andrés - Dvo?ák's Symphony No. 7 Thursday, March 12, 2015, 7:30pm (at Rice University Stude Concert Hall) Andrés Orozco-Estrada, conductor Carlos Andrés Botero, co-host Enjoy Dvo?ák's Symphony No. 7, which explores a range of emotions from grandeur and tragedy to pastoral reflection. This Thursday program is part of the Musically Speaking with Andrés Series format at Rice University's Stude Concert Hall and includes musical commentary from Music Director Andrés Orozco-Estrada and co-host Carlos Andrés Botero. Martin Fröst will not be on the Thursday program. Copland and Dvo?ák Saturday, March 14, 2015, 8:00pm Sunday, March 15, 2015, 2:30pm Andrés Orozco-Estrada, conductor *Martin Fröst, clarinet Ives: Symphony No. 1 Copland: Clarinet Concerto Goran Fröst: Klezmer Dances for Clarinet and Strings Dvorák: Symphony No. 7 Swedish clarinetist Martin Fröst was described by The New York Times as "a kinetic player with a vivid interpretive imagination and a sharply focused, warm tone." Hear this riveting clarinetist perform Copland's Clarinet Concerto followed by thrilling Klezmer-style music. Also enjoy Dvorák's Symphony No. 7, which explores a range of emotions from grandeur and tragedy to pastoral reflection. Verdi's Requiem Friday, March 20, 2015, 8:00pm Saturday, March 21, 2015, 8:00pm Sunday, March 22, 2015, 2:30pm Andrés Orozco-Estrada, conductor Houston Symphony Chorus Betsy Cook Weber, director Verdi: Requiem When Verdi's Requiem was first performed in 1874, it was monumental and groundbreaking because it combined the dramatic qualities of an opera with traditional religious music. Hear feelings of loss and sorrow in the hair-raising "Dies irae" theme as well as joyful praises, angelic voices and sublime melodies throughout this powerful performance by the Symphony and Chorus. Mozart's Symphony No. 39 Thursday, March 26, 2015, 8:00pm Saturday, March 28, 2015, 8:00pm Sunday, March 29, 2015, 2:30pm Gilbert Varga, conductor Augustin Hadelich, violin Mendelssohn: Overture to A Midsummer Night's Dream Bartók: Violin Concerto No. 2 Mozart: Symphony No. 39 In contrast to the worldly troubles that surrounded him, Mozart's Symphony No. 39 is a delightful composition with an optimistic spirit. Violinist Augustin Hadelich shares Mozart's spirit of perseverance. Grab your ticket and witness why, according to theHouston Chronicle, Hadelich's last performance at Jones Hall "exerted the kind of excitement that threatens to lift the listener right out of his seat." Journey to the land of forbidden love with Mendelssohn's Overture to A Midsummer Night's Dream, Shakespeare's beloved play, with its invigorating instrumental effects. About 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.

Photo Credit: Jeff Fitlow