Renée Fleming and More to Join Houston Symphony, Sept 2013

The Houston Symphony's Centennial Season Classical and POPS series of concerts will kick off in September with a sensational line up of classical repertoire, world-class soloists and acrobatic amazement. Following a spectacular weekend of POPS performances with the aerial artists, acrobats, jugglers and strongmen of Cirque de la Symphonie, the Symphony's Centennial Classical season Opening Night concert will feature the talents of three-time GRAMMY award winner and vocal superstar, Renée Fleming.

A true feast for the ears for classical music fans, concerts in September will continue with Tchaikovsky's Piano Concertoon September 12, 14 and 15 featuring the return of Kirill Gerstein, who wowed Houston audiences with performances of all 4 Rachmaninoff piano concertos during the Symphony's "RachFest" concerts in December 2011. These performances will mark the Jones Hall concert debut of the Symphony's new Steinway piano, which was chosen with Gerstein's musical recommendation and presented as a gift from the Houston Symphony League.

On September 20-22, former Houston Symphony Music Director Lawrence Foster (1971-78) will conduct Joshua Bell Returns, in which the popular violin virtuoso will perform Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto. Matthew Halls will conductBeethoven 7 Plus Rachmaninoff on September 26, 28 and 29, which will spotlight the Houston Symphony Chorus in a rare performance of Rachmaninoff's The Bells.

Friday, August 30, 2013, 8:00pm

Saturday, August 31, 2013, 8:00pm

Sunday, September 1, 2013, 7:30pm

Cirque de la Symphonie

Michael Krajewski, conductor

The Houston Symphony's Centennial POPS Season begins as daredevil cirque performers meet fiery symphonic music. Watch in awe as aerial artists defy gravity, acrobats and jugglers bring you to The Edge of your seat, and strongmen move in ways you've never thought possible. Since their Houston debut in 2006, Cirque de la Symphonie has performed to sold-out, enthusiastic crowds around the world. Join us as they return to help start our Centennial in high-octane style.

SYMPHONY SPECIAL CONCERT

Saturday, September 7, 2013, 7:30pm

Opening Night with Renée Fleming

Juanjo Mena, conductor

Renée Fleming, soprano

Join us as we open our Centennial Season with three-time GRAMMY award winner and vocal superstar, Renée Fleming. The diva will captivate you with her sumptuous voice, consummate artistry and compelling stage presence as she joins the Houston Symphony to perform classical favorites, as well as selections from her explorations of Broadway and songs of today.

Thursday, September 12, 2013, 8:00pm

Saturday, September 14, 2013, 8:00pm

Sunday, September 15, 2013, 2:30pm

Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto

Peter Oundjian, conductor

Kirill Gerstein, piano

Verdi: Overture to La Forza del Destino

Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1

Debussy: Prelude to The Afternoon of a Faun

Respighi: Pines of Rome

To open the Centennial Classical Subscription Season, pianist Kirill Gerstein returns to Houston to captivate you with the delicate melodies and explosive fireworks of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1. The evening will come to a raucous conclusion with blazing trumpets as the Consular Army marches along the Appian Way in Respighi's Pines of Rome.

Friday, September 20, 2013, 8:00pm

Saturday, September 21, 2013, 8:00pm

Sunday, September 22, 2013, 2:30pm

Joshua Bell Returns

Lawrence Foster, conductor

Joshua Bell, violin

Mussorgsky: Dance of the Persian Maidens from Khovantchina

Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on Greensleeves

Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto

Elgar: Enigma Variations

Superstar Joshua Bell is heading back to Houston to perform Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto, complete with heartbreaking melodies and fiery virtuosity. On the podium, former Music Director Lawrence Foster (1971-78) conducts the Houston Symphony in a performance of Elgar's nuanced musical characterizations of his dearest friends - the Enigma Variations.

Thursday, September 26, 2013, 8:00pm

Saturday, September 28, 2013, 8:00pm

Sunday, September 29, 2013, 2:30pm

Beethoven 7 Plus Rachmaninoff

Matthew Halls, conductor

Houston Symphony Chorus

Charles Hausmann, director

Rachmaninoff: The Bells

Beethoven: Symphony No. 7

Relish a great masterpiece of music that Beethoven himself called "one of the happiest products of my poor talents." The Seventh Symphony's Allegretto movement became famous from the very start, when the public demanded an encore at its first performance. Also on the program is Rachmaninoff's The Bells, inspired by an Edgar Allen Poe poem. Hear the orchestra and chorus create tonal colors that suggest the sounds of bells, from the merriment of silver bells to the heart-pounding excitement of alarm bells.