Houston Symphony Features Sutton Foster, Bernadette Peters, and More

The Houston Symphony welcomes Broadway legends, iconic conductors, and programs for the whole family in February 2015. Sutton Foster will open the exciting month with three riveting evenings filled with hits from Shrek: The Musical and Anything Goes(January 30-31 and February 1), followed by a performance by legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman who will impress audiences as he plays violin and conducts the orchestra in Perlman Plays & Conducts on February 12-15. Since his rise to fame as a child prodigy, the Israeli-American violinist has performed in nearly every major concert hall around the world. And just in time for Valentine's Day, the multi-talented TV, film and stage actress Bernadette Peters will sure captivate as the orchestra accompanies her in a dazzling performance of some of Broadway's best music on February 13. Conductor Laureate Hans Graf will close the short month on a high note as he is joined on stage by young French classical pianist Lise de la Salle for Graf Conducts Schumann on February 20-22. Perlman performs Bach's Violin Concerto No. 2 and then conducts Schubert's monumental and majestic Symphony No. 9, The Great. 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 Detectives and Explorers Concerts throughout the month. On February 26, join the Houston Symphony as it commemorates Houston-area educators for their work they do in developing the future leaders. The Salute to Educators Concert features the winner from the Houston Symphony League Concerto Competition in the first half and a side-by-side Houston Symphony performance in the second half featuring a partnering youth orchestras The month of February culminates with a Black History Month choral celebration which includes a free performance by the Houston CityWide Grassroots Chorus and the Houston Symphony, featuring the eminent Fisk University Jubilee Singers. The Jubilee Singers will be working with local high school singers at a workshop prior to the concert. The students will then join the group for the program's last selection. Sutton Foster Friday, January 30, 2015, 8:00pm Saturday, January 31, 2015, 8:00pm Sunday, February 1, 2015, 2:30pm 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. Foster, who Vanity Fair describes as "the new Ethel Merman (meets Barbra Streisand)," belts hits such as "Gimme, Gimme" and "Anything Goes." Detective Concerts Tuesday, February 3, 2015, 9:30am and 11:15am Wednesday, February 4, 2015, 9:30am and 11:15am The Robbins Foundation Symphony Detective Concerts introduce students to the orchestra's key players. This season's program, The Science of Sound, supports the focus on developing active listening and critical thinking skills, and incorporates the STEM curriculum for grades 1-3. Perlman Plays and Conducts Thursday, February 12, 2015, 8:00pm Saturday, February 14, 2015, 8:00pm Sunday, February 15, 2015, 2:30pm Itzhak Perlman, conductor and violin Bach: Violin Concerto No. 2 Weber: Overture to Oberon Schubert: Symphony No. 9, The Great Legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman doubly impresses as he plays violin and conducts the orchestra. Since his rise to fame as a child prodigy, the Israeli-American violinist has performed in nearly every major concert hall around the world and even on TV inSesame Street. With his emotion-filled, expressive musicianship, Perlman performs Bach's Violin Concerto No. 2 and then conducts Schubert's monumental and majestic Symphony No. 9, The Great. Bernadette Peters Friday, February 13, 2015, 7:30 pm Bernadette Peters, vocalist The seven-time Tony Award® winner Bernadette Peters, who has been headlining the Broadway stage for decades and whose screen credits include NBC's Smash and her Golden Globe® win for Pennies from Heaven, arrives in Houston just in time for Valentine's Day. She captivates you as the orchestra accompanies her in a dazzling performance of some of Broadway's best music. Graf Conducts Schumann Friday, February 20, 2015, 8:00pm Saturday, February 21, 2015, 8:00pm Sunday, February 22, 2015, 2:30pm Hans Graf, conductor *Lise de la Salle, piano Hindemith: Konzertmusik for Strings and Brass Saint-Saëns: Piano Concerto No. 2 Schumann: Symphony No. 3, Rhenish Inspired by the Rhineland and the majestic Cologne Cathedral in Germany, Schumann's Symphony No. 3, Rhenish, is emotive, lyrical and uplifting. Returning to the Jones Hall podium, Conductor Laureate Hans Graf is joined on stage by young French pianist Lise de la Salle, who performs Saint-Säens' Piano Concerto No. 2. A rising star in classical music, The New York Times stated, "Ms. de la Salle is eminently musical; she offers depth as well as virtuosity." Detective Concert Wednesday, February 25, 2015, 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. Salute to Educators Concert Thursday, February 26, 2015 at 7:30 pm Robert Franz, conductor Jasper Snow, viola High School for the Performing and Visual Arts Orchestra Brad Smith, Director Smetana: The Moldau Walton: Viola Concerto Liszt: Les Preludes Brahms: Academic Festival Overture Each year, the Houston Symphony honors Houston-area teachers by providing a concert to celebrate educators and the great work they do in developing the leaders of our future. This concert features the winner from the Houston Symphony League Concerto Competition in the first half and a performance of one of the best-known orchestral masterworks in the second half, with the Houston Symphony performing side-by-side one of our partnering youth orchestras. Thanks to the generous support of Spec's Charitable Foundation, this concert is free to attend for all teachers/educators and their guests. A Choral Celebration of Black History Month Saturday, February 28, 2015 at 1:30pm Cullen Theatre in the Wortham Center FREE Join the CityWide Grassroots Chorus and Houston Symphony as they welcome the famous Fisk University Jubilee Singers. The Jubilee Singers will be working with local high school singers at a workshop prior to the concert. The students will then join the group for the program's last selection. The CityWide Grassroots Chorus developed from the grassroots of the Houston city-wide African-American community whose mission is to celebrate African-American contributions to music. Founded by the Houston Symphony's African-American Leadership Council Chairman Brodrick Hill and led by Chorus Director Adavion Wayne, this newly-formed chorus performs throughout the year on its own and also with the Houston Symphony. 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.

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