Houston Symphony to Welcome Back Hans Graf, Begin. 10/23

On October 23, 25, and 26, the Symphony welcomes back Conductor Laureate Hans Graf in his 2014-15 Season debut with the Houston Symphony in Ravel and Debussy. A program mixing French artistic imagery, evocative melodies and jazzy piano sounds, Ravel and Debussy promises a unique take on the two prominent Impressionist composers. Mr. Graf pairs the whimsical style of Ravel's Mother Goose with Debussy's famously nostalgic Images trilogy. The Symphony will also join forces with the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH) on Images, enhancing the musical landscapes with imagery from their upcoming Monet and the Seine: Impressions of a River exhibit. Local favorite and Professor of Piano at Rice University's Shepherd School of Music, Jon Kimura Parker will delight audiences with Ravel's jazzy Piano Concerto.

Audience members interested in learning more about the background of the music are invited to attend the free Prelude pre-concert discussion 45-minutes prior to the start of the concert. The Thursday Prelude will be led by Jane Evans, William A. Camfield Graduate Fellow, as she elaborates on the MFAH's Impressionist art and music. The Saturday and Sunday Prelude will be led by Helga Aurisch, MFAH curator of European art.