November at The Houston Symphony Features AFRICAN SAFARI, BEETHOVEN'S FIFTH and More

The Houston Symphony's November calendar features an exciting lineup of concerts including a musical exploration of one of the world's most diverse and fascinating continents with Family Series concert AFRICAN SAFARIwith Music from The Lion King on November 1. Followed by a historic concert from Houston's sister city Leipzig, Germany'sLeipzig Gewandhouse Orchestra performing the work of German masters Bach and Mendelssohn and marking the 25th anniversary year of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Experience Part I of a three-season cycle of all nine Beethoven symphonies with three weeks of music by the legendary composer. The exploration will begin with Beethoven's powerful Fifth Symphony on November 14-16. On November 20-23, patrons will be treated to the drama and grandeur of Mozart's Requiem performed by the Houston Symphony and Chorus along with two Beethoven overtures in Mozart's Requiem Plus Beethoven. Finally, the 2014-15 seasons' exploration of Beethoven will conclude over the Thanksgiving weekend with Beethoven 1 & 4, two glorious examples of his compositional style coupled with nods to Mozart and Haydn's spirited Classical tradition 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. November 1, 2014, 10:00am November 1, 2014, 11:30am African Safari With Music From The Lion King Jones Hall Robert Franz, conductor Intuitive African Dance and Drum Culture, African drummers Explore one of the world's most diverse and fascinating continents: Africa. This passport adventure guides you through the sounds of exotic wildlife, beloved characters with Disney's The Lion King as well as traditional African folk tunes and dance music. Don't forget your binoculars, hat and other safari gear as we embark on this musical excursion across Africa! November 3, 2014, The Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra This concert presentation marks a significant, historic partnership with the City of Houston, Houston-Leipzig Sister City Association and the Houston Symphony. Mayor Annise D. Parker recently joined former Secretary of State James A. Baker III and representatives from the Houston Symphony and the Houston-Leipzig (Germany) Sister City Association to announce this concert event at Jones Hall marking the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Repertoire will include German composers Bach and Mendelssohn; Riccardo Chailly, the Gewandhaus Orchestra's Music Director (or the "Gewandhauskapellmeister"), will conduct. Mr. Baker and former President George H. W. Bush will serve as honorary chairs of the concert, having served in critical roles leading up to the events in 1989 when the wall fell, ultimately paving the way for Germany's reunification in 1990. Join us as we welcome the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, which has been touted as "one of Europe's finest orchestras" by The Guardian. Thursday, November 13, 2014, 8:00pm (Sugar Land series) Friday, November 14, 2014, 8:00pm Saturday, November 15, 2014, 8:00pm Sunday, November 16, 2014, 7:30pm (Special Musically Speaking With Andrés, Spanish Dialogue Program) at Rice University Beethoven's Fifth Andrés Orozco-Estrada, conductor Frank Huang, violin Gabriela Lena Frank: Three Latin American Dances Lalo: Symphonie espagnole Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 Hear the opening four-note, attention-grabbing theme of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, and you'll instantly know why it is considered one of the most influential pieces of music ever written. This performance kicks off 3 Weeks of Beethoven with Andrés Orozco-Estrada and begins a three-year cycle of all nine Beethoven symphonies. Also, experience Lalo's Symphonie espagnole, which features brilliant Spanish violin melodies performed by Concertmaster Frank Huang. Thursday, November 20, 2014, 8:00pm Saturday, November 22, 2014, 8:00pm Sunday, November 23, 2014, 2:30pm Mozart's Requiem Plus Beethoven Andrés Orozco-Estrada, conductor Houston Symphony Chorus Betsy Cook Weber, director Beethoven: Overture to Coriolan Beethoven: Overture to Egmont Brahms: Schicksalslied (Song of Destiny) Mozart: Requiem Opening with two Beethoven overtures and concluding with Mozart's Requiem, Music Director Andrés Orozco- Estrada leads the Houston Symphony and Chorus in a program exuding drama and heroism. The Requiem, Mozart's final composition, remains one of his most compelling and impactful masterpieces. Capturing the essence of Mozart's musical genius, it expresses intense emotion, both powerful and serene. Friday, November 28, 2014, 8:00pm Saturday, November 29, 2014, 8:00pm Sunday, November 30, 2014, 2:30pm Beethoveen 1 & 4 Andrés Orozco-Estrada, conductor Brinton Averil Smith, cello Beethoven: Symphony No. 1 Schumann: Cello Concerto Beethoven: Symphony No. 4 Bring your family and friends this Thanksgiving weekend and give thanks for Beethoven. The composer's First and Fourth Symphonies combine his compositional style coupled with nods to Mozart and Haydn's spirited Classical tradition. Principal Cellist Brinton Averil Smith performs Schumann's Cello Concerto, which was described by legendary cellist Pablo Casals as "sublime music from beginning to end." 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 $30.7 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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