Prelude
Sponsored by Fluor

Calling all ticket holders! The Houston Symphony invites you to attend a free, 20-minute, pre-concert lecture at Jones Hall beginning 50 minutes prior to each Classical Subscription performance. Music scholars and occasionally special guests from the performance give you insights and background about the concert to follow.

September 12, 13, 14, 2008
Prelude, sponsored by Fluor, begins 50 minutes before each concert. Rice University musicologist Greg Barnett compares Copland’s tribute to the taxpayer funding World War II with Tower’s response to a Texas Sesquicentennial commission.

September 18, 20, 21, 2008
Prelude, sponsored by Fluor, begins 50 minutes before each concert. Discuss Stravinsky’s Violin Concerto with the virtuoso violinist who will play it – Gil Shaham.

September 26, 27, 28, 2008
Prelude, sponsored by Fluor, begins 50 minutes before each concert. Yevgeny Yevtushenko, whose poetry inspired Shostakovich to compose his Thirteenth Symphony, joins Ira J. Black to explore the dynamics between politics and the arts.

October 16, 18, 19, 2008
Prelude, sponsored by Fluor, begins 50 minutes before each concert. Delve into the impressionistic textures of Debussy’s La Mer with Rice University musicologist Nancy Bailey.

November 7, 8, 9, 2008
Prelude, sponsored by Fluor, begins 50 minutes before each concert. Houston Symphony Chorus Director Charles Hausmann discusses Schubert’s distinctively choral Mass No. 6.

November 13, 15, 16, 2008
Prelude, sponsored by Fluor, begins 50 minutes before each concert. Explore the dash of comedy Shostakovich injected into his Piano Concerto by way of a solo trumpet line with Houston Symphony trumpeter Mark Hughes.

November 28, 29, 30, 2008
Prelude, sponsored by Fluor, begins 50 minutes before each concert. Meet each instrument family of the orchestra when local radio personality Tom Richards discusses Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra.

January 16, 17, 18, 2009
Prelude, sponsored by Fluor, begins 50 minutes before each concert. Explore Schumann’s coming-of-age as a symphonist with Music Director Hans Graf and Assistant Conductor Brett Mitchell.

January 22, 24, 25, 2009
Prelude, sponsored by Fluor, begins 50 minutes before each concert. Composer Augusta Read Thomas talks about her creative process and the piece she wrote for the Houston Symphony.

February 20, 21, 22, 2009
Prelude, sponsored by Fluor, begins 50 minutes before each concert. KUHF radio host Dean Dalton discusses the many talents of Bernstein – conductor, teacher and composer of nearly every musical genre.

February 26, 28, March 1, 2009
Prelude, sponsored by Fluor, begins 50 minutes before each concert. Meet with University of Houston musicologist Jeffrey Sposato to discover how Mozart the pianist inspired Mozart the composer.

March 12, 14, 15, 2009
Prelude, sponsored by Fluor, begins 50 minutes before each concert. University of Houston musicologist Paul Bertagnolli illuminates Bruckner’s choice to leave out the strings in his E minor Mass.

March 20, 21, 22, 2009
Prelude, sponsored by Fluor, begins 50 minutes before each concert. Sift through the cozy simplicities that inspired Strauss’ Symphonia Domestica with Rice University musicologist David Ferris.

April 2, 4, 5, 2009
Prelude, sponsored by Fluor, begins 50 minutes before each concert. Discuss the music of Vaughan Williams and John Williams with popular lecturer Ira J. Black

April 18, 19, 20, 2009
Prelude, sponsored by Fluor, begins 50 minutes before each concert. Composer and University of Houston professor Rob Smith discusses the evolving John Adams – from his early minimalism to the lyricism of his Violin Concerto.

April 30, May 1, 2, 2009
Explore the inner workings of symphonic music and those who create it with Prelude, sponsored by Fluor, beginning 50 minutes prior to each concert.

May 8, 9, 10, 2009
Prelude, sponsored by Fluor, begins 50 minutes before each concert. Ira J. Black discusses how Bartók shaped the form Beethoven used to highlight the violin into a spotlight for the entire orchestra.

May 14, 16, 17, 2009
Prelude, sponsored by Fluor, begins 50 minutes before each concert. Explore the great melodies of Italy with Assistant Conductor/American Conducting Fellow Brett Mitchell.

Houston Symphony Speakers Bureau

The Houston Symphony provides volunteer speakers from the board, staff and orchestra for school and community groups interested in learning more about how a symphony orchestra operates. Hear about the day-to-day life of a professional musician or get details of the work that goes on behind the scenes as we put together a season of concerts. Each presentation is about 45 minutes in length and includes a free pair of tickets as a door prize. Schedule a visit for your organization by contacting Melissa McCrimmon at 713-238-1458 or email melissa.mccrimmon@houstonsymphony.org