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Houston Symphony

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Houston Symphony
Jones Hall

The Houston Symphony is an American orchestra based in Houston, Texas. The orchestra is resident at the Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts.

History

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The first concert of what was to become the Houston Symphony took place on June 21, 1913, sponsored by the Houston philanthropist Ima Hogg. Initially, the orchestra was composed of only 35 part-time musicians. Despite its small stature and budget, the orchestra and its first conductor, Julien Paul Blitz, enjoyed a good response and continued to perform. He conducted until 1916, then Paul Bergé, until the orchestra disbanded in 1918.

The orchestra reformed in 1930, still as a semi-professional orchestra, and gave its first full season of concerts the following year conducted by Uriel Nespoli. In the spring of 1936, the symphony society officially became the Houston Symphony Society. Ernst Hoffmann began his tenure that year with increased support from the Society and began hiring professional musicians. The orchestra continued to expand over the next several decades, and its first 52-week contract was signed in 1971.

Leopold Stokowski was music director from 1955 to 1961. During his tenure, the Houston Symphony gave the American premiere of the Symphony no. 11 of Dmitri Shostakovich, and subsequently made the first commercial recording of the work. When Stokowski invited African-American opera singer Shirley Verrett to sing with the Houston Symphony in the early 1960s, he was forced to rescind his invitation when the orchestra board refused to accept a black soloist. Stokowski later made amends by giving her a prestigious date with the Philadelphia Orchestra.[1]

The orchestra performed in either the City Auditorium or the Music Hall until the construction in 1966 of the Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts. In 2001, the orchestra lost millions of dollars' worth of instruments, music, and archives when Tropical Storm Allison flooded the basement levels of Jones Hall. In 2003, the musicians went on strike for 24 days, and the settlement included a pay cut for the musicians and a reduction in the size of the orchestra.[2][3]

Hans Graf was the music director of the orchestra from 2001 to 2013, the longest tenure of any Houston Symphony music director. In September 2009, the orchestra announced the conclusion of his tenure as music director at the end of the 2012–2013 season, upon which Graf took the title of conductor laureate of the orchestra.[4]

Andrés Orozco-Estrada became music director in September 2014,[5] with an initial contract of five years. In March 2017, the orchestra announced an extension of Orozco-Estrada's contract through the 2021–2022 season.[6] Orozco-Estrada and the orchestra have recorded commercially for the PENTATONE label. Orozco-Estrada concluded his Houston music directorship at the close of the 2021–2022 season.[7]

Juraj Valčuha first guest-conducted the orchestra in 2011. He returned as a guest conductor twice, in April 2018 and in March 2021. In July 2021, the orchestra announced the appointment of Valčuha as its next music director, effective with the 2022–2023 season.[8]

Music Directors

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Conductors laureate

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  • Christoph Eschenbach[9]
  • Hans Graf[10]
  • Andrés Orozco-Estrada[11]

Notable musicians, past and present

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The following Houston Symphony musicians have articles in Wikipedia:

References

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  1. ^ Anthony Tommasini (July 27, 2003). "Shirley Verrett Finally Tells Us Where She's Been". The New York Times. Retrieved March 19, 2008.
  2. ^ International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians, Settlement Bulletin, "Houston Symphony Ratifies 4-Year Agreement". 17 April 2003. Archived November 16, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Daniel J. Wakin (February 5, 2006). "Carnegie Hall 4 Vry Lo Rnt". New York Times. Retrieved January 10, 2007.
  4. ^ Tara Dooley (September 23, 2009). "Hans Graf takes steps to leave symphony". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved October 2, 2009.
  5. ^ Steven Brown (January 16, 2013). "Colombia native will be Houston Symphony's next leader". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
  6. ^ "Houston Symphony And Music Director Andrés Orozco-Estrada Announce Contract Renewal Through 2022" (Press release). Houston Symphony. March 23, 2017. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  7. ^ "The Houston Symphony Announces 2021–22 Season Program Details For the Final Concerts with Andrés Orozco-Estrada As Music Director, and the Bank of America POPS Series" (Press release). Houston Symphony Orchestra. June 16, 2021. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  8. ^ "Houston Symphony Names Juraj Valčuha As Next Music Director" (Press release). Houston Symphony Orchestra. July 14, 2021. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  9. ^ "Houston Symphony Conductor Laureate Christoph Eschenbach Returns". Houston Symphony. February 14, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  10. ^ "Hans Graf Talks Ravel & Debussy". Houston Symphony. October 23, 2014. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  11. ^ "Andrés Returns". Houston Symphony. November 27, 2023. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
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