the Arts
August - September 2012
Volume 13, Issue 3
Fall in Love with Latin American Music
Under the Stars with Johannes Brahms
September 6 • 8 p.m.
September 21 • 8 p.m.
Join us for a Latin American-style concert featuring the works of Manuel de Falla, Joaquín Rodrigo and Silvestre Revueltas at Latin American Classical Sept. 6 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 for orchestra seating. Mezzanine and lawn seating are free courtesy of The Wortham Foundation. Tickets are not required for free seating. Gates open at 7 p.m.
Celebrate the best of Johannes Brahms, one of the leading musicians of the Romantic period, with an evening dedicated to three of his greatest works at Evening with Brahms Sept. 21 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 for orchestra seating. Mezzanine and lawn seating are free courtesy of The Wortham Foundation. Tickets are not required for free seating. Gates open at 7 p.m.
Photo by Tyler Boye
Conducting the symphony is Hans Graf who enters his final season as Music Director of the Houston Symphony. The Symphony’s 201213 season will be Graf’s grand finale after 12 years at the helm of this world-renowned orchestra. Joining the symphony is Jason Vieaux on guitar. Vieaux is cited as one of the “youngest stars of the guitar world” by The New York Times.
The concert features Suites No. 1 and 2 from Falla’s “El Sombrero de tres picos,” a ballet performed with full orchestral music. Falla was influenced by traditional Andalusian folk music. The mezzo-soprano songs are examples of cante jondo singing which typically accompanies flamenco music and tells a sad story. Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez for Guitar and Orchestra is a composition featuring classical guitar. The second movement is the best known of the three, marked by its slow pace and quiet melody, introduced by the English horn, with a soft accompaniment by guitar and strings. Revueltas’ “Sensemayá,” a poem by the Cuban poet Nicolás Guillén, was adapted as an orchestral work by Revueltas and became one of his most famous compositions.
Hans Graf
Pre-concert activities for Latin American Classical begin at 7 p.m. in the North Plaza. Children and parents can visit The Pavilion Partners Arts & Crafts Booth and Instrument Petting Zoo as well as activities by Woodforest National Bank, Renewal by Andersen, Century 21 Realty Partners, Market Street—The Woodlands and Audi of America, official automobile of The Pavilion. Guests also can register-to-win Tommy Bahama’s “Best Seats in the House,” participate in Fidelity’s Seat Exchange, and enjoy a performance by The Woodlands Show Chorus from 7-7:45 p.m. Get insight into the evening’s program with Pavilion Talk, a free pre-concert discussion led by noted music scholar and former college professor Ira Black from 7:15-7:45 p.m.
The program, under the baton of Maestro Hans Graf, features “Variations on a Theme of Haydn,” Concerto in A Minor for Violin, Cello and Orchestra and Symphony No. 4 Brinton Averil in E minor. “Variations on a Theme of Haydn” consists of a theme in B-flat Smith major, eight variations and a finale. The work was published in two versions: one for two pianos and one for orchestra. The orchestra version is better known. Brahms’ Concerto for Violin, Cello and Orchestra was written for cellist Robert Hausmann and estranged friend and violinist Joseph Joachim. Symphony No. 4, one of Brahms last symphonies, is scored for two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, two trumpets, three trombones and strings.
Photo by Bruce Bennett
Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna where he was a leader in the musical scene. He composed for piano, chamber ensembles, symphony orchestra and for voice and chorus. He premiered many of his own works and worked with some of the leading performers of his time, including pianist Clara Schumann and violinist Joseph Joachim. Special guests joining the symphony are Frank Huang, violinist, and Brinton Averil Smith, cellist.
Frank Huang
Photo by Jeff Fitlow
Jason Vieaux
Starting at 7 p.m., guests can enjoy pre-concert activities in the North Plaza sponsored by Fidelity Investments, Market Street—The Woodlands, Renewal by Andersen and Century 21 Realty Partners, featuring activities by The Pavilion Partners, Woodforest National Bank, CASA and Audi of America, official automobile of The Pavilion. Guests also can register-to-win Tommy Bahama’s “Best Seats in the House,” which includes dinner for four at the next performing arts event and a $100 gift card from Market Street. Enjoy the sounds of The Woodlands High School Chamber Orchestra performing from 7-7:45 p.m. Come early for Pavilion Talk with Ira J. Black, noted music scholar and former college professor, from 7:15-7:45 p.m. Pavilion Talk is a lively and insightful free pre-concert discussion about the evening’s program.
Hocus Pocus Pops
Tricks, Treats and a “Spooktacular” Essay Contest October 12 • 7:30 p.m
Photo by Ted Washington
A magical evening awaits you at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion’s Hocus Pocus Pops featuring the Houston Symphony Oct. 12 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 for orchestra seating. Mezzanine and lawn seating are free courtesy of H-E-B. Tickets are not required for free seating. Gates open at 6 p.m. This event also is sponsored in part by Houston Family Magazine.
Conductor Robert Franz leads the audience through a haunted maze of musical enchantments including “Waltz from the Masquerade Suite,” Suite No. 1 from “Peer Gynt,” Opus 46, “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” “Harry Potter: Children’s Suite/Prince of Azkaban,” “Rocky Horror Picture Show” and more. Your entire family is invited for a night out dressed in your spookiest costumes. The first 100 boys and “ghouls” to check in at Hocus Pocus Central in the North Plaza fully costumed get the chance to march in the Goblin Parade across the stage during the concert. Arrive before the moon comes out for some “spooktacular” pre-concert activities in the North Plaza, sponsored by Fidelity Investments, Market Street—The Woodlands, Renewal by Andersen and Century 21 Realty Partners, starting at 6 p.m. Jump on the Great Pumpkin Express as it leaves the station to sweep you away on a tour of The Pavilion’s grounds. Stumble upon some favorite Halloween characters roaming around The Pavilion, from Beetle Juice to Frankenstein. Little witches and zombies can wander the “BOOths” with activities offered by Woodforest National Bank, Houston Family Magazine, Montgomery County Food Bank, H-E-B and Audi of America, official automobile of The Pavilion. Creep into the House of Blues Hospitality Tent for Radio Disney’s Graveyard Smash Dance Party featuring the Radio Disney Boo Crew from 6-7:15 p.m. for “fangtastic” dancing, prizes and plenty of tricks and treats!
Photo by Sandy Langford
Celebrate
Published by The Center for the Performing Arts at The Woodlands
Feel free to pack a picnic to sink your fangs into, but keep in mind that outside potions (drinks) can not be brought into The Pavilion. For “monsterous” prizes, register to win one of two gift baskets provided by H-E-B and The Pavilion by bringing any H-E-B receipt from October 2012 to Hocus Pocus Pops. Receipts must be brought to Hocus Pocus Central in the North Plaza prior to the performance (between 6 and 7:15 p.m.) on Oct. 12. The drawing takes place on the Main Stage before the concert. For those who dare, tell us your spookiest story or Halloween tale for The Pavilion’s Hocus Pocus Pops “Spooktacular” Essay Contest. It can be purely fictional or based on personal experience. Get creative! The contest is open to all students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Grade categories for the contest are: kindergarten, first and second grade, third and fourth grade, fifth and sixth grade, seventh and eight grade, and ninth to 12th grade. The essay contest begins Sept. 3 and ends Sept. 20. One winner chosen from each grade category receives $50 in gift cards, four VIP tickets to the Houston Symphony’s Hocus Pocus Pops Oct. 12 and has their essay printed in the program for the event. Winners are notified Oct. 5. One Grand Prize winner will be chosen at random from the six finalists and announced at Hocus Pocus Pops. The grand prize winner receives a “fangtastic” prize and has their essay printed in The Courier and The Villager newspapers. Each participant in the contest is entered into a drawing for a variety of prizes.
Scan the code to answer some Halloween trivia. The winner will receive a “terrorific” VIP ticket package to Hocus Pocus Pops.
The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion’s 2012 Performing Arts Season
Presented by The Woodlands Development Company and sponsored by Audi of America, official automobile of The Pavilion, The Pavilion Partners, The Wortham Foundation, and United Airlines, official airline of The Pavilion. The North Plaza is sponsored by Fidelity Investments, Market Street—The Woodlands, Century 21 Realty Partners and Renewal by Andersen.