InTune | September 2025

PERFORMANCE CALENDAR

2025-26 se a son

O p e n i n g We e ken d : Val č u h a

C on du c t s St r av in s k y ’s Fi r eb i r d

S e pt e m b e r 1 9, 2 0* & 2 1

S Fiesta Sinfónica

S e pt e m b e r 26

Eschenbach Conducts

Mozart & Bruckner

S e pt e m b e r 2 7 & 28*

K i n g f o r a D ay : T h e M u s i c o f El v i s

O c t o b e r 3 , 4* & 5

J ea n -Yve s T h i b a u d e t +

T h e T h r e e - C o r n e r e d H a t

O c t o b e r 1 0, 11* & 12

G e r s hw i n & G r i m a u d :

J a z z M e e t s Symp ho ny

O c t o b e r 1 7, 1 8* & 19

Fr o m St a g e t o S c r e e n :

B r o a d way Me e t s H o l l y woo d

O c t o b e r 3 1 , N ove m b e r 1* & 2

Fri g h t f u l l y Fu n ! A H a l l owe e n

C o n c e r t f o r K i d s

N ove m b e r 1

Shall We Dance?

N ove m b e r 8 & 9*

S N o s f e r a t u: S i le n t Fil m

w i t h L i v e O r g a n

N ov e m b e r 1 6

S

J o u r n ey t o L i g h t : Va l č u h a

C on du c t s S h o s t a kov i c h 1 0

N ove m b e r 2 1 , 2 2 * & 2 3

Th a nk s g i v i n g We e ken d :

Tcha i kovs k y ’s P i an o

C o n c e r t o N o . 1

N ove m b e r 28 , 2 9* & 3 0

H and e l s M es si a h

D ec e m b e r 5 , 6* & 7

J oy f u l Fa n fa r e s ! H o l i d ay

B r a s s S p ec t ac u l a r

D ec e m b e r 6 & 7

S Vo c t ave: It Feels Like C h r i s t m a s

D ec e m b e r 8

Ve r y M e r r y Po p s D ec e m b e r 11 , 1 3* & 1 4

O h , W h at Fu n ! A H o l i d ay

C o n c e r t f o r K i d s

D ec e m b e r 1 3

Mariachi Sol De Mexico de José Hernández presents: José Hernández’ Merry-Achi Christmas

Dec e m b e r 15

S S Elf i n C on c e r t

D ec e m b e r 1 9, 2 0 & 2 1

See our full year calendar for even more concerts!

The Houston Symphony relies on generosity from donors like you for more than 2/3 of our annual operating budget

When you donate to the Annual Fund, you empower our orchestra’s Education and Community Engagement programs, which are recognized nationally for their depth, breadth, and creativity.

The Harry and Cora Sue Mach Student Concert Series engaged nearly 42,000 students through 21 concerts—more than double the number of students served by any other American Orchestra through a similar concert series.

SCAN HERE TO SUPPORT THESE VITAL INITIATIVES

During the 2024—25 Season, we continued our tradition of creating extraordinary musical experiences that allow every member of our community opportunities to learn, connect, and express themselves through music.

The Symphony’s High School Nights, presented by Oxy, welcomed 1,800 students from 34 di erent schools across 4 concerts.

200,000

We reached nearly Houstonians through free and low-cost concerts and community engagement activities in hospitals, schools, memory care centers, and more!

53 Orchestra Musicians and 9 Community-Embedded Musicians participated in more thany 600 events in schools, hospitals, senior centers, and other community centers.

2 In Harmony Programs

served 75 students through free, high-quality music education after school in Houston’s Fifth Ward and East End communities. In Harmony supports the unique needs of each community through meaningful partnerships with the DeLUXE Theatre, Segundo Barrio Children’s Chorus (SBCC), and AFA (American Festival of the Arts).

Juraj Valčuha

Music Director

Roy and Lillie Cullen Chair

COMMUNITY-EMBEDDED MUSICIAN

Lindsey Baggett, Violin

ASSISTANT LIBRARIANS

Ali Verderber, Associate Librarian

Megan Fisher, Assistant Librarian

STAGE PERSONNEL

Stefan Stout, Stage Manager

José Rios, Assistant Stage Manager

Nicholas DiFonzo, Head Video Engineer

Justin Herriford, Head Audio Engineer

Connor Morrow, Head Stage Technician

Giancarlo Minotti, Audio Production Manager

I

OPENING NIGHT

Other

Worlds:

Season Overture

Inon Barnatan, piano

Tessa Lark, violin

Hsin-Yun Huang, viola

Efe Baltacıgil, cello

Robin Kesselman, double bass

Fri., October 3, 7:00 PM

Cullen Theater, Wortham Theater Center

Music of Rachmaninoff, Ravel, Tessa Lark and Schubert (Trout Quintet)

dacamera.com | 713-524-5050

Matthias Goerne, baritone

Daniil Trifonov, piano

Wed., October 29, 7:30 PM

Cullen Theater, Wortham Theater Center

All-Schubert program Titans of the classical world, renowned for their interpretive mastery as both soloists and collaborators.

The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts

The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts is one of the best-known names in Houston philanthropy and has been one of the Symphony’s greatest champions. One of three charitable trusts with independent boards created by the Cullen Foundation in the 1970s, it furthers the philanthropic legacy of Houston legend Hugh Roy Cullen. The Trust has contributed more than $9 million to the Houston Symphony since 1984, supporting almost every aspect of the orchestra’s activity.

The Houston Symphony is grateful to the M.D. Anderson Foundation, a dedicated supporter since the 1970s, for supporting the Symphony’s grand scale musical projects and helping us adapt to pandemic challenges. Founded by Monroe Dunaway Anderson in 1936, the Foundation is renowned for its role in creating the Texas Medical Center and the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and supports organizations enhancing the quality of life for Houstonians. The Houston Symphony thanks the Trustees of the Foundation for its decades of support and salutes them for their service to our city.

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FRIENDS OF CHAMBER MUSIC

30th Concert Series | 2025–2026

ANNA LAPWOOD, organ

“She had rightly become the world’s most visible organist.”

September 19, 2025 | Fri, 7pm

A&M United Methodist Church

In collaboration with A&M UMC

DREAMERS’ CIRCUS

fiddle, accordion, piano, cittern

October 29, 2025 | Wed, 7pm

Ice House on Main

Nordic folk + your favorite beverage Historic ambiance sponsored by Ice House

DANISH STRING QUARTET

“There are simply two kinds of string quartets: the Danish, and the others.”

November 19, 2025 | Wed, 7 pm

First Presbyterian Church

CANADIAN BRASS

“The world’s most famous brass group”

February 1, 2026 | Sun, 5pm

A&M United Methodist Church

In collaboration with A&M UMC

CANTUS | Land That I Love

Low-voice a cappella ensemble

April 17, 2026 | Fri, 7pm

George H.W. Bush Presidential Library & Museum