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]
^Anthony Tommasini (July 27, 2003). "Shirley Verrett Finally Tells Us Where She's Been". The New York Times. Retrieved March 19, 2008.
^International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians, Settlement Bulletin, "Houston Symphony Ratifies 4-Year Agreement". 17 April 2003. November 16, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
^Daniel J. Wakin (February 5, 2006). "Carnegie Hall 4 Vry Lo Rnt". New York Times. Retrieved January 10, 2007.
^Tara Dooley (September 23, 2009). "Hans Graf takes steps to leave symphony". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved October 2, 2009.
^Steven Brown (January 16, 2013). "Colombia native will be Houston Symphony's next leader". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
^"Houston Symphony And Music Director Andrés Orozco-Estrada Announce Contract Renewal Through 2022" (Press release). Houston Symphony. March 23, 2017. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
^"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.
^"Houston Symphony Names Juraj Valčuha As Next Music Director" (Press release). Houston Symphony Orchestra. July 14, 2021. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
External linksEdit
Houston Symphony official website
History from The Handbook of Texas Online
Oral History clip of Ima Hogg discussing the formation of the Houston Symphony from the Houston Area Digital Archive
October 21, 2023
houston, symphony, american, orchestra, based, houston, texas, orchestra, resident, jesse, jones, hall, performing, arts, jones, hall, contents, history, music, directors, notable, musicians, past, present, references, external, linkshistory, editthe, first, c. 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 Houston SymphonyJones Hall Contents 1 History 2 Music Directors 3 Notable musicians past and present 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditThe 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 Berge 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 Andres 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 Valcuha 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 Valcuha as its next music director effective with the 2022 2023 season 8 Music Directors EditJulien Paul Blitz 1913 1916 Paul Berge 1916 1918 Uriel Nespoli 1931 1932 Frank St Leger 1932 1935 Ernst Hoffmann 1936 1947 Efrem Kurtz 1948 1954 Ferenc Fricsay 1954 Leopold Stokowski 1955 1961 John Barbirolli 1961 1967 Andre Previn 1967 1969 Lawrence Foster 1971 1979 Sergiu Comissiona 1980 1988 Christoph Eschenbach 1988 1999 Hans Graf 2001 2013 Andres Orozco Estrada 2014 2022 Juraj Valcuha 2022 present Notable musicians past and present EditThe following Houston Symphony musicians have articles in Wikipedia Arlene Weiss Alda clarinet assistant principal 1956 1957 James Austin trumpet principal 1960 1977 Edward Carroll trumpet associate principal 1975 1976 Wayne Crouse viola principal 1951 1983 Willard Somers Elliot bassoon 1946 1949 Paul Ellison bass principal 1964 1987 Armando Ghitalla trumpet 1948 1950 Desmond Hoebig cello principal 1991 2003 Frank Huang violin concertmaster 2010 2015 Benjamin Kamins bassoon principal 1981 2003 Julie Landsman horn co principal 1982 1985 Cristian Măcelaru violin 2004 2006 Erik Ralske horn associate principal 1987 1993 Beatrice Schroeder Rose harp principal 1953 1984 Hal Robinson bass assistant principal 1977 1985 Elaine Shaffer flute principal 1948 1953 Joseph Silverstein violin 1950 1953 Brinton Averil Smith cello principal 2005 present Laila Storch oboe principal 1948 1955 William VerMeulen horn principal 1990 present John McLaughlin Williams violin 1981 1982 Harold Wright clarinet c 1949 1952References Edit Anthony Tommasini July 27 2003 Shirley Verrett Finally Tells Us Where She s Been The New York Times Retrieved March 19 2008 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 Daniel J Wakin February 5 2006 Carnegie Hall 4 Vry Lo Rnt New York Times Retrieved January 10 2007 Tara Dooley September 23 2009 Hans Graf takes steps to leave symphony Houston Chronicle Retrieved October 2 2009 Steven Brown January 16 2013 Colombia native will be Houston Symphony s next leader Houston Chronicle Retrieved January 27 2013 Houston Symphony And Music Director Andres Orozco Estrada Announce Contract Renewal Through 2022 Press release Houston Symphony March 23 2017 Retrieved April 6 2017 The Houston Symphony Announces 2021 22 Season Program Details For the Final Concerts with Andres Orozco Estrada As Music Director and the Bank of America POPS Series Press release Houston Symphony Orchestra June 16 2021 Retrieved July 15 2021 Houston Symphony Names Juraj Valcuha As Next Music Director Press release Houston Symphony Orchestra July 14 2021 Retrieved July 15 2021 External links EditHouston Symphony official website History from The Handbook of Texas Online Oral History clip of Ima Hogg discussing the formation of the Houston Symphony from the Houston Area Digital Archive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Houston Symphony amp oldid 1165049670, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
