From the Houston Symphony Orchestra website: “From showstoppers like Boléro and The Carnival of the Animals to superstar pianist Emanuel Ax, world premieres, and dazzling solos by orchestra musicians, this special two-week festival encapsulates the inspired music making and joyful, engaging spirit that has defined Andrés Orozco-Estrada’s remarkable eight-year tenure with the Symphony.”
My wife and I are blessed to be attending both weekends [Saturday night’s] of this celebration and honoring of our great director’s leading the world class Houston Symphony Orchestra.
Andre Orozco-Estrada [HSO director 2014 – 2022]
On this Saturday night, March 19, 2022, the fetching Mrs. Sheralyn and I will be in Jones Hall in downtown Houston to attend the first of two weekends of this “Andre Fest”.
From the HSO website on this night’s concert’s program:
“On this concert:
- Take in Saint-Saëns’s beloved musical menagerie, The Carnival of the Animals, featuring Principal Keyboard Scott Holshouser and the illustrious Emanuel Ax.
- Principal Clarinet Mark Nuccio steps out for Scott McAllister’s electrifying, hard-rock-inspired Black Dog, and the boogie-woogie rhythms of Artie Shaw’s Clarinet Concerto.
- Principal Trumpet Mark Hughes shines in Jolivet’s brilliant and virtuosic Concertino for Trumpet.
- Be there for the exciting world premiere of Kyle Rivera’s Bridgetower Variations, inspired by music of virtuoso violinist and composer George Bridgetower.
- The concerts close with Dvořák’s exuberant Carnival Overture.“
As usual, when Sheralyn and I attend a concert in Jones Hall, I like to give you a little of the pieces we will be hearing at Jones Hall. So, please turn up and enjoy a couple of the pieces we will be hearing on this first weekend of the Andre Orozco-Estrada festival.
Camille Saint-Saens: Carnival of the Animals:
Artie Shaw: Clarinet Concerto:
Antonin Dvorak: Carnival Overture:
Classical Music With Big Mike 