MUSIC

You’re invited to the party of the year at the Houston Symphony’s 20th Season Celebration Concert June 12 at 8 p.m. This event commemorates the past 20 years of extraordinary performing arts events at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. Guests can celebrate at this festive birthday party with clowns, magicians, stilt walkers, jugglers, games, arts and crafts, and even cake! Radio Disney also is on hand with dancing, games and prizes. No need to bring a gift, just enjoy the fun!

Robert Franz (pictured) directs the Houston Symphony throughout the evening, providing guests with jubilant selections from Russian ballets, operas and orchestral compositions.

The evening begins with Mikhail Glinka’s Overture to “Ruslan and Ludmila,” originally composed between 1837 and 1842. This operatic work incorporates aspects of Russian folk music and the overture is the most famous piece of the opera. Next, the symphony performs Polovtsian Dances, the most well-known selections from the opera “Prince Igor” composed by Alexander Borodin and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.

Continuing the Russian musical theme, the Waltz from “The Sleeping Beauty,” the second of Tchaikovsky’s three ballets, is expertly performed by the symphony. The score for this ballet was completed in 1889 and has been considered Tchaikovsky’s greatest ballet, incorporated into many famous ballets around the world.

The symphony continues its musical journey with two pieces composed by Anatoly Liadov. “Baba-Yaga,” Opus 56, a symphonic poem composed between 1890 and 1904, and “Kikimora,” Opus 63, portray Slavic mythological creatures as main characters. These short tone poems are considered Liadov’s most famous works and are very programmatic, creating descriptive scenes and images within the audience’s mind. The evening concludes with the Suite from “L’oiseau de feu (The Firebird),” the 1910 ballet composed by Igor Stravinsky based on Russian folk-tales of a magical glowing bird known as The Firebird.

Pre-concert activities for 20th Season Celebration Concert begin at 7 p.m. in the Fidelity Investments Plaza. Woodlands Online, Woodforest National Bank, Amazing Siding, Houston Family Magazine, Radio Disney and Audi of America, official automobile sponsor of The Pavilion, are all a part of the pre-concert activities throughout the plaza.

The Pavilion Partners offers its popular Instrument Petting Zoo, sponsored by Music & Arts, that allows children to gain hands-on experience with an array of musical instruments. Kids can then create their own birthday hats at The Pavilion Partners arts and crafts booth, making them feel part of the celebration. Also, guests can register to win Tommy Bahama’s “Best Seats in the House” for the next symphony event.

All pre-concert events are free to everyone attending the performance. The first 250 guests at 20th Season Celebration get a free t-shirt as their party favor.

Tickets to the 20th Season Celebration Concert are $15 for orchestra seating. Mezzanine and lawn seating is free courtesy of Macy’s and tickets are not required. Half-price tickets for orchestra-level seating are available with the password STARS and may be purchased at The Pavilion Ticket Office, located at 2005 Lake Robbins Drive in The Woodlands. The Ticket Office is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and on event days through the start of the show. Tickets also are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, including Macy’s, Fiesta, select FYE, H-E-B and Ritmo locations, Wherehouse Music and Media Magic, by calling 800-745-3000, or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Some service charges may apply.