MUSIC

The Houston Symphony presents Beethoven's Eroica Symphony, Thursday, October 28 and Saturday, October 30 at 8pm, and Sunday, October 31 at 2:30pm in Jones Hall. Beethoven’s Eroica, threaded with epic drama and revolutionary genius in every note, has changed the rules of the classical symphony forever.

Beethoven's Third Symphony is regarded as a turning point in musical history, and it marks the beginning of his career's second period. Beethoven's ideas for the "Eroica" began during his tumultuous "Heiligenstadt Testament" period, but he waited until May 1803 to focus his efforts.

He originally titled the piece "Bonaparte" out of admiration for Napoleon, but when Napoleon declared himself emperor in 1804, Beethoven gave the piece its current name. It was dedicated instead to Prince Franz Joseph von Lobkowitz, a patron, and it was at his palace that the "Eroica" was first performed in August 1804. The "Eroica" was long, technically challenging and aimed at more than entertainment -- components that initially confused critics. After a few years, they began to see value beyond the aesthetic.

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Within a little more than a decade German born pianist Markus Groh (pictured) has established himself as one of the most versatile pianists of his generation after having won the 1st prize in the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Competition Brussels in Belgium 1995. His worldwide concert activities include performances with the London Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the National Symphony Washington D.C., the San Francisco Symphony, the New Japan Philharmonic and the St. Petersburg Philharmonic under such distinguished conductors as Ivan Fischer, Neeme Jaervi, Fabio Luisi, Kent Nagano, Jonathan Nott or David Robertson.

Markus Groh performs solo recitals all over the world in some of the most important venues of cities like Amsterdam, Athens, Berlin, Brussels, Frankfurt, London, Munich, New York, Tokyo, Toronto, Vancouver, Vienna, Washington D.C. and Zurich. His first SACD Solo recording featured the b minor Sonata, the Fantasy and Fugue on B-A-C-H and the "Totentanz" of Franz Liszt and received outstanding reviews in major newspapers (The Times, FAZ among others) as well as in major music magazines including critic's awards like "Editor's Choice" (Gramophone Magazine, U.K.),"Recording of the month" (Musicweb International, USA), "Supersonic Award" (Pizzicato, Luxemburg), "6 of 6 points" (Piano News, Germany). A second all-Brahms SACD was showered with rave reviews as well. It received awards like the „Star of the Month“ of the most important German Music Magazine FonoForum in 2008. Mr. Groh lives in Berlin and New York.

Scheduled Program:
Sallinen: Fanfare
Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1
Beethoven: Symphony No. 3, Eroica

Artists:
Hannu Lintu, conductor
Markus Groh, piano