MUSIC

CELEBRATE THE ARTS! A world-renowned symphony and ballet, gifted musicians from around the world, award-winning children’s performers…it’s all in your own backyard at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion’s 2011 Performing Arts Season.

Join the Houston Symphony at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Sept. 15 at 8 p.m. for the music of Johannes Brahms and Antonín Dvo?ák. Maestro Hans Graf leads the symphony in a program titled Brahms’ Violin Concerto featuring special guest James Ehnes , (pictured © Benjamin Ealovega), on violin.

The program begins with Brahms’ impassioned and capricious Violin Concerto in D major. This Violin Concerto, dedicated to Brahms’ dear friend and legendary violinist Joseph Joachim, is one of his most tender works with lyrical melodies, brilliant technical fireworks and a sprinkle of Hungarian folk rhythms.

Joining the symphony on this piece is violinist James Ehnes, widely considered one of the most dynamic and exciting performers in classical music. Ehnes, hailed as “the Jascha Heifetz of our day,” has performed in more than 30 countries on five continents, appearing regularly with many of the world’s most well-known orchestras and conductors.

Following a brief intermission, Dvo?ák’s Symphony No. 6 concludes the classical evening. Symphony No. 6 was one of the first of Dvo?ák’s large symphonic works to draw international attention. Dedicated to Hans Richter, conductor of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra at the time, the four-movement piece manages to capture a bit of Czech national style within a standard Germanic classical-romantic form.

Starting at 7 p.m., guests can enjoy pre-concert activities in the Fidelity Investments Plaza, including The Pavilion Partners Instrument Petting Zoo.  Don’t miss Pavilion Talk, a free pre-concert discussion led by noted music scholar Ira J. Black that provides insight into the evening’s program. Pavilion Talk takes place from 7:15-7:45 p.m.

Guests are welcome to have a picnic in their seat or on the hill at Brahms’ Violin Concerto. Keep in mind that beverages cannot be brought into The Pavilion. Sitting on the hill? Lawn chairs also are provided free for this event!