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The businessman conductor: 40 Under Forty darling Heras-Casado's skills give him a real ... The businessman conductor: 40 Under Forty darling Heras-Casado's skills give him a real Symphony shot By Joel Luks

4.17.12  |  4:52 pm

Not long before the reverberant sound of the last whomp of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major ...

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Here he comes to save the day: Jakub Hruša propels Houston Symphony beyond technical ... Here he comes to save the day: Jakub Hruša propels Houston Symphony beyond technical limits By Joel Luks

2.13.12  |  2:51 pm

Arms stretched out in flight position, tuxedo tails still flapping, Jakub Hruša held a bold stance at the end ...

Graf's Farewell

Houston Symphony's 99th season plans memorable themes to salute departing maestro Hans Graf Houston Symphony's 99th season plans memorable themes to salute departing maestro Hans Graf By Joel Luks

1.21.12  |  8:00 am

During the last 12 years, the Houston art scene has seen its share of changes. At the Houston Symphony, the ...

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Brahms, sex and cigarettes: Houston Symphony loses its inhibitions with maestro Christoph Koenig Brahms, sex and cigarettes: Houston Symphony loses its inhibitions with maestro Christoph Koenig By Joel Luks

11.14.11  |  4:40 pm

Upon entering Jones Hall, I feel goose bumps when I am faced with a stage overcrowded with stands, percussion instruments ...

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Houston Symphony guest conductor Gilbert Varga engineers a smooth Haydn & rocky Ravel Houston Symphony guest conductor Gilbert Varga engineers a smooth Haydn & rocky Ravel By Joel Luks

10.25.11  |  11:20 am

Another guest conductor treaded onto the Houston Symphony's podium last weekend at Jones Hall. Making his symphony debut was ...

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The cougars love him, but is German hottie David Afkham prepared to take the ... The cougars love him, but is German hottie David Afkham prepared to take the baton from Hans Graf? By Joel Luks

10.4.11  |  4:05 pm

What could otherwise be considered youth orchestra repertoire at the hands of an educator was masterfully led by 28-year-old German-born ...

All Gleeks & Scholars Welcome

The Houston chamber choir that draws packed crowds: When church rocks The Houston chamber choir that draws packed crowds: When church rocks By Joel Luks

5.23.11  |  12:41 pm

Think of the quintessential choir concert. Perhaps a sparse graying audience, cutesy music, Broadway-esque show tunes with plenty of jazz ...

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The wildcard candidate: Mark Wigglesworth practices baton war, rebukes cellphone users & Symphony jumps The wildcard candidate: Mark Wigglesworth practices baton war, rebukes cellphone users & Symphony jumps By Joel Luks

5.3.11  |  1:33 pm

With a name like Wigglesworth, you are either a pompous feline in need of constant pampering, a Harry Potter character ...

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A frontrunner? Spanish señor wakes up the Symphony's Hans Graf replacement race A frontrunner? Spanish señor wakes up the Symphony's Hans Graf replacement race By Joel Luks

4.11.11  |  1:51 pm

"I like to take a nap when I listen to Mozart," a lady behind me announced to her younger companion ...

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Too many firsts put Juanjo Mena behind in the race to fill the Houston ... Too many firsts put Juanjo Mena behind in the race to fill the Houston Symphony's big baton By Joel Luks

3.6.11  |  5:07 pm

I really wanted to love this weekend's Houston Symphony concert and conductor Juanjo Mena. It had everything, on paper ...