The Houston Symphony performance of The Planets — an HD Odyssey got a lot of attention from the New York Times. Reviewer Anthony Tommasani called the performance at Carnegie Hall Thursday night "inventive and ingeniously orchestrated, with resonances of Debussy and even early Schoenberg" but noted that the stark high-definition images of the planets selected by Duncan Copp "tended to overwhelm (composer Gustav) Holtst's nearly 60-minute suite."
Tommasani also wrote that "the orchestra is in good shape" in its eighth season under conductor Hans Graf.
On The New York Times arts blog, writer Daniel J. Wakin was a little snarkier as he highlighted the symphony's motives for producing the piece.
"The Houston Symphony, like many of the country’s fine orchestras just below the elite rank, struggles to carve out a profile for itself. The “Planets” production is a natural way to do that, given the city’s NASA connection. It also hopes to make some money by licensing the film to other orchestras. Hans Graf, the symphony’s music director, said there has been interest."
Legendary rockers Styx and Kevin Cronin, lead singer of REO Speedwagon, will team up to co-headline the “Brotherhood of Rock” tour in 2025, which will include a stop at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands on Friday, June 6.
The large, 40-city tour will take place over three months, starting in Greenville, South Carolina on May 28, and wrapping up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 24.
In addition to Houston, the tour will go to Austin on June 4 and Dallas on August 1. It will include special guest Don Felder, former lead guitarist for the Eagles, at all dates.
Fans can expect some of the greatest rock anthems of all time, including “Renegade,” “Keep On Loving You,” “Come Sail Away,” “Can't Fight This Feeling,” and “Hotel California.”
Styx and Cronin (as part of REO Speedwagon) first toured together in 2000 and in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks, coming together to form the Rock to the Rescue 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. This will mark their sixth time joining forces on the road.
2022 was the 50th anniversary of Styx's self-titled debut album, but they have yet to slow down. The band released their 17th album, Crash of the Crown, in 2021. Of course, not everyone is a fan, as this classic clip from The Simpsons illustrates.
REO Speedwagon's recording days appear to be done, with their last album coming out in 2009, but the main group of five has been together since 1989. On this tour, Cronin will be joined by REO's lead guitarist Dave Amato and drummer Bryan Hitt.
General tickets for the tour will go on sale starting on Friday, December 13 at 10 am at LiveNation.com.
Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets in the U.S. beginning on December 9 at 10 am through the Citi Entertainment program.
Styx and Kevin Cronin will be offering VIP packages via their own exclusive pre-sales beginning on Tuesday, December 10 at 10 am, as well as at LiveNation.com.
