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    Wave hello to Mozart

    Mercury Baroque strikes a bigger, bolder note with its new 2011-12 season

    Joel Luks
    Mar 8, 2011 | 6:29 pm

    Performing music compositions of the baroque period on modern instruments is akin to translating Shakespeare into colloquial street language and staging it in a thick Southern drawl. Sure, it does the trick, and the themes are timeless.

    But something is amiss.

    Houston (and the international community) owes a lot to Mercury Baroque, an ensemble that exemplifies the philosophies that were alive and well from before Johann Sebastian Bach to circa Ludwig van Beethoven. Put aside any misconceptions you have about music of that period. It is about drama, passion and emotion while attempting to rouse a strong reaction from listeners.

    And that is exactly what Mercury Baroque's just revealed the 2011-2012 season will be about, while expanding its repertoire, size and scope.

    How?

    Aside from adding more concerts to last year's offerings, the first performance at the Wortham Theater Center centers around Bach's Goldberg Variations, the work that brought international acclaim to Canadian pianist Glenn Gould due to his ability to distinctly articulate Bach's interweaving polyphonic textures — he also dismissed romantic repertoire.

    Originally composed in 1741, Canadian conductor Bernard Labadie (from Quebec’s Les Violons du Roy) has re-orchestrated the work for string orchestra showcasing the vast character range of each of the 30 variations' rhythms and dance allusions. Titled "Encyclopedia Bach-tanica," this is a musical character study as much as a lesson on Bach the composer and Bach the person.

    In Mercury Baroque's spirit of rediscovering obscure or not-as-popular repertoire — last year's Vivaldi's Montezuma performance brought to musical life a work lost since 1733 — Handel's Rodelinda is considered by scholars as one of his greatest operas serias (as opposed to buffa or comic style). Yet, it's often sidestepped in favor of Xerxes.

     The first performance of Rodelinda at the Met did not occur until 2004. It was restaged again in 2006 with Patrick Summers at the podium and superstar countertenor Andreas Scholl. Mercury Baroque's concert version is meant to highlight the psychological proclivities of the characters, which includes a king who fakes his own death in an attempt to restore his throne, his wife and his son. Politics, love and exile, the themes are not far off from today's international climate.

    The Holiday season isn't complete without a Messiah sing-along and Mercury Baroque does not disappoint. No experience is necessary but anyone would benefit from a little practice. It's never too early or too late to start. And for the purists that just want to hear it performed professionally, the complete Dublin version will also be offered.

    No one ever forgets their first Farewell Symphony. As the piece by Haydn comes to its muted conclusion, musicians start leaving the stage one by one, ending with just two. Though I may have just spoiled the surprise, wave hello to Mozart as this concert, “Farewell” Haydn, Hello Mozart, ends with his Sinfonia Concertante, featuring the virtuosic fingers of concertmaster Jonathan Godfrey and the rich playing of violist Suzanne LeFevre.

    French is synonymous with sensual romance, or maybe its just the accent (try talking to Mercury Baroque artistic director Antoine Plante). A French Valentine showcases how love is depicted in the music of Jean-Philippe Rameau through his cantatas Orphée and Les Amants Trahis. Sounds like a sure way to impress your date (or hook up) and get some.

    Baroque violin badass Monica Huggett graces the Mercury Baroque stage for the first time in The Virtuoso Violin to kick 18th century compositions' butt, including works by Leclair, Locatelli, Van Wassanaer and Vivaldi.

    Bordering on the end of the classical era, the ensemble's season concludes with Heroic Beethoven, a Beethoven Symphony cycle. The Eroica Symphony, not to be confused with the Eroica Trio, was initially dedicated to Napoleon. But as Beethoven's tempers flared after Napoleon declared himself Emperor of the French, Beethoven scratched the inscription. The work is Beethoven at his classical best.

    The Marcia funebre, in the relative minor key, is tragically beautiful with languid oboe solos, while the theme and variations structure of the last movement is joyous, inventive and playful, with a really awesome flute solo. Beethoven's Second Symphony is also on the program.

    unspecified
    news/entertainment

    hustle hard, H-town

    Oprah's TV network spotlights Houston women in new reality series

    Craig D. Lindsey
    Jul 15, 2025 | 5:30 pm
    Heart Hustle reality TV show
    Courtesy of OWN Network
    Rosea Pichardo.

    It looks like Houston will be home to a new reality series about successful women living their best life and trying not to get into huge fights with each other during brunch.

    Next month, Oprah Winfrey’s OWN channel will premiere Heart & Hustle: Houston, where a quintet of upwardly mobile, African American women thrive in Texas’ largest city.

    “Heart & Hustle: Houston brings a fresh, dynamic perspective — one that centers Black women not just in conflict, but in community, healing, and growth,” OWN President Tina Perry said in a press release. “It’s a powerful look at ambition, resilience, and the bonds that hold friendships together, even through life’s toughest moments.”


    Let’s break down the ladies who’ll be giving us the heart and the hustle:

    Alaina Saulsberry, 38 
    “H-Town’s Glam Girl” 
    Known for her beauty brand Color du Jour, Saulsberry is touted as a mentor who balances work with family commitments. After 15 years of marriage, the relationship is in a rough patch. Will she choose personal happiness or preserving stability for her two children?

    Heart Hustle reality TV show
      

    Courtesy of OWN Network

    Rosea Pichardo.

    Chloe Cook, 44
    “The Straight Shooter”
    Known as “THE premiere event planner of Houston,” Cook took a step back from the event business to take care of her young daughters after the tragic loss of her husband. However, the gal is getting her groove back thanks to her recent relationship with much younger man Jordan. Unfortunately, her eldest son Neiko (who is only three years younger than Jordan) isn’t feeling the whole May-December thing. Can Chloe balance being a mother and a MILF?

    La’Torria Lemon, 36
    “The Hopeless Romantic”
    The head of Lemon-Lime Light Media, entrepreneur/philanthropist Lemon has been called “a force in the entertainment, hospitality, and PR industry.” She’s a charming personality, but don’t get it twisted: She’s ready to bring the claws out whenever someone comes for her. After losing her father, Lemon is on the hunt for the love of her life, so she can settle down and have some kids. Can she find a good man just like dear old dad?

    LeBrina Jackson, 35
    “The Southern Belle”
    Full of “passion, drive, and compassion,” elite spa owner Jackson is one of the few Black women in the spa and wellness game. The resident caregiver of the group, Jackson is there for her family, friends, customers, etc. She uses her past (specifically, her family’s history) to break generational curses and build a better tomorrow for her peoples. Can she still take care of others, while also finding some time to take care of herself?

    Muneera Page, 43
    “Mrs. Perfect”
    Meet the big, bad momma of the crew: a devout wife, mother of four daughters (including a set of twins), and career woman whose journey “embodies the power of faith, resilience, and boundless ambition.” With a two-decade career as an electrical engineer in the oil and gas industry, Page has taken a career 180 and pivoted to content creation. Can she live a life of meaning, purpose and transformative impact, while also inspiring folks around the world?

    Roe Pichardo, 39
    “Nightlife Queen”
    Finally, we have the party girl. Pichardo is an entrepreneur, hospitality innovator, and cultural curator who’s “redefining the art of connection.” She’s got a rep as a major player in the restaurant and nightlife world (Editor’s note: She appeared on CultureMap’s “What’s Eric Eating” podcast during her time as the general manager of James Harden’s restaurant Thirteen). Despite staying tough in a male-dominated industry, those close to her know she’s a sweet, loving soul. Can she still take her businesses to the next level, while also learning to be more vulnerable around her loved ones?

    These questions and more will be answered when Heart & Hustle: Houston premieres on OWN on Saturday, August 2, at 8 pm.

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