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Tag Archives: Hans Graf
A Seemingly Impossible Beginning to a Glorious Finale
By: Aurelie Desmarais
Senior Director, Artistic Planning
Houston Symphony
When the calm of a beautiful morning was shattered on September 11, 2001, it seemed that all normal activity would cease. It was impossible to imagine that regular life would, or could, continue. Yet in the aftermath of this history-altering day, the instinct to move forward prevailed.
The Opening Night concert and post-concert dinner was a balm to all. The collective experience of sharing that concert reminded everyone in attendance of the power of music to soothe, to heal, and to inspire optimism for the future. From the opening moments of that first concert, through a remarkable twelve year tenure, Hans will conclude his time as Music Director with two performances of the Mahler Resurrection Symphony on May 17 and 18, 2013. Resurrection is music that speaks to the soul about the human journey–full of joy, tribulation, longing and the quest for redemption. Hans will close his tenure, as he opened it, on a note of hope for the future.
Senior Director, Artistic Planning
Houston Symphony
Photo credit: Bruce Bennett
Obstacles, though seemingly trivial in the face of such tragedy, did abound. The first concert for Hans Graf as Music Director of the Houston Symphony took place on September 15, 2001, just 4 days after the terrorist attacks. All air traffic was grounded and it seemed that there would be no way to get Hans from Calgary to Houston in time for the Opening Night concert, let alone the rehearsals that preceded it.
Through creativity, persistence and lots of phone calls made by an industrious intern, we were able to locate a private plane that had been en route to Calgary, but was grounded at the Dallas/Fort Worth airport. Once air traffic was cleared to start again on September 13th, the first priority was given to flights that had been in progress. The private plane resumed its journey up to Calgary and, for its return trip, Margarita and Hans Graf were the passengers. At around midnight on September 13th, I received a call from Hans to assure me that he was safely on the ground in Houston!
Photo credit: Bruce Bennett
-Aurelie Desmarais
In the video below, Aurelie Desmarais, Senior Director of Artistic Planning, speaks about Maestro Graf’s final month of concerts as Houston Symphony Music Director:
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Known for his wide range of repertoire and creative programming, distinguished Austrian conductor Hans Graf is the Houston Symphony’s 15th Music Director and is its longest serving music director. As one of today’s most highly respected musicians, he is a frequent guest with all of the major North American orchestras, and regularly conducts in the foremost concert halls of Europe, Japan and Australia.
Maestro Hans Graf will conduct the Houston Symphony in his final concerts as Music Director on May 17 and 18. Ending his 12-year tenure, Graf will celebrate with the orchestra, staff and patrons in a grand performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, Resurrection.
Click here for more information and tickets.
The preceding weekend, May 9, 11 and 12, 2013, Maestro Graf will lead the orchestra in it’s final classical subscription concert of the season, featuring Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with guest pianist Janina Fialkowska, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, Eroica.
Click here for more information and tickets.
Watch a video tribute to Maestro Graf, which is being shown before each of the concerts during his final month as Houston Symphony Music Director:
Posted in 2012-2013 season, Classical, Conductors and Musicians, Houston Symphony Chorus, Specials, Staff
Tagged A Graf Farewell, Aurelie Desmarais, classical, classical music, conductor, Hans Graf, Houston, houston symphony, houston symphony chorus, houston symphony orchestra, Janina Fialkowski, Jones Hall, Maestro, Maestro Graf, mahler, mozart, music, musicians, orchestra, Piano
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Behind the Scenes of Wozzeck in Concert
Wozzeck in Concert
March 1, 2, 2013 8:oo PM
Hans Graf, conductor
March 1, 2, 2013 8:oo PM
Hans Graf, conductor
The following video will be shown prior to the concert each night, starting at 7:15 PM:
“Alban Berg’s music is so deep, so new and so perfect. It strikes an
inescapable chord of compassion and empathy for our ill-fated hero,
Wozzeck.” – Hans Graf
Rooted in real life, Wozzeck’s tale is one of social criticism, lust, murder and morality. You’ll feel compassion for poor Wozzeck as he falls victim to cruelty and descends into insanity.
2013-2014 Centennial Season Announcement
Watch this video for all of the incredible performances to come in the 13-14 Centennial Season!
Posted in 13-14 Season, Classical, Conductors and Musicians, Development, Events, Family, Pops, Sounds Like Fun, Specials
Tagged 13-14 Season, Centennial Season, classical, classical music, Hans Graf, Houston, houston symphony, houston symphony chorus, houston symphony orchestra, Ima Hogg, Ima Hogg Competition, Jones Hall, mike krajewski, music, music education, musicians, orchestra, Robert Franz, violin
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Dave Kirk, Principal Tuba, Discusses His Wozzeck Feature
Dave Kirk, Principal Tuba
As your friendly neighborhood tuba operator, I can tell you my part in the orchestra isn’t especially tough. As is always the case when we accompany the human voice, our greatest challenge will be to execute our passages delicately, allowing transparency.
Lest you be disappointed thinking I’ve an easy evening, there is a special and demanding moment for the tuba in Act 2, Scene 4; set in a tavern garden. Berg features an ensemble comprising two fiddles and one each of clarinet, accordion (!), guitar and tuba. At a dramatic moment when Wozzeck sees Marie and the Drum Major together, our tavern band plays for the dancing and amusement of two well-lubricated apprentices, one of whom eventually becomes annoyed with the tuba and stuffs a mute in the bell!
In Hans’s conception, the tavern band will be set apart from the body of the orchestra, placed on the stage’s close right corner (audience view). Berg allows just enough time for us to finish our orchestral entrances, get in place for our role in the tavern scene, and return to the opera orchestra.
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As I considered the upcoming Wozzeck performances, my thoughts immediately returned to memories of my first season as a member of our great orchestra. During the 1982-83 season, the Houston Symphony was in the Jones Hall pit for the Houston Grand Opera’s production of Wozzeck. I did a roster check to discover, by my estimation, some 18-20 HS musicians remain from those who played for this HGO production thirty years ago.
I know the experience of playing Wozzeck will be as invigorating for the veterans as for the players who’ve joined us over time.
I’m appreciative of the foundations, corporations, and individuals whose dedicated support of this project enables what we will create. Our presentation would not have happened without their vision for the highest artistic expression.
Back to the horn. The tavern solo awaits.
Dave Kirk
The Houston Symphony performs Wozzeck on March 1 and 2, 2013. CLICK HERE for tickets and more information.
Video: Why Wozzeck?
Associate Concertmaster Eric Halen Anticipates Wozzeck
Eric Halen, Associate Concertmaster
As I study the work, I am struck by a number of things. First, in spite of the work’s atonality, the music is often intensely romantic. Many of the musical gestures could just have easily been written as tonal music, but they would lose the sense of extreme tragedy and at times, the madness of the poor characters of this opera. It is very effective when Berg hints at tonality, somehow finding beauty in the bleakness of the lives of these characters. At times, he almost “crosses over” into the extremely chromatic harmonies you find in the music of late Wagner. I also hear moments that remind me very much of Mahler. But speaking of Wagner, Berg’s opera seems a big step further in the direction of “music drama.” Besides the use of “leitmotifs” (the recurrence of musical motives corresponding to various characters and even states of mind), Berg’s music is even more an integral part of the theatrical drama, often expressing the “subtext” of the character’s thoughts and feelings. The abstract nature of the music allows Berg to use splashes of color and dissonance to express the raw and powerful emotions of the characters with a directness that more conventional music cannot do as easily.
Art is not always beautiful. There are many instances of that in this work. It’s a very dark and tragic story, but very powerful and poignant. I hope people will give it a chance. It may help to hear it a few times first – to get used to the musical language Berg is using. I believe many of you will begin to hear the sense in the music with a couple of hearings. Don’t worry, it won’t ruin the concert experience for you. A recording can not have the same impact as a live performance, as most of our patrons know well. But it will help you to enjoy the concert more and allow you to fully appreciate, understand and enjoy this tremendous work.
-Eric Halen, Associate Concertmaster
The Houston Symphony performs Wozzeck on March 1 and 2, 2013. CLICK HERE for tickets and more information.
Video: Why Wozzeck?
