Houston Symphony Orchestra
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The Houston Symphony Orchestra is a professional orchestra based in Houston, Texas. Since 1966, it has performed at the Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts in downtown Houston.
The first concert of what was to become the Houston Symphony Orchestra took place on June 21, 1913, sponsored by the Houston philanthropist Ima Hogg. Initially, the orchestra was comprised of only 35 part-time musicians. Despite its small stature and budget, the orchestra and its first conductor, Julien Paul Blitz, enjoyed a good response and continued to perform. Blitz conducted until 1916, then Paul Bergé, until the orchestra disbanded in 1918.
It reformed in 1930, still as a semi-professional orchestra, and gave its first full season of concerts the following year conducted by Uriel Nespoli. In the spring of 1936 the symphony society officially became the Houston Symphony Society. Ernst Hoffmann began his tenure that year with increased support from the Society and began hiring professional musicians. The orchestra continued to expand over the next several decades, and its first 52-week contract was signed in 1971. It is now considered one of the major orchestras in the United States.
The orchestra performed in either the City Auditorium or the Music Hall until the construction in 1966 of the Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts. In 2001, the orchestra lost millions of dollars worth of instruments, music, and archives when Tropical Storm Allison flooded the basement levels of Jones Hall. In 2003, the musicians went on strike for 24 days, and the settlement included a pay cut for the musicians and a reduction in the size of the orchestra[1] [2].
[edit] Music Directors
- 2001–present Hans Graf
- 1988–1999 Christoph Eschenbach
- 1980–1988 Sergiu Comissiona
- 1970–1979 Lawrence Foster
- 1967–1969 André Previn
- 1961–1967 John Barbirolli instituted orchestra's touring schedule
- 1955–1961 Leopold Stokowski
- 1954 Ferenc Fricsay released after half a season, remainder of the season conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham
- 1948–1954 Efrem Kurtz
- 1936–1947 Ernst Hoffmann
- 1932–1935 Frank St. Leger
- 1931–1932 Uriel Nespoli
- 1918–1930 orchestra disbanded
- 1916–1918 Paul Bergé
- 1913–1916 Julien Paul Blitz
