ROCO November 2017 Concerts

ROCO continues their <i>In Concert</i> series by honoring Veterans’ Day on November 11 with “Courageous Catalysts,” a program centering around Houston: September 12, 1962, a world premiere commission by Michael Gandolfi, that celebrates the 100th birthday of President John F. Kennedy and the courage of people who fight for change.<br /><br /> The November 11 concert will also feature the world premiere of The Big Heart, a new fanfare for orchestra and chorus, composed by Kevin Puts, which celebrates Houston’s selflessness and caring during hard times. <br /><br /> ​ On November 19, the second installment in ROCO’s <i>Unchambered</i> series, aptly dubbed a “Musical Parfait,” will feature Maxime Goulet’s Symphonic Chocolates, in which each movement is paired with a piece of chocolate. <br /><br /> ​ Their third <i>Connections</i> performance on November 30, “A Season of Thanks” celebrates Houston philanthropists the Masterson family in their former home Rienzi, the house museum of decorative arts, which they donated to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. <br /><br />

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – ROCO (River Oaks Chamber Orchestra) continues its thirteenth season, themed “Cultivate Curiosity,” with a varied series of November performances, including a new commission in honor of JFK’s 100th birthday this year, a delicious evening of music paired with chocolate, as well as ROCO’s grateful tribute to the former owners of Rienzi.
 

Courageous Catalysts (In Concert – November 11)

For the second performance of their In Concert series, ROCO honors Veterans’ Day on November 11 with “Courageous Catalysts,” a program centering around Houston: September 12, 1962a commission by Michael Gandolfi that celebrates the 100th birthday of President John F. Kennedy and the courage of people who fight for change.

The program also features the world premiere of The Big Heart, a new fanfare for orchestra and chorus, composed by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Kevin Puts. The work explores Houston’s response to Harvey in the context of the city’s selfless sheltering of the victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The piece features a lyric by renowned librettist Mark Campbell, and will be performed in collaboration with Houston Chamber Choir.

Michael Stern conducts the program, which includes Jean Sibelius’ Symphony No. 7 in C major, Op. 105, the composer’s final published symphony, Beethoven’s Overture to Leonore No. 3, and Bruce Adolphe’s I Will Not Remain Silent, a violin concerto inspired by the life of German-American rabbi and civil rights leader Joachim Prinz. Throughout the concerto, the violin, played by ROCO concertmaster and featured soloist, Scott St. John, represents the voice of Prinz, while the orchestra represents opposing forces —Nazi Germany in the first movement and America during the Civil Rights era in the second movement.

WHEN: Saturday, Nov 11 2017, 5:00pm
WHERE: The Church of St. John the Divine | 2450 River Oaks Blvd., Houston, TX 77019

TICKETS: https://roco.secure.nonprofitsoapbox.com/rocotickets?name=roco&id=2
MORE INFO: http://rocohouston.org/performances/courageous-catalyst/

 

Musical Parfait (Unchambered – November 19)

In the next installment of ROCO’s Unchambered series, violist, Lorento Golofeev, adds “layers” of other musicians throughout “Musical Parfait”, on November 19 at MATCH.

Golofeev also performs Maxime Goulet’s delectable piece, Symphonic Chocolates, during which audience members will taste a different piece of chocolate corresponding to each of the work’s four movements: Caramel, Dark, Mint, and Coffee, in collaboration with local Houston chocolatier Araya Artisan Chocolates.

WHEN: Sunday, Nov 19 2017, 5:00pm
WHERE: Midtown Arts & Theater Center (MATCH) | 3400 Main Street, Houston, TX 77002

TICKETS: https://roco.secure.nonprofitsoapbox.com/rocotickets?name=roco&id=2
MORE INFO: http://rocohouston.org/performances/roco-unchambered-musical-parfait/
TICKET + DINNER AT BRENNAN'Shttp://rocohouston.org/performances/night-out-roco-brennans/ 

 

A Season of Thanks (Connections – November 30)

ROCO’s innovative Connections series continues with a special tribute to Houston philanthropists the Masterson family on November 30, in their former home Rienzi, the house museum of European decorative arts, which they donated to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

From MFAH: “Formerly the home of philanthropists Carroll Sterling Masterson and Harris Masterson III, Rienzi was designed by prominent Houston architect John Staub in 1952. Opened to the public in 1999, Rienzi houses a substantial collection of European decorative arts, paintings, furnishings, porcelain, and miniatures. Rienzi welcomes visitors for tours, family programs, lectures, music performances, and a variety of special events.”

WHEN: Thursday, Nov 30 2017, 6:30pm
WHERE: Rienzi | 1406 Kirby Drive, Houston, TX 77019

TICKETS: https://roco.secure.nonprofitsoapbox.com/rocotickets?name=roco&id=2
MORE INFO: http://rocohouston.org/performances/roco-connections-a-season-of-thanks-for-the-mastersons/

 

ABOUT ROCO

ROCO is a 40-piece professional chamber orchestra based in Houston, TX, with virtuosic musicians, conductors and composers from around the world who invite people into the ROCO experience through the language of music. ROCO presents unexpected classics, original compositions and delightful performances with the goal of increasing access for a multigenerational audience. In 12 seasons, ROCO has commissioned and world premiered 58 works with 9 more scheduled for Season 13 “Cultivate Curiosity!” and is regularly broadcast nationally on APM’s Performance Today.

Website: https://rocohouston.org
Public phone number: 713-665-2700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rocohouston
Twitter: @rocohouston

 

About Unison Media

Unison Media is committed to exploring new ways to present and promote music and those who create and perform it.