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Mercury Announces 2018-2019 Season
MERCURY ANNOUNCES 2018-2019 SEASON
18th season features multi-media events, free concerts, and expanded Neighborhood Series
Violinist Rachel Barton Pine, tenor Nicholas Phan, and pianist Alon Goldstein among season’s soloists
HOUSTON, TX – March 5, 2018 – Antoine Plante, Artist Director, and Brian Ritter, Executive Director, announce Mercury’s 2018-2019 season featuring a diverse range of masterpieces, from the Renaissance to the Romantic. Season soloists include violinist Rachel Barton Pine, tenor Nicholas Phan and pianist Alon Goldstein, as well as violinists Jonathan Godfrey and Oleg Sulyga. Of special note is the expansion of Mercury’s Neighborhood Series due to popular demand, as well as the continuation of its collaboration with The Juilliard School’s Historical Performance Program for the third consecutive year.
“With so many creative offerings showcasing baroque and romantic works, Mercury’s 2018-19 season offers concertgoers a thrilling and diverse selection of musical journeys,” stated Mr. Ritter.
Season highlights include a multi-media performance of Franz Schubert’s complete song cycle, “The Miller’s Daughter”, arranged for full orchestra with acclaimed tenor Nicholas Phan; the annual holiday extravaganza - this year featuring Bach’s Magnificat with the Houston Symphony Chorus Chamber Ensemble; celebrated violinist/violist Rachel Barton Pine leading a concert of Vivaldi’s Concerto in D Major for Viola d'amore and Orchestra and more; and Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 with period flute expert David Ross.
Mercury’s annual free community concert at Houston’s favorite outdoor venue, the Miller Outdoor Theatre, officially opens the orchestra’s season, with violinists Jonathan Godfrey and Oleg Sulyga as soloists in a Vivaldi vs. Paganini themed program.
Always accessible to its ever-growing audience, Houston’s premier period instrument ensemble continues to perform in top venues around the city. Mercury is thrilled to return to its home in the renovated Wortham Center in October 2018 with its flagship seven-concert Downtown Series.
Carefully curated by Maestro Plante, the Downtown Series opens in October with Brahms’ Third Symphony, and Mendelssohn’s “Scottish” Symphony, followed by Schubert's "The Miller's Daughter" in November. In early December, Mercury is joined by the Houston Symphony Chorus Chamber Ensemble under the direction of Betsy Weber Cook to celebrate the Christmas season with Bach’s Magnificat and several holiday selections. 2019 begins with a new concert experience inspired by the work of French poet Charles Baudelaire with music by Debussy and Ravel, followed by Mozart’s last symphonies in February. Spring brings a musical duel in March with “Love & War: Baroque Style” featuring works by Vivaldi, Biber, Handel, and Locatelli with Rachel Barton Pine playing violin, viola and leading. The series closes in May with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 and Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor” performed by pianist Alon Goldstein.
“We hope that the exciting variety of music offerings, as well as numerous community outreach programs throughout the season will contribute to audiences’ enjoyment of and connection with this wonderful music throughout the Houston area.” said Maestro Plante.
Mercury’s popular Neighborhood Series, sponsored by Philips 66, offers short, affordable concerts performed in intimate atmospheres at four unique venues across Houston. The series expands this season due to popular demand, adding a second performance at 8:30 PM at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. Concertgoers have a variety to choose from - Bach’s sublime Brandenburg Concerto No. 5; a festive program of Baroque and traditional holiday music from France; and the juxtaposition of string serenades by Tchaikovsky and Elgar – the sweeping strings and passionate lyricality of Tchaikovsky’s work against the youthful allure of Elgar’s composition.
A collaboration between The Juilliard School of Music Historical Performance Program and Mercury, the Mercury-Juilliard Fellowship encourages the development of talented young instrumentalists and fosters a strong relationship between two major players in America's period instrument performance scene. Auditions for the 2018-2019 Juilliard Fellows will be held on April 20, 2018 in New York City.
MERCURY 2018-2019 Season
FREE COMMUNITY CONCERT
SATURDAY, SEPT 1 at 8 PM, MILLER OUTDOOR THEATRE
Jonathan Godfrey, violin
Oleg Sulyga, violin
Antoine Plante, conductor
DOWNTOWN SERIES
All concerts at the Wortham Center, Cullen Theater at 8 PM
Pre-concert lecture at 7:15 PM
CONCERT 1
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2018
FELIX MENDELSSOHN
Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56, "Scottish"
JOHANNES BRAHMS
Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90
Antoine Plante, conductor
CONCERT 2
Schubert's "The Miller's Daughter"
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2018
FRANZ SCHUBERT
Die schöne Müllerin, Op. 25/D. 795
Multi-media performance
Guest Artist: Nicholas Phan, tenor
Antoine Plante, conductor
CONCERT 3
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2018
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH
Christmas Magnificat, BWV243a
Houston Symphony Chorus Chamber Ensemble
Betsy Cook, director
Other singers TBA
Antoine Plante, conductor
CONCERT 4
Debussy & Ravel: The Flowers of Evil
SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 2019
CLAUDE DEBUSSY
String Quartet in G minor, Op 10
MAURICE RAVEL
String Quartet in F major
Arranged for string orchestra
Antoine Plante, conductor
CONCERT 5
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2019
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART
Symphony No. 39 in E-flat major, K. 543
Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550
Symphony No. 41 in C major, K. 551 “Jupiter”
Antoine Plante, conductor
CONCERT 6
SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 2019
ANTONIO VIVALDI
Concerto in D Major for Viola d'amore and Orchestra, RV. 392
GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL
Concerto Grosso in G Minor, Op. 6, No. 6
HEINRICH BIBER
Battalia
ANTONIO VIVALDI
Concerto in D Minor for Viola d'amore and Orchestra, RV. 395
PIETRO LOCATELLI
L'Arte del Violino, Op. 3, No. 12 “The Harmonic Labyrinth”
Guest Artist: Rachel Barton Pine, violin/viola d'amore/leader
CONCERT 7
SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2019
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN
Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67
Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73 “Emperor”
Guest Artist: Alon Goldstein, piano
Antoine Plante, conductor
2018/2019 NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES
Sponsored by Phillips 66
VENUES:
Mercury’s music sets the mood for contemplating the lush paintings of the Baroque gallery in the Museum of Fine Arts (MFAH) Beck Building, home to Mercury since 2006. Located in one of Houston’s largest arts and culture hubs, the Historic District between Midtown, Rice University and the Med Center, with an addition concert added this season at 8:30 PM;
MATCH, the newest venue in Mercury’s Neighborhood lineup, located in the thriving hotbed of culture, creativity and foodie favorites that is known as Midtown;
MDPC, a multi-sensory experience of sight and sound set in a simply gorgeous location in the west side of Houston. The stunning stained glass of the chapel at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church is a vibrant backdrop, adding to the concert experience;
Dosey Doe in The Woodlands. Music lovers get the complete Texas treatment at Dosey Doe’s Big Barn location - a 165-year-old tobacco barn approximately thirty miles north of Downtown Houston. The space features incredible acoustics and delicious southern-style meals.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERT 1
OCTOBER 20-25, 2018
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH
Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, BWV 1050
David Ross, flute
MDPC Saturday, October 20, 2018, 2:30 PM
MFAH Saturday, October 20, 2018, 6:30 PM
MFAH Saturday, October 20, 2018, 8:30 PM
Dosey Doe Sunday, October 21, 2018, 7 PM
MATCH Thursday, October 25, 2018, 7 PM
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERT 2
NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 2, 2018
A festive program of Baroque and Renaissance French composers and traditional music.
MATCH Thursday, November 29, 2018, 7 PM
MDPC Saturday, December 1, 2018, 2:30 PM
MFAH Saturday, December 1, 2018, 6:30 PM
MFAH Saturday, December 1, 2018, 8:30 PM
Dosey Doe Sunday, December 2, 2018, 7 PM
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERT 3
APRIL 4-6, 2019
PYOTR TCHAIKOVSKY
Serenade for Strings, Op. 48
EDWARD ELGAR
Serenade for Strings, Op. 20
MATCH Thursday, April 4, 2019, 7 PM
MDPC Saturday, April 6, 2019, 2:30 PM
MFAH Saturday, April 6, 2019, 6:30 PM
MFAH Saturday, April 6, 2019, 8:30 PM
Dosey Doe Sunday, April 7, 2019, 7 PM
Mercury’s University of Houston Clear Lake series continues next year at the Bayou Theater, the greater Clear Lake area’s premiere performing arts center and concert venue. Concerts will be announced in August 2018.
Season Subscriptions and Tickets
Subscriptions to Mercury’s 2018-19 season are available immediately, with seven concert packages starting at just $105 with seven concerts for the price of six. Benefits of subscription include receiving the best seats at the best prices, free ticket exchange privileges and additional discounts on single tickets.
Single tickets will be available to the general public on Wednesday, August 15, 2018.
For more information, or to order a subscription, please call Mercury’s Patron Services Team at 713-533-0080 or visit the website at www.mercuryhouston.org
ABOUT MERCURY
Innovation, accessibility and dynamism are just three of the distinguishing characteristics of Mercury, the critically acclaimed Houston-based period instrument ensemble that continues to redefine the orchestra experience. Now in its 18th season, Mercury celebrates the power of music – from the Baroque period and more - serving the Houston community and beyond through teaching, sharing and performing with passion, intimacy and excellence.
Founded by conductor and Artistic Director Antoine Plante and three friends in 2000 with the goal to enrich and entertain Houston audiences with an exciting repertoire of Baroque music performed on period instruments, the ensemble gradually expanded its vision to offer fresh, original performances of a broader repertoire, and integrated multi-media, unique dance, costume and narrative elements into its programs. In 2013, the ensemble rebranded itself.
In addition to performances in multiple venues throughout the Houston area, including its flagship series at Wortham Center’s Cullen Theater, Mercury continues to invest in the community. It offers free community performances annually, including the community concert at The Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park, and the public concerts in the Crain Garden at Houston Methodist Hospital. Recognized for its award-winning education outreach programs comprising classroom music education and performances in Houston area schools, Mercury also presents master classes for school orchestras. Active in the recording scene, to date, Mercury has released eight albums on its own label, featuring works by Corelli, Mozart, Schubert, Rameau, Vivaldi, Piazzolla, and Handel.
Mercury continues its new collaboration with The Juilliard School’s Historical Performance Program for the third year. The Mercury-Juilliard Fellowship initiative encourages the development of talented young instrumentalists and fosters a strong relationship between two major players in America's period instrument performance scene, as well as introducing Houston audiences to the next generation of great period performance musicians.
Mercury gratefully acknowledges the following organizations and corporations for their ongoing support: The City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance, Houston Endowment Inc., Texas Commission on the Arts, the Wyatt Foundation, the Ting Tsung and Wei Fung Chao Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Additional information on Mercury, its events and concerts, directions to the venues, and to learn more about its recordings, please visit www.mercuryhouston.org.
Contact: Laura Grant, Grant Communications 917 359 7319; Laura@grant-communications.com
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