Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Unifying Cultures through Music

The great 19th century poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, said “Music is the universal language of all mankind.” Never has this been more apparent than in the musical programming and creative collaborations found in River Oaks Chamber Orchestra’s fifth season.

ROCO invites the audience into a musical conversation that transcends cultures and generations. This season, every concert includes music by an acclaimed composer whose work showcases the culture of his or her country of origin.

  • In February, 2010, ROCO will complement its traditional classical music programming – which includes Beethoven’s dynamic Fifth Symphony and acclaimed piano soloist, Simone Dinnerstein with a piece by Chinese composer, Chen Yi in celebration of the Chinese New Year.
  • Also in February, ROCO is partnering with the Houston Chopin Society to present a concert at Rice University’s Stude Hall, featuring conductor Tomasz Golka, and piano soloist, Adam Golka. This collaboration will showcase the beautiful music of Chopin and highlight Houston’s large and vibrant Polish community.
  • In April, ROCO is teaming with The Children’s Museum to present a bilingual performance of the children’s classic, Peter and the Wolf. A small ensemble of ROCO musicians will play Prokofiev’s composition while well-known voice actor, John Swasey, narrates the story,first in English, and a second time in Spanish. This performance will be part of the bicentennial celebration of Mexico’s independence, along with the Musical Ofrenda that ROCO does in partnership with Lawndale Art Center in October as part of the annual Dia de los Muertos celebration. 
ROCO invites you join us in celebrating the richness of Houston’s many cultures. Music truly is the universal language, and the conversation has only just begun!