Houston: City of Culture

Houston may be better known as a thriving metropolis with a deep water port and huge oil industry but the image of longhorns and cowboy boots is a misnomer.  Houston boasts one of the most culturally diverse and active communities in the United States and the world – in fact, Houston is one of the few places west of the Mississippi which has permanent, year round resident companies in all of the major performing arts!

The wealth that has been created by oil, shipping and more latterly, aerospace and biotechnology industries has not simply been allowed to build a bold city of the future.  Culture and art has long played a part in the life of Houston from its very earliest days and many foreign performers vie to come to Houston to join one of the several internationally renowned performing arts companies that make their home here.

Museums abound in Houston dealing with fine art, natural science, printing, oil, shipping and history but Houston is world famous for its performing arts and here we shall be taking a brief look at what this great city has got to offer.

Houston Symphony

The Houston Symphony was founded in 1913 and is one of the oldest performing symphonies in the United States with an enviable reputation worldwide.  Currently, the Houston Symphony is led by internationally acclaimed conductor, Hans Graf and who is the latest in a long line of musical directors who have developed the Houston Symphony into a world renowned performing organization including Sir John Barbirolli and Andre Previn..

The Houston Symphony puts on more than 170 concerts in a very busy season but is also to be found playing around the world and at home in Houston as part of its outreach program to bring music to the people.

The Houston Ballet

The Houston Ballet came into being in the 1950′s and has experienced a resurgence in the last ten years with a revitalized company and under the leadership of Stanton Welch, the Artistic Director for the company.

The Houston Ballet has established a very busy season at home which is complemented by a heavy worldwide touring schedule including performances at the Bolshoi in Moscow and the Royal Ballet in London.  The current season is focused upon the worldwide premiere of Marie, a ballet covering the life and times of Marie Antoinette in keeping with the company’s reputation for daring and intrepid new works, largely in conjunction with the American Ballet Theater.

The Houston Grand Opera

The Houston Grand Opera or HGO, is one of the most renowned American opera companies today with an international reputation that is second to none.  HGO has long been regarded as an innovative and adventurous house with productions including Gershwin’s Porgy & Bess, Adam’s Nixon in China and Joplin’s Treemonisha.  There is a wide variety of skill and virtuosity at work with in the HGO and the cast generally as well as individual performers are in demand around the world.

The season is very well attended and you are highly advised to book your tickets well in advance of your trip to Houston if you are to avoid disappointment.

The Society for the Performing Arts

The Society for Performing Arts in Houston is the largest non-profit organization of its kind in the entire Southwest and brings to Houston players and arts from around the world to complement the significant resident performing arts companies who call Houston home.

Jones Hall is the primary venue for SPA performances and was created thanks to the generosity of Jesse Jones, a notable Houston philanthropist and patron of the arts.  This is one of the most spectacular grand opera houses to have been opened in the 20^th Century anywhere in the world and is the centerpiece for virtually every artistic performance in Houston.  One of the main venues which forms the heart of Houston’s socialite community, Jones Hall and the SPA have worked together for decades in order to further the audience for the performing arts within the wider community and many of the programs for community outreach have been initiated by the SPA and managed by their team.

Though Houston boasts Symphony, Opera and Ballet companies they enjoy a very hectic schedule which includes touring internationally and there were initially many nights when Jones Hall was simply going to be empty.  The SPA’s mission was to fill many of these nights with a schedule which brings the very best in the performing arts to Houston from all across the globe.

You are likely to find recitals by acclaimed musicians from Europe, the Far East and elsewhere in the world and the United States as well as world famous ballets and orchestras regularly filling the Jones Hall program but home grown artists are not neglected either with performances from indigenous talent from across the United States included.

Located in downtown Houston, you will find ample and easy parking available while there are plenty of other attractions and amenities on hand.  Numerous restaurants and hotels are to be found in the district with excellent bars and opportunities for pre- and post-show diversions.  If you do not wish to venture outside you can enjoy fine dining within the venue as part of a complete package of an evening’s entertainment.

Tickets for events are usually in high demand and you should check with the venue management and the SPA website for availability and any changes in the schedule as many surprise guests are added to the venue’s scheduling at short notice.

The forthcoming year (2008-2009 season) includes performances by Houston’s own Symphony Orchestra who call Jones Hall home and performances of Handel’s Messiah will compete alongside the likes of China’s Divine Performing Arts Touring Company, The Batsheva Dance Company from Israel, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, France and many others.  It isn’t all highbrow performances as you can also enjoy an evening of standup comedy with Bill Cosby or enjoy James Galway, the Irish flautist who has attracted international popular acclaim.

The SPA is a role model for many of performing arts organizations in the country and relies on donations for its work throughout Houston.  Many performances are used to support the work of local artists and performers in order to keep alive and enhance the cultural traditions that have take root in Houston since it’s founding in the 1830′s.