Death and lunacy in Juraj Valčuha's Houston Symphony program

Ekaterina Gubanova, Juraj Valčuha, Gábor Bretz and the Houston Symphony

Juraj Valčuha, Gábor Bretz, Ekaterina Gubanova and the Houston Symphony

By Kurt Gottschalk, 17 February 2025

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“Gubanova and Bretz were a match made in heaven, even if Judith and the Duke very much were not”

Reviewed at Jones Hall, Houston on 15 February 2025

Chin, Alice in Wonderland (Prelude to the Mad Tea Party)

Prokofiev, The Love for Three Oranges: Symphonic Suite, Op.33bis

Britten, Peter Grimes, Op.33a: Four Sea Interludes

Bartók, Duke Bluebeard's Castle

Juraj Valčuha, Conductor

Gábor Bretz, Bass

Ekaterina Gubanova, Mezzo-soprano

Houston Symphony

Houston Symphony vividly brings Peer Gynt to life

Sam Jacobson, 28th March

Blending theater and symphony, the Houston Symphony reimagines Peer Gynt as Grieg intended – complete with dialogue, chorus, and a luminous cameo from Karita Mattila.

****1

Showpieces star in Houston Symphony’s memorable season opener

Phillip Nones, 20th September

Celebration is on the menu at the Houston Symphony Orchestra’s season opening weekend of concerts, conducted by Juraj Valčuha.

****1

Brilliant Bach from Jane Glover and the Houston Symphony

Sam Jacobson, 3rd April

The Houston Symphony showed the many sides of Bach in a festive performance over the Easter weekend.

***11

Bach by arrangement: Houston Symphony under Esa-Pekka Salonen

Kurt Gottschalk, 27th March

Listening to arrangements of Bach is like Dostoevsky’s challenge not to think about polar bears. It’s best to put the Bach out of your thoughts, even if “the cursed thing will come to mind every minute.”

****1

Full-bodied Beethoven from Yefim Bronfman and Fabien Gabel in Houston

Phillip Nones, 6th March

Fabien Gabel and the Houston Symphony Orchestra present memorable Beethoven performances that are solidly in the Austro-German tradition.

****1

A successful Beethoven 8 in Houston

Laurence Vittes, 30th January

Brinton Averil Smith, the Symphony's principal cello, approached Haydn's D major Concerto with bold courage and passionate, if inconsistently manufactured, strokes.

***11

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Kurt Gottschalk

Kurt Gottschalk is a journalist and author based in New York City. His writings on contemporary and classical music, jazz and improvisation have been published in outlets throughout Europe and America and he has two volumes of short fiction to his name. He produced and hosted the Miniature Minotaurs radio programme on WFMU and currently hosts Afternoon New Music on WKCR.