Houston Symphony’s two-week “Andrés Fest” with new works by Bruce Broughton, Wynton Marsalis, Kyle Rivera

The Houston Symphony has announced full programming details for its March 2022 two-week “Andrés Fest: A Symphonic Celebration,” paying tribute to Andrés Orozco-Estrada, who will step down as music director at the end of the 2021-22 season. Performances will feature repertoire associated with Orozco-Estrada’s tenure at the orchestra. Highlights will include the world premiere on March 26 and 27 of Bruce Broughton’s Horn Concerto featuring Principal Horn William VerMeulen, commissioned by the orchestra; and the Texas premiere of Wynton Marsalis’s Tuba Concerto, a co-commission featuring Principal Tuba Dave Kirk. The orchestra will perform the world premiere of Kyle Rivera’s theme and variations on George Bridgetower’s Henry: A Ballad on March 18 and 19. Henry: A Ballad is one of the few surviving works by 18th-century Black composer George Bridgetower. Musicians to be spotlighted during the two-week festival will include Principal Keyboard Scott Holshouser, Principal Second Violin MuChen Hsieh, Acting Principal Viola Joan DerHovsepian, Principal Clarinet Mark Nuccio, Principal Trumpet Mark Hughes. Other festival repertoire will include Bernstein’s Overture to Candide and Gershwin’s An American in Paris, both featured on the Houston Symphony’s 2018 recording Music of the Americas led by Orozco-Estrada.