The Houston Symphony presents Dvořák's Symphony No. 8 and Barber's Violin Concerto, performed by Music Director Juraj Valčuha and violinist Gil Shaham.
The Houston Symphony brings Gil Shaham back to Jones Hall for a program built around Dvořák's Symphony No. 8, with three performances: Friday, Dec. 4 and Saturday, Dec. 5 at 7:30 PM, and Sunday, Dec. 6 at 2:00 PM. Music Director Juraj Valčuha leads the orchestra, and Shaham takes the solo for Samuel Barber's Violin Concerto.
It's a pairing of two very different moods. Dvořák's Symphony No. 8 is the lighter side of the composer—pastoral, folk-inflected, and full of nature imagery. It's the kind of piece that feels open and bright, which puts it in direct contrast with Barber's Violin Concerto. Barber's work is a wide-ranging one, moving from radiant, heart-melting melodies to the kind of finger-flying technical feats that demand a lot from a soloist. Hearing them together in one evening gives you both: the broad, scenic sweep of the symphony and the focused, virtuosic intensity of the concerto.
There's a bit more to the context here than just the program. Gil Shaham is returning to Jones Hall as the 2026-27 Houston Symphony Artist-in-Residence, so he'll be a regular presence throughout the season. Juraj Valčuha, who holds the Roy and Lillie Cullen Chair, is leading the full season, which the symphony has framed around the idea of 'deep listening' and shared exploration—describing the hall as a place for listening, reflection, and connection.
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Practical details: the performance runs about 100 minutes with a 20-minute intermission. Doors open 60 minutes before the concert, and the prelude begins 45 minutes before. Tickets start at $29, with 10% off when you buy 10 or more.
